A. S. King (1) (1970–)

People are SLEEPING on King's novels. Especially this one. As ever, her books are weird and wonderful and hardhitting and heartfelt and just GOOD. "Dig" is both noticeably King but also unlike any of her other books. This one tackles a big sprawling family, a family with ancestors who were potato farmers, and a whole lot of the dirty issues that come with secrets, prejudices, teenage-hood, privilege, selling weed, anxiety, and finding purpose. It sounds like a lot, and in many ways it is. The narrative bounces back a forth between a pretty big cast of characters, but the glorious bit is that these characters are fascinating. Not always good, decent characters, but ones who feel real and relatable. If you like your books with a big dose of surrealism and plenty of depth (and a poem about worms), "Dig" is a must-read.… (altro)

A collection of stories about collections and collectors, real and imaginary, tangible and metaphorical.

Quotes

I loved rules and systems - as long as I was in control of them. My imagination was the place where I had the most power. Hour after hour, I was asked to conform to the world, and as a result I searched out all the small ways I could make the world conform to me. ("Take It From Me," David Levithan, 60)

Knowing the things you shouldn't do, and then not doing them: That's what love requires, doesn't it? Even as a junior in high school, I sensed this was true. Love was both closeness and an agreement to never take advantage of that closeness. (75)

She hated the way she never acted on or said the things that came to her mind. The way she always pushed them down, ate her words and policed her own actions. ("Ring of Fire," Jenny Torres Sanchez, 89)

I don't want to kill; I just want to get out safe. ("La Concha," e.E. Charlton-Trujillo, 165)

"Can't you see how beautiful it is to be honest?" ("We Are Looking for Home," A.S. Kng, 213)

We pledge allegiance to the flag of whatever gets us out of this. (223)… (altro)