Jan-Maat’s review of The English Understand Wool > Likes and Comments

I can't help but ask... what???

Alison wrote: "I can't help but ask... what???"

Hopefully it will make more sense once I have finished writing a review of it

Ahhhh. I was expecting it to make sense once I had finished reading the book, but I'm still waiting for it to click into place :)

How amusing that this delightfully clever novella seems to have evoked images of spiders and their webs in both our minds:). Oh what a tangled web these characters and Helen DeWitt are weaving!

This review, like the novella, was even better in a section reading. What evocative imagery!

Ilse wrote: "How amusing that this delightfully clever novella seems to have evoked images of spiders and their webs in both our minds:). Oh what a tangled web these characters and Helen DeWitt are weaving!"

I probably stole the idea from you!

Alison wrote: "This review, like the novella, was even better in a section reading. What evocative imagery!"

I hope it makes more sense now than my original gnomic comment !

Absolutely! Like the best reviews, read while the text is still fresh, it enhanced my enjoyment of my own reading experience, gave me the chance to relive a delightful little piece from a new perspective. I loved the way you played with the spiderweb's vulnerability as well as its precision and danger.

Alison wrote: "Absolutely! Like the best reviews, read while the text is still fresh, it enhanced my enjoyment of my own reading experience, gave me the chance to relive a delightful little piece from a new persp..."

Do read the book at least twice, it is interesting what details pop out at you once you know where the story is heading

I need to get to this one. I love spider, webs in general and the treat of your imagination here in particular. A good short story should always be full of connected empty spaces:-)

Katia wrote: "I need to get to this one. I love spider, webs in general and the treat of your imagination here in particular. A good short story should always be full of connected empty spaces:-)"

It is mostly empry space. In the printed version literally so. Which is why it is a good idea to read it twice (or more) because everything that is in the story, even if it looks like background, or padding or filler, is probably an important detail. We spent some words bouncing interpretations off one another here

okay, now you have convinced me, ty, And esp for the spider web analogy, which may make sense after I read it. . . twice?!

I'm thinking about that creature who stole the fly right under the spider's nose! What a feat. And what a well-cut review this is inspire of the no scissors and tape.

Dave wrote: "okay, now you have convinced me, ty, And esp for the spider web analogy, which may make sense after I read it. . . twice?!"

Go for it, it is pretty much as short as a graphic novel, perhaps it is even a good candidate to be turned into a graphic novel, it won't take much time from your day. It is dainty, yet packs a punch.

Fionnuala wrote: "I'm thinking about that creature who stole the fly right under the spider's nose! What a feat. And what a well-cut review this is inspire of the no scissors and tape."

I am tempted to say where the review came from, but thinking of spiders that isn't such a good idea

For some reason, I'm now thinking of Louise Bourgeois and her Maman theme

Fionnuala wrote: "For some reason, I'm now thinking of Louise Bourgeois and her Maman theme"

That's no bad thing