Review: The Devil in Silver, by Victor LaValle

The Devil in Silver is one of the best books I've read this year. The brilliant novel takes place in a New York mental institution, and is a mix of Gothic horror, social commentary, and satire. It's laugh-out-loud funny and terrifying on more than one level, but in its heart the Devil in Silver is about compassion and commitment to loved ones. Here's my favorite quote: "'That's the funny thing,' she said, 'Men always want to die for something. For someone. I can see the appeal. You do it once and it's done. No more worrying, not knowing, about tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. I know you all think it sounds brave, but I'll tell you something even braver. To struggle and fight for the ones you love today. And then to do it all over again the next day. Every day. For your whole life. It's not romantic, I admit. But it takes a lot of courage to live for someone, too.'"

Rating: five celery sticks

Review: With or Without You, by Domencia Ruta

With or Without You is a fractured family fairy tale. Like Grimm's witches, giants, or evil queens, Ruta's cast of characters fairly crackle off the page. I can imagine them weaving down highways in rusty cars, stealing my watch, perhaps burning down a house.

Ruta's parents were young when she was conceived, and throughout this memoir practically everyone who is an "adult" seems permanently stuck in adolescence. Kathi, Ruta's mom, is an addict, and Ruta's childhood was peppered with incidents ranging from mildly dysfunctional to downright abusive. Ruta's backwards gaze is unflinching, her memory is strong, and the characters are described with great detail, so it's a compelling read.

I received this memoir as an advance reading copy from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. If you're interested in reading With or Without You, the book will be released in March 2013.

Rating: four celery sticks