Thinking Abt Magritte

Same old story here . . . a friend of mine found it in the bottom of a Safeway clearance bin in the middle of the night in Alaska of all places, and it has obtained a solid standing as one of our top 5 favorite books of all time. I have highlighted at least one sentence on every single page, because Kate Sterns is that poingant and powerful. Every time I read it I have to stop every five minutes and just . . . let it soak in. Whenever I feel a lack of philosophical absurdism in my life, I reach for this book every time. Okay, well, sometimes when I feel a lack of philosophical absurdism I read some Tom Robbins . . . so . . . every other time.

Ms.Sterns probably invented a new style. Magicoscientific Surrealism...Quoting the last chapter: "There's a slipperly place where waking turns into sleeping..." and this slim volumne floats in that zone of rational dreamtime. There is narrative, there are characters, there is even a plot--if you really need to have that. But attempting to follow it all may not be as fun as simply going along for the ride. Good luck locating a copy--I found mine in a two-for-$1 bargain bin...Some things just aren't right...She put it best (in a sadly similar context): "It touches me that people write these books...It must come as a shock to them that the rest of the world doesn't share their passions."

I picked this book up a few years ago in the bargain bin at K-Mart. My god, what a find! I took the book home, read it cover to cover, then when it was over, started again on page one. This book is quirky, well-written and beautiful. Kate Sterns has created some of the most interesting and fantastic characters in fiction. She brings the reader to Limestone and forces you to view the world through its' inhabitants (who often have a very unique and endearing perspective.) It would be easy to feel sorry for any of the characters in this story but there is no reason. While Sterns manages to touch your heart, she does it without evoking pity. Instead this band of 'misfits' come off as so interesting, that I wish I had friends like them. Loyal, loveable and always fascinating. Kate, if you ever read this -- write another book! It's incredible!