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Book Review: Strange Angels by Kathe Koja
Sep. 28th, 2013 09:27 amTitle: Strange Angels
Author: Kathe Koja
Published: New York: Dell, 1994
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 356
Total Page Count: 140,248
Text Number: 411
Read Because: fan of the author, purchased used from St. Johns Booksellers
Review: Through his art therapist girlfriend, Grant meets Robin—a young schizophrenic whose exquisite art sparks an obsession. Strange Angels is written in Koja's distinctive abrupt and visceral style, but fails to exhibit or suit that style as well as some of her other work. There's something not quite strange enough about it: tropes linking madness and art are extremely problematic, but Koja comes just short of idealization; schizophrenia influences Robin's art but doesn't always aid or elevate it. It's welcome restraint, but robs the book of a purpose or payoff that could balance its dirty and joyless nature. Strange Angels is what one would expect from Koja, character-fueled and compelling, and fans may enjoy it, but it fails to be remarkable in its own right.
Author: Kathe Koja
Published: New York: Dell, 1994
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 356
Total Page Count: 140,248
Text Number: 411
Read Because: fan of the author, purchased used from St. Johns Booksellers
Review: Through his art therapist girlfriend, Grant meets Robin—a young schizophrenic whose exquisite art sparks an obsession. Strange Angels is written in Koja's distinctive abrupt and visceral style, but fails to exhibit or suit that style as well as some of her other work. There's something not quite strange enough about it: tropes linking madness and art are extremely problematic, but Koja comes just short of idealization; schizophrenia influences Robin's art but doesn't always aid or elevate it. It's welcome restraint, but robs the book of a purpose or payoff that could balance its dirty and joyless nature. Strange Angels is what one would expect from Koja, character-fueled and compelling, and fans may enjoy it, but it fails to be remarkable in its own right.
