Reviewed in the United States on 8 December 2021. Her perfect husband. Comfort Me With Apples is the first book in a long time that has managed to surprise me: an experience both cathartic and unforgettable." --Cassandra Khaw, award-winning author . As with The Last House on Needless Street (Catriona Ward) earlier this year, (a very different story) I was so INTRIGUED by the reviews of this book-the lack of description-the reviewers at a loss for words of what to say about it-still processing if they enjoyed it or NOT. This is a place to discuss horror literature. He has fiction. (That's why I'm keeping this review so vague!) But Sophias blissful ignorance is shattered one morning when she opens a drawer in her vanity to reveal an unfamiliar hairbrush and a lock of another womans hair. Im from Seattle, but currently live in Austin, TX. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. At least in Mother! Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I thought it was an interesting take on the whole Creation aspect of Christianity. Beautifully written, engrossing, and great for spooky season, this book is definitely worth reading and ripe for discussion! Young's Literal Translation Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I am sick with love. I did not care for this book at all, its most redeeming quality was the length. At a skinny 112 pages, Valentes 12th novel can be read in an afternoon, preferably with a storm raging outside and a log fire hissing and crackling in the background. And the reasons I dont like the book are very personal, so if you like works about strained marriages in claustrophobic settings with a big secret looming in the background, this one might be for you. In fact, you could consider many manifestations of the. Liebling. A Locus Award finalist! The Flash reveals first look at Ben Affleck's Batsuit in new DC movie. World English Bible Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am faint with love. Comfort Me With Apples Hardcover - Nov. 9 2021 by Catherynne M. Valente (Author) 806 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle Edition $11.99 Read with Our Free App Audiobook $0.00 Free with your Audible trial Hardcover $22.22 9 Used from $31.21 13 New from $20.11 So. Sophia and her husband are perfect for each other. . Sophia has a seemingly perfect life, but when she notices a drawer in her dresser that she's never consciously perceived before, small details that don't add up start to snowball. See my full disclosure policy here. This is the second of five reviews Im writing at least 3 weeks after finishing the book, so my recollections may be hazy However, one thing that is crystal clear in my mind is the feeling I had about 2/3 of the way throughComfort Me With Apples. Martin Cahill is a writer living in Queens who works as the Marketing and Publicity Manager for Erewhon Books. View msvreadsbooks's reviews. This presents a challenge, especially when the most interesting thing about a film or book is the goddamn spoiler. Sophia is living a perfect life with the perfect husband in their perfect little suburban community known as Arcadia Gardens. When Im not working, you can usually find me curled up with a book and a cup of iced coffee. I think a bunch of the novels in this series have been on sale on Kindle. We all have a yearly Goodreads challenge to achieve after all. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. "Last year, broke my foot, laid up for two months", from 5.04, "The End". Comfort Me With Apples by Peter De Vries. There are few things that make me angrier than finding myself inside of a secret bible story. She was made for him. OoOhI cant wait to figure out the retelling as well!!! "Comfort Me with Apples reads like a dark fairytale. While they start off pretty standard, they soon begin to reveal the horrifying truth about Sophia and Arcadia Gardens. Bad. The Flash movie is finally under way, and just days after fans caught a glimpse of not one but two . This has been my year of fun reading and I may not go back! But her latest book takes quite a different approach, obscuring exactly which story it is retelling until the very end. So Help Me Todd - Against All Todds - Review. Contact See company contact information Filmmakers See writer See producer Cast See preliminary cast More info Project notes, plot, and industry news Everything is perfect. She never even dreams of going into the locked basement that her husband has explicitly forbidden her from entering. I wasn't into the monotonous narrator, and would've preferred being on the treadmill in silence. Warning: May contain spoilers.) Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. However, interspersed with Sophias increasingly troubled missives are a strict set of rules for the community to follow. Sophia lives a seemingly perfect life in a seemingly perfect world. The simultaneous arrival of a dangerous new person only makes things worse, and things go downhill from there.Comfort Me With Apples is short, just over two hours long in audio, and I finished it in two sittings. Reviewed in the United States on 8 December 2021. To be fair to the author and the story, I should have seen it coming. lol - this is one where I wish someone has spoiled it for me first, because I likely would have skipped it. Comfort Me With Apples is short, just over two hours long in audio, and I finished it in two . Comfort Me with Apples (TV Series) on IMDb: Movies, TV, Celebs, and more. I would say its a little book of deliciously dark contradictions, and I am still thinking about the lesson that is left behind. And the closest thing to heaven evoked in this book is a California kitchen: ''A large, airy, open room that smelled like wild yeast and raspberries,'' with ''glasses filled with herbs and flowers'' and ''big . If a purchase is made through an affiliate link, I may receive a commission at no cost to you. I really really liked this books. So basically the Christian version of Siddhartha?And just as stupid? He is perfect. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. I like how they threw in Lilith as she was one to fight back and wanted to be seen as an equal to Adam. I was declined a physical arc, I was declined a digital arc, but I did manage to snag an audio version this morning so I set everything aside to get started. He is perfect. . Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. A tense and compelling listen. . So. I was willing to ride with the weirdness, but was really disappointed when I realized what was really going on. Read Comfort Me With Apples book reviews & author details and more at Amazon.in. reading all the goodreads horror nominees. Comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love, You have to be careful when writing reviews these days. New 2023 Toyota RAV4 XLE Premium Wind Chill Pearl in Lewiston, ID at Rogers of Lewiston - Call us now 208-628-5679 for more information about this Stock # Cat Valentes writing always has an ethereal, fairy-tale quality to it that is well-suited to plots that borrow quite heavily from folklore. But nevertheless, I found myself duped. But blended with this central story are folkloric elements reminiscent of one of the most disturbing fairy tales, in my opinion: Bluebeard. And whose hair could it possibly be? This is a place to discuss horror literature. "Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love." King James Version (KJV) < Previous Verse Next Verse > View Chapter Song of Solomon 2:5 Context 2 As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. I consider this story to be a Proto-Gothic fairy tale, since its plot elements have been incorporated into countless Gothic novels. She misses him. But her latest book takes quite a different approach, obscuring exactly which story it is retelling until the very end. Lol! BookTok is Good, Actually: On the Undersung Joys of a Vast and Multifarious Platform, Seven Crime Novels Centered Around Musicians Out in 2023, Arlington Road: The Conspiracy Thriller That Foresaw the Spread of Far-Right Extremism in America, If you want to laugh, watch this Mitchell and Webb sketch about inviting Shaggy and Scooby Doo to a party, Uncrackable: 5 Films Featuring Devilishly Difficult Heists. I found this page when, out of abject frustration, I googled: Why is Scribd so horrible now? , which came out just last week, is a bite-size horror novella that packs quite a punch for its small size. It was a solid 3/5 for me as well; I did like it. The ending was a big surprise for me. With all the hype this book is getting, I was intrigued. Learn how your comment data is processed. In the Shadows of Men by Robert Jackson Bennett. Her perfect husband. Suspicious of each character and their true intentions. All about Comfort Me with Apples: More Adventures at the Table by Ruth Reichl. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, denoted by links with the icon. Bad. Comfort Me with Apples, which came out just last week, is a bite-size horror novella that packs quite a punch for its small size. may contain spoilers! Comfort Me with Apples, which came out just last week, is a bite-size horror novella that packs quite a punch for its small size. He is perfect. In fact, everything is perfector is it? for yourself, you can find it on shelves now at your favorite local retailer, or order it online and support The Gothic Library in the process using, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Carnival Celebrations in Gothic Literature, Review of The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror, Review of A Lady for a DukeQueer Regency Romance, African-American Writers of Gothic Literature. Any book is up for discussion as long as that discussion is respectful. "Comfort Me With Apples" by Catherynne M. Valente is perfectly written with perfectly lovely prose! Just under the surface, I felt a growing tension and hint at something sinister. But Valente manages to pack an intense story into that brief length. Todays episode of Behind the Mic is brought to you by Oasis Audio, publisher of The Phantom Stallion series by Terri Farley, and more. It was such a joy to pick up all the breadcrumbs in order to follow the author to the origin point of this tale. Sophia was a well liked character. In the end, Valentes novella feels closer to existential nightmarish cinema like Vivarium and Mother! Absolutely enthralling.". Visit White Bear Acura in Vadnais Heights #MN serving Maplewood, White Bear Lake and Oakdale #19UUB3F63KA002400 June 14, 2022; utpal parrikar education; . Eden) that lies in the midst of a desert. Valentes narrative is somehow both lush and sparse, and I was lulled into this tale from the first rule of the oddly lyrical HOA agreement. Kindle $11.99 Rate this book Comfort Me with Apples Catherynne M. Valente 3.60 18,420 ratings4,337 reviews Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Best Horror (2021) Sophia was made for him. Brownies, but in cookie form. The suspenseful atmosphere of the novel is built up through snippets from the gated communitys HOA contract, which lays out the list of rules that residents must follow. Soukoku is endgame. The French folktale Bluebeard has many variations, but the core story is that of a young woman who marries a wealthy and powerful widower. He is perfect. Sophia was made for him. Rating: 4.5 (out of 5) stars. Unable to resist her curiosity, however, the wife opens this locked door and behind it discovers the corpses of her husbands former wives. As ''Comfort Me With Apples'' makes clear, Reichl gets the same intense pleasure from a simple stir-fry or a perfectly cured olive. But blended with this central story are folkloric elements reminiscent of one of the most disturbing fairy tales, in my opinion: Bluebeard. Her pursuit of good food and good company leads her to New York and China, France and Los Angeles, and her stories of cooking and dining with world-famous chefs range from the madcap to the sublime. Proud granddaughter of multiple cancer survivors and would love to read and write for a cause. She can feel it in her bones. The big hints that I could pick up on: the names of the chapters were different types of apples, the HOA guideline about painting the house were all different shades of white and one of them was Morning Star (another bible reference), and the music teacher's name Semengelof is the name of an angel. He is the perfect . Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Mix the apple sauce into the brownie mix. Her perfect husband. Your email address will not be published. Personally, I found the primary requisite for writing about food to be a . Press J to jump to the feed. He says he does, so it must be true. The ending was fantastic though, and I love that it was short. A haven for readers: book blog, Bookstagram & bookish printables. I really enjoyed this tale! program and into a long residence in the concrete and camphor wilds of Japan. Listen to "Comfort Me with Apples More Adventures at the Table" by Ruth Reichl available from Rakuten Kobo. [spoiler full discussion] My knowledge of the Adam and Eve origin story is rather basic, but I love how Valente infused this . In fact, you could consider many manifestations of the First Wife trope to be variations on this story. Mother! But needless to say, this twist is something right up my street. Everything is perfect. Don't miss this amazing deal on Apple AirPods 2nd generation wireless earbuds, now reduced to just $99 (that's a savings of $60 - but be quick as it won't last long!) Ive got Frees book loaded up! It's a story nearly as seamless and ominous as Sophia's outsized house and her creepy neighborhood. A Locus Award finalist!. So there are just two humans among several humanoid animals named things like Mrs. Bear I had my suspicions about halfway into the story, but when Sophia meets a serpent in the forbidden section of the neighborhood, it was VERY apparent what was happening. Add just enough soy milk to make a thick batter. I can't do it. She can feel it in her bones. Transmission. Edit: I'm sure I'm missing some, but those are the ones I picked up on right off the bat. Order on Amazon | Support local bookstores. Comfort Me With Apples is a terrifying new thriller from bestseller Catherynne M. Valente, for fans of Gone Girl and Spinning Silver A Shirley Jackson Award finalist! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Right away, you can tell something strange is going on, and it sucks you in. How did someone elses hair get inside her house? Mild spoilers ahead. Her perfect husband. Possibly I feel that way because I recognized what Valente was subverting.It turns out that Comfort Me With Apples is a certain type of story. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. However, I feel like the ending somehow diminished everything once I understood the true nature of the story. is not limited to just the interior of the house in which Sophia and her husband live. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. From that point, the tension ramps up relentlessly until something has to give. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Karis Campbell narrates Comfort Me with Apples, a chillingly familiar story taking place in an unexpected setting called Arcadia Gardens. Edwards. I cant really discuss the main story at the heart of this retelling without spoiling it (although, if youre cleverer than I am, you may pick up on it much sooner than I did). In Ruth Reichl's latest book one that will delight her fans and convert those as yet uninitiated t In the end, "Comfort Me With Apples" was completely WTF, but in the best way. Pulling the plug at 64% because I just can't take it anymore. I also equated it to Mother!, but I actually liked that movie. . The primary requisite for writing well about food is a good appetite. Filed Under: Fiction, Mystery Tagged With: Catherynne M. Valente, I love books, and after completing graduate school, I want an excuse to think deeply about them again. A gothic book blog for dark-minded readers of all types. COMFORT ME WITH APPLES shows its satirical side particularly at the beginning, when we meet Sophia, a resident of what sounds like an extreme gated community: an authoritarian suburb called Arcadia (cf. When Sophia finds a mysterious object hidden in her kitchen, cracks start showing in her seemingly perfect existence. Told through her eyes, Comfort Me tells of an idyllic gated community with the lofty title Arcadia Gardens. All I knew about Comfort Me With Apples before I read it is that its hard to summarize without spoilers. She can feel it in her bones. Catherynne M. Valente's prose and the third act volta elevate Comfort Me with Applesabove the slew of similar domestic noirs that followed in the wake of Gone Girl. Given the title, you can probably guess that the marriage is between Adam and Eve (or Adam and Sophia, in this case), which should have been obvious. Catherynne M. Valentes prose and the third act volta elevate Comfort Me with Apples above the slew of similar domestic noirs that followed in the wake of Gone Girl. Well, at least I now know what the story is about. At first these seem innocuous, like what colors of paint one is allowed to paint ones house with. He is perfect. A Locus Award finalist! Amazon.in - Buy Comfort Me With Apples book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in. It's a shame, I kept seeing glimpses of potential in this story but unfortunately it just didn't go the way I was wanting it to. Looking for more great book recommendations? Created by Grove Atlantic and Electric Literature, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Leonard Mlodinow on the Science of Feelings, What Should You Read Next? Comfort Me with Apples TV Series Drama Note: Because this project is categorized as in development, the data is only available on IMDbPro and is subject to change. Definitely a fantastic read! Comfort Me with Apples picks up Reichl's story in 1978, when she puts down her chef's toque and embarks on a career as a restaurant critic. A short and tightly-written story, this is a perfect example of a great novella. Valente blends these two narratives convincingly, and the fact that theyve both been retold many times in many ways doesnt diminish the uniqueness of her retelling. Inside her vanity? Crazy pants story, but I totally appreciated the beauty of the allegory in the end. comfort me with apples spoilers. 1.0 out of 5 stars Just. This novel takes the most idealized of American settingssuburbia, of the proverbial white picket fenceand twists it into something far more sinister. Its citizens are policed by a nightmarish array of rules ranging from acceptable paint colors for . I agree, if someone had even said "this book has biblical allegories" in it, that would've been enough for me to say okay, probably not something I'm interested in then. The prose is so luxe-I savored every moment following Sophia around in her giant-sized house living like a little princess. This book is unlike anything I have read recently and I loved it. Readers might reasonably have differing responses to Valente's resolution and what it implies, but Comfort Me With Apples is also the sort of well-crafted tale that sends you back through the text to note how carefully she's planted her clues. REVIEW: Resting Beach Face (PARADISE BAY SERIES Book 4) by Melanie Summers, JOINT REVIEW: The Eidolon by K.D. Dear Author Media Network, LLC. today I'm doing a review of a novella I read last. The reviews and comments posted on this site reflect the opinions of individual posters and do not reflect the views of Cannonball Read. It's just that he's away so much. To listen to the whole archive of Behind the Mic with AudioFile Magazine, subscribe and listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or wherever else you find your favorite podcasts. Sophia was made for him. I have read one of Valente's books before and didn't connect with her writing style, however I absolutely loved her writing in this novella. When she moves into his luxurious home, her husband forbids her from entering one locked room. She can feel it in her bones. Easy for him to say: He was independently wealthy. Required fields are marked *. Thats why Im so mad. I kept seeing so many and such varied reviews that I was twitchy with the desire to read this! The Largest Collection of TV spoilers and show information for the most popular shows on TV. . Youre looking around for it. Comfort Me With Apples is a terrifying new thriller from bestseller Catherynne M. Valente, for fans of Gone Girl and Spinning Silver A Shirley Jackson Award finalist! She can feel it in her bones. Their home together in Arcadia Gardens is perfect. Members: Reviews: Popularity: Average rating: Mentions: 59: None: 400,823 (3.8) 9: A laugh-out-loud novel about teenage pretensions and adult delusions from an author whom the New York Times has called "a Balzac of the station wagon set" Chick Swallow and his best friend, Nickie Sherman, are teenage . I go into this book without knowing anything like I always do and I got a surprise every step of the way. Sophia was made for him. Show more Show more. Certified Used 2019 Acura TLX 3.5 V-6 9-AT SH-AWD with A-SPEC RED 4dr Car Platinum White Pearl for sale - only $36,995. Learn how your comment data is processed. I wouldn't even call this horror! This is definitely the kind of situation where youll want to read the fine print! I quite liked the writing itself though, it's just everything else that wasn't working for me. Review contains spoilers. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. But the creepy setting of Comfort Me with Apples is not limited to just the interior of the house in which Sophia and her husband live. This is a very short readonly about 100 pages. It will take a while before it starts looking wet. we got *THAT SCENE* . Unable to resist her curiosity, however, the wife opens this locked door and behind it discovers the corpses of her husbands former wives. Order on Amazon|Support local bookstores. Just under the surface, I felt a growing tension and hint at something sinister. Hahah, I could've written this comment word for word. Everything is perfect. I loved the story, very unexpected and interesting. This is a spoiler free review for Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente. I see a picture of t @JPeK: I am so glad :). As the story unfolds, Campbell shifts her narration from poised to frantic as Sophia unravels after discovering awful truths. It's best to go into it without knowing too much about it. But more alarming rules are slipped in between the kinds of things we might expect. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Comfort Me with Apples at Amazon.com. Prequalify now and see your real rates and monthly payment! Ive been part of the Bookstagram community for 4+ years now (previously known as SilverFire Books), and Ive loved every minute of it! Every Monday through Friday, AudioFiles editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. I feel like I couldnt get much out of it because of my lack of knowledge of Christianity. It's the type of book that you want to restart as soon as you finish it to see how the author planted (apple) seeds along the way. Learn how your comment data is processed. This novel takes the most idealized of American settingssuburbia, of the proverbial white picket fenceand twists it into something far more sinister. Everything is perfect. Sophia was made for him. Its hard to describe Catherynne M. Valentes novella Comfort Me with Apples in a way that doesnt involve spoilers. Oh I went in blind as well and another redditor said its a retelling of something though I have yet to figure out what. Its an excellent example of the genre, but the ending made my writers brain fixate on the moving parts instead of fully enjoying it. "Comfort Me with Apples reads like a dark fairytale. It doesn't matter if you're into Stephen King, Octavia Butler, Jack Ketchum or Shirley Jackson, this is the place to share that love and discuss to your heart's content. He is perfect. The mythic suspense of Comfort Me with Apples is a worthy addition to the list. So, for the same reasons I was not intoMother!, this one isnt for me. Sometimes, the fact that there is anything to spoil is a spoiler in and of itself. . I recommend NOT reading too many reviews before you dive in. A Locus Award finalist! Her perfect husband. Welcome To SpoilerTV We bring you a comprehensive and up to date spoiler service on all the major US TV shows and Movies. This is definitely the kind of situation where youll want to read the fine print! Disambiguation notice: Publisher's editors: Blurbers: Original language: English US. Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente, December 15, 2021 by msvreadsbooks 2 Comments. Steve, Ive been duped! or, my experience reading Comfort Me With Apples *SPOILERS*, The string intro to Etta James At Last just started playing in my head . I loved this story so much. Sophia has a seemingly perfect life, but when she notices a drawer in her dresser that shes never consciously perceived before, small details that dont add up start to snowball. I have a degree in literature, and all the signs were there. And he misses her. Everything is perfect. is definitely what I would encourage people to pick up instead of this book. ), 9 Fun Bookish Activities for Readers (At Home). But more alarming rules are slipped in between the kinds of things we might expect. Thus, the minute Comfort Me with Apples mentioned a locked door in this otherwise perfect home, I had an inkling of what might be behind it. We see the world through Sophias eyes, and at first, its almost unbearably saccharine. She wakes up every morning thinking about how much she loves her husband and the house he built her, with its extravagantly large bed and furniture. I got to 65%, and found absolutely no enjoyment. Full review, first posted on. Shes also pretty great at unique voices for everyone else.I was definitely disturbed at several points. Your email address will not be published. He is perfect. I think I'd rate it a 3 if I had to give it a star rating, but I'm still trying to work out my feelings on it. I don't know how, but I didn't pick up what is was a retelling of until I was 2/3 through. Heres a running list of comparisons that crossed my mind while immersed in the world of Catherynne M. Valentes novella, Comfort Me With Apples: Super quick read and has a strong stylistic voice suited for horror. Even saying which ones they are would spoil major elements of the novella. I'd love to @Kareni: Oops. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Comfort Me with Apples is a claustrophobic domestic thriller with a science fiction twist. Sophia and her husband are perfect for each other. I cant really discuss the main story at the heart of this retelling without spoiling it (although, if youre cleverer than I am, you may pick up on it much sooner than I did).