“He had no answers. He didn’t know his destination. Maybe that was why he was so lost. Hard to be anything else if you didn’t know where you were goi “He had no answers. He didn’t know his destination. Maybe that was why he was so lost. Hard to be anything else if you didn’t know where you were going.”
Reading through the Cosmere standalones that came from the Year of Sanderson has been an absolute treat (and the world’s he has created), and this one has been no different. It was a treat to see a familiar face navigate a Mad-Max-esque world, where, after years of running and only looking out for himself, he is faced with a small resistance in a world ruled by a tyrant and consisting solely of ships that are constantly outrunning the deadly sun that will burn them to a crisp if it catches them. This was the most action-packed of the standalones and had a very sci-fi/dystopian feel, which was quite fun to read. Nomad’s inner turmoil is highlighted well in the story as the man who hasn’t been able to stop running has to decide whether or not to help another group who can also never stop running. This draws from epic action dystopians and its fast-paced and quick-witted nature gives the reader the feel that we too are on the run. The world is incredibly unique, as expected from Sanderson. It is also one of the most scientifically-described worlds, as the narration at times gets turned into a mini physics lesson.
The arc of this story had me at the edge of my seat and I hope we get to see Nomad in this way again. The side characters were also very fleshed out and paralleled his life in so many ways, creating a greater emotional impact for me. I cannot stress enough that this is not really a standalone. At the very earliest, it should be read after you are caught up on the Stormlight Archives, and I would recommend waiting until you are completely caught up on Cosmere before delving into this one. I promise it’s worth it. As Sanderson says in his endnotes, this secret project was for his readers and, boy, does he deliver with an epic story and some wild Cosmere lore drops.
As always, the art, done by Ernanda Souza, Nabetse Zitro, and Kudriaken, was fantastic and enhanced my reading experience. This made me excited to delve into fantasy again; a genre I've long been in a slump for. ...more
Chain-Gang All-Stars is a blatant critique of the prison industrial complex and the media industry as we lead up to the weeks where Loretta Thurwar haChain-Gang All-Stars is a blatant critique of the prison industrial complex and the media industry as we lead up to the weeks where Loretta Thurwar has her final gladiatorial style death match to become free after 3 years as a LINK in this profit-raising, deadly prison fight ring. There are a lot of points of view in this book which give a great visual and more room for talking points on prison abolition, police treatment of protestors, and more. The story is hit over the reader’s head a bit, but I think that that can be necessary in order for the message to not get muddled. The message is clear, as we see other horrific points of view and the way that civilians interact with the media/entertainment of the death matches and the more reality-esque tv-show of the lives of the LINKs. I personally found this to be done in a way where I was never entertained, because I felt a bit horrified, which shows to me that a good balance was struck of showing the “entertainment” that is being critiqued and other aspects to the story. While a gladiatorial combat death ring may seem a bit far-fetched, Adjei-Brenyah ties in how prisoners are used for-profit now and how this isn’t necessarily a big jump in the dystopian sense. Among other things, the facts that prison labor in the United States is the only legal form of slave labor in the USA and that the Angola Prison already has a biannual rodeo that has a very high injury rate and they incentivize the prisoners to participate in makes this dystopian reality seem not too far off. Like Angola prison's rodeo (but to a much higher degree), there are questions raised about whether or not a prisoner can consent to joining the death matches when the only other option are prisons with absolutely horrifying conditions. If the chain-gang is the only way out, are they really volunteering? I also really appreciate how abolitionists are questioned about what solutions exist outside of prison, and some of the abolitionists have to come to terms with their own prejudices of people in the prison system. While it stands incredibly well on its own, this is the only book that I feel even slightly comfortable giving a Hunger Games comp to.
I listened to the audiobook of this and have to add that the main narrator, Shayna Small, as well as the narrators with smaller roles, Aaron Goodson, Michael Crouch, and Lee Osorio, all did an incredible job. Would highly recommend the audio version.
It took me a while to get to this book because, despite loving the Hunger Games, I didn’t understand the point of a new book in this universe. I was cIt took me a while to get to this book because, despite loving the Hunger Games, I didn’t understand the point of a new book in this universe. I was convinced to give the book a go after seeing Rachel Zeger’s performance (my queen, light of my life who sang EVERYTHING live in the movie - like are you kidding?? Nothing You Can Take From Me (Boot-Stompin’ Version) is on my everyday playlist I listen to it on repeat, she does my Appalachian girl Lucy Gray such justice. This entire edit is just so I can gush about Rachel a little more I’m not sorry. Anyways go listen to the soundtrack it sounds like home to meeee). And let me just say Suzanne Collins does not write ANYTHING unless she has something to say and I love that about her.
This prequel follows the narcissistic (and pretty blatantly evil) Coriolanus Snow decades before he becomes president. During this time we see, through an incredibly twisted lens, how the Hunger Games became the spectacle it is in the original trilogy and just how dehumanizing the Capital views the Districts.
The book starts when Snow and 23 of his classmates are assigned to be mentors for the 10th annual Hunger Games in order to raise views. He is assigned the charismatic Lucy Gray Baird, who most of the capital is immediately charmed by. We see as the mentors and the capital continually dehumanize them. The (incorrect) thought that the base level of humans is violence and aggression and that they need to be controlled constantly is a very prevalent theme, especially in these parts. Snow grapples with, and pretty quickly agrees to it as we watch the theory be proven wrong time and time again in the arena (namely with Reaper and Lamina). The tributes are continually compared to fighting dogs by other mentors, and Snow seems to pride himself on not seeing Lucy Gray like that. However, it is clear that, to him, Lucy Gray is nothing but a songbird and, even if she isn’t a fighting dog, she is the exception to any other people living in Districts. I love how through side characters like Sejanus and Lysistrata we see how wrong that train of thought is and how it is in fact possible to draw the conclusion that their tributes are kind because the districts are human too, not because they are exceptions who belong in the capital.
Having us follow Snow during this book was a great choice, but man it made me exhausted. The last part was by far the slowest but shows the fastest progression of his character as, without being in the capital, his actions become less controlled and his paranoia becomes greater. One of the most interesting things to me was how little the actions of the Hunger Games was mentioned in this part. Instead, Snow’s obsession with the surface level parts of Lucy Gray grows to an insane high and we watch as he continually thinks of her as an animal and takes great joy in owning or controlling her.
This book is very topical and is pretty obviously a critique on a lot of issues that are happening today. Sometimes it feels like you’re getting beaten over the head with the point, but I think that makes sense for a young adult book with a villain as a narrator. Additionally, I love how the book and film balance each other, making them more of companions - one showing Snow’s inner thoughts, the other how the world perceived him - than a faithful adaptation. Also I just have to mention Rachel Zegler singing all of her songs live during the movie?? She is truly amazing....more
highly recommend the audiobook I respect what Saramago was doing with this book, it just didn’t hit the mark for me for a variety of (spoilery) reasonhighly recommend the audiobook I respect what Saramago was doing with this book, it just didn’t hit the mark for me for a variety of (spoilery) reasons. ...more
Okay so the concept of this book was good... but I just expected more? I guess? I don’t know? I’m very picky with romance in books and stuff and it’s Okay so the concept of this book was good... but I just expected more? I guess? I don’t know? I’m very picky with romance in books and stuff and it’s mainly because I’m like a huge realist with romance so when someone falls in love with someone in less than a day,, I’m not for it? Like they could’ve liked each other and had strong feelings, but love? No. And I think that just ruined the book for me which is such a shame because it was such an interesting concept. I just like romantic development ...more
Holy crap. My grandma actually recommended this book and gave me her copy (aka the old library’s copy) and so I decided to read it obviously. And oh mHoly crap. My grandma actually recommended this book and gave me her copy (aka the old library’s copy) and so I decided to read it obviously. And oh my god I loved it so much. Atwood is honestly such a good writer and I want to read everything by her. The story was so interesting and I loved how there was not really any linearity in the sequence of events ugh it was just a great book. One of my new favorites definitely. Wow ...more