Writing and Reading

This is the home of my creative writing, critical reflections on books, and the craft of writing. It’s a space for thinking through stories – how they work, why they matter, and what it means to try to make them.

Note on spoilers: Some posts discuss books in detail and may include spoilers.

Subversions and Systemic Inequality

This book took the magic-school premise, walked it over to the dark side and then dialled it up to 11. Its a book about systemic inequality, racism, and being f*** angry at the world.

The Wrong Vehicle

An author more interested in forwarding a political agenda than delivering a good story.

Occult Dreaming

If you have ever found yourself wondering what happened with all that Satanic Panic stuff of the 90s, or why SA still has so many occult crimes, then this the book for you.

Who’s story is it?

A story with excellent vibes and gut-renching betrayals of trauma, but with no structure it limps to a listless halt.

Perfectly Detached

A lot of classic music anecdotes. There is little here to hold the attention of readers outside the industry.

Trying to Make the Bugs into Features

A long and impassioned rant about a book that fails on almost every conceivable angle written by a author who smugly suggests the problem must be the reader.

PenBridge Writing