Hunger Games, but for an adult audience and set in space. (Still a 16 year old MC though?) I blitzed through it in less than a day. I'm not sure how IHunger Games, but for an adult audience and set in space. (Still a 16 year old MC though?) I blitzed through it in less than a day. I'm not sure how I feel about it, so I'll give it a middle of the road 3.5 stars. Waiting to see if the series develops in its themes and characters. ...more
One star is generous. This was so laughably bad and sexist that I would go so far as to say that no one should read it. The 80s were a different time,One star is generous. This was so laughably bad and sexist that I would go so far as to say that no one should read it. The 80s were a different time, huh. ...more
Well that was a turn. We went from high political fantasy to 1984 and Brave New World?? As others have noted, this one is much more cerebral/metaphoriWell that was a turn. We went from high political fantasy to 1984 and Brave New World?? As others have noted, this one is much more cerebral/metaphorical/erudite than the political drama and murder of the first two books of this quartet. I didn't care as much for it. Babel was less exciting than the Pole (or even Anima), and the supporting characters that we have grown to love are no where to be found and replaced with other, less interesting characters.
We're finally getting somewhere with Thorn and Ophelia, which is surprising. (But there is a lot of the miscommunication trope going on in this one, so fair warning.)
I was getting fed up with the many references to Ophelia's clumsiness/sickly nature, so I highlighted every instance of her clumsiness in this book. 14. FOURTEEN. This is Bella Swan levels of "oh I'm clumsy, tee hee." (Don't come for me and say "but there's a reason she's so clumsy, it's explained in the plot." I still don't like it.) I swear there were even more in the previous two books.
"In her haste, she scattered all her index cards at her feet."
"The remark so threw Ophelia that she missed a step and descended the rest of the marble staircase on her backside."
"She knocked over the pile of the clothes that Ambrose had heaped into her arms. It was galling to note that, even without having hands the wrong way around, she was the clumsier of the two of them."
"She stood up, knocking the bedside table as she did, and knocking over the lamp that was on it."
It's really overdone. Still, Ophelia is growing into herself as a character. She's still stubborn in all the wrong ways and weak in all the wrong ways, but a bent backbone is better than no backbone, I suppose.
Well, you might be thinking, why are you still reading this, Jessi? For all of my complaints about this series, it is an entertaining read. I have to finish it at this point....more
I enjoyed this one more than Out of the Silent Planet, but this one also felt less full. I also liked the first half of the book more than the second I enjoyed this one more than Out of the Silent Planet, but this one also felt less full. I also liked the first half of the book more than the second half. There's lots of philosophy and heady discussions, so it's not exactly light bedtime reading, but it's worth a little extra dedication. ...more
This is my first foray into Lewis' science fiction, and I enjoyed my journey. It was a bit denser and more philosophical than I expected, but it is a This is my first foray into Lewis' science fiction, and I enjoyed my journey. It was a bit denser and more philosophical than I expected, but it is a thought-provoking read. I especially liked the nods to Plato and social Darwinism throughout.
The main premise is a novel idea, and an interesting one to explore. I was waiting for a twist that didn't come, and I think it's better for it. ...more
A very enthusiastic 3.5 stars. Too much science for me. I'm not a science person. (This science was less fun than the Martian.)
It's a similar book to A very enthusiastic 3.5 stars. Too much science for me. I'm not a science person. (This science was less fun than the Martian.)
It's a similar book to the Martian - quirky sarcastic first person narration (does AW know how to write any other character?), science hijinks, I'm-going-to-die, alone in space, etc. I was pretty uncertain when Rocky entered the story, but he was the best part. And the ending was beautiful. And space amnesia! Both annoying and riveting.
If you like science fiction, maybe give this one a spin. It's a fun time....more
This started as a 5 star read and slipped down to a 3 star read.
Recursion is a great popcorn-thriller read. I read this so fast, despite having a supThis started as a 5 star read and slipped down to a 3 star read.
Recursion is a great popcorn-thriller read. I read this so fast, despite having a super busy week. Crouch writes like I'm watching a movie, which makes it readable and exciting. (Side note: this would make a great movie, with Inception-style directing.)
While I loved the initial premise and the mystery of the first part of the book, the plot got too convoluted for me. The ending was lackluster compared to the excitement of the beginning, and the (view spoiler)[ multiple timelines sometimes didn't make sense/add up (hide spoiler)]. I didn't sympathize or relate to the mcs at all, possibly because of the age difference between me and them. Still, this was an entertaining (if not mildly frustrating) read overall....more
I didn't read the first one, but The Candy House worked as a standalone. It was really more of a compilation of character studies, all loosely intercoI didn't read the first one, but The Candy House worked as a standalone. It was really more of a compilation of character studies, all loosely interconnected (loosely). There wasn't an overarching plot, which bugged me, but there were arcs within the individual character stories. Some stories were told in first-person, some in third-person, and some in epistolary format, making it a unique read. The characters were all varied and compelling. It's an interesting and thought-provoking work, centered around what it means to be authentic in a technological digital age. Just not interesting enough for me to want to reread or recommend this. ...more
I don't think I've ever been so thirsty while reading a book before. This is an anti-dehydration propaganda piece. Have a bottle of water within reachI don't think I've ever been so thirsty while reading a book before. This is an anti-dehydration propaganda piece. Have a bottle of water within reach while reading - you'll want it.
That aside, I like to go into books as blindly as I can. I knew nothing about this book besides the fact that it was set on a planet with sand. This made it more confusing than needed. The people of Dune rely on spice, which is essentially a drug that enhances strength and gives some intelligence. I missed the part which explained what the spice did. For half the book (which is so long? I sympathize with the editor who passed on the job), I thought this spice everyone was fighting over was -wait for it- cinnamon. And I just rolled with that. Anyways, the spice is much more valuable and powerful than your ordinary cinnamon, so keep that in the back of your mind if you decide to read this beast of a book. It'll make much more sense.
Alright, the plot. I was pretty bored and confused for about the first 75 pages. Lots of names and titles are thrown about. Herbert took eight years writing this book, and I believe it. He developed a fascinating world with *very* thorough world building. Because of all that time and dedication, he forgets that the reader does not know anything about his world. I wished there was a dictionary to refer to for the first quarter of the book (turns out there was one at the back of the book, which I only found when I finished. oh well). But, once I got into the book, I could keep up with the different people groups and alliances and whatnot. Maybe I'm just not a sci-fi person, because I never really got into the plot. It was interesting enough, and some plot turns were very well planned and executed, but there was no real tension because I knew the MC would get through it (thanks to the little history book excerpts at the beginning of each chapter). Other minor characters are killed, but there is not emotional impact because no time was spent fleshing out their characters and their importance. Some time skips happened rather abruptly, and I found myself going back a couple pages repeatedly to see if I had missed something.
The characters. I wanted more of their backstory. The Bene Gesserit school seemed so fascinating, but we only get a glimpse of it through Lady Jessica and the Mother Reverends. I wish there was some weaknesses to the Bene Gesserits because it felt like Jessica was prepared for everything. Sure, there was some hinting of the quandaries behind the ethics of setting up the school, but it wasn't fleshed out enough for my liking.
Paul is a child genius. This poor child is 15 for most of the novel, and he has the spirit of a 35 year old man. At one point, he accidentally adopts two children (8 and 10) and everyone is like: "this is normal" and I wanted to shout: "this is a slightly older child taking care of other children!" I never empathized with Paul, never felt his struggles because -he never struggles-. (Sure, there's a few moments when he does, but they are quickly forgotten about and not mentioned again.)
Dune also takes a sharp turn into the fantasy genre, which is interesting. I wish there was less fantasy because it felt like it cheapened the book. I wanted wits and science, not oneness and spirits. But this probably won't bother most people.
Overall, it was an interesting read. I recommend it for fans of sci-fi, especially old-school sci-fi. There's a lot of intrigue and political drama for those interested in that. The world building is stellar (once you figure out what all the words mean). I have never valued water and growing things as much, and it takes a very skilled writer to make words feel real. ...more
Cinder is a great jumping off place for the rest of the series. It's a little trite, a little predictable, and the "twist" isn't much of a twist. But Cinder is a great jumping off place for the rest of the series. It's a little trite, a little predictable, and the "twist" isn't much of a twist. But that being said, it's still an enjoyable read and an unique spin on a classic fairytale - no easy feat. ...more
For all of the beautiful prose and shimmering ideas, this book feels as empty as the Catherine House. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't connect to tFor all of the beautiful prose and shimmering ideas, this book feels as empty as the Catherine House. I wanted to like it, but I couldn't connect to the main character. She was so passive while tragedy came at her from all sides. ...more
This was my most anticipated read of 2019. I loved Renegades and Archenemies so so much, both getting five stars from me.
Supernova was great. But ultiThis was my most anticipated read of 2019. I loved Renegades and Archenemies so so much, both getting five stars from me.
Supernova was great. But ultimately, everything felt too clean, which is why it was a four star read for me, not a five.
I loved the inner struggle within Nova, especially in this book, as she tries to determine which side she's on. (Though there were times where I was internally screaming at Nova.) But I felt like the end could have been handled better. (view spoiler)[The whole thing where it was revealed that Ace had killed Nova's family, and the Renegades were actually there to protect her family, but failed? It cheapened the story and the stakes for me. I feel like it would've been better if Ace was in fact protecting them and was just very very wrong when it came to other things. The whole premise of the series was that things aren't always black and white, but the ending made it black and white. Renegades-still good. Ace-always bad. (hide spoiler)]
And of course there's Max. I love Max, but (view spoiler)[the absorbing/giving back of powers seemed a little beyond him, even if he's the Bandit. It also felt like a nice happy way to tie everything up. I would've loved to see how the Renegades handled their powers being stripped away. (hide spoiler)]
I do love how the book handled capital punishment/prodigy version with Agent N. It was a thought-provoking segment throughout the book, that brought some gravity to this world of superheroes. (view spoiler)[I wasn't sure if Meyer was for or against Agent N in the end, though. Nova strongly opposed it, but then was using it herself? (hide spoiler)]
Also this book is soo long? I read the first two on kindle and flew through them, but maybe holding a physical copy made me realize just how big it is. There were parts that seemed a bit slow. (view spoiler)[(Mostly when Nova was in Cragmoor prison) (hide spoiler)]
And Winston Pratt bothers me still.
But ultimately, it was a very enjoyable read. (Most definitely stayed up very late multiple nights reading.) I'll probably revisit this series in the future. And if you haven't read this series yet, what are you waiting for??...more