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3462042386
| 9783462042382
| 3462042386
| 4.16
| 2,926
| Oct 05, 2010
| Sep 23, 2010
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really liked it
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this is definitely the best book in the series so far. miles better than the second; and while the first has a special place in my heart, it is mostly
this is definitely the best book in the series so far. miles better than the second; and while the first has a special place in my heart, it is mostly because of what the TV series made out of it. Comparing just the two novels....yeah, Goldstein takes the cake. Right from the beginning, this book takes up what has always been the strength of this series: Depicting different milieus at a highly conflicted time in German history, and showing the connections between them in a suspenseful but also politically and culturally relevant crime case. This book does that with the help of two excellent central characters: Abraham Goldstein, titular character and Jewish gangster from New York, and Alexandra Reinhold, young girl and small-time criminal living on the street. Both of them could have very easily been stereotypes, but the more the story goes on, the more detailed and human the characters become. Alex's chapters depict the harsh reality of living in poverty as a young woman, including the constant threat of sexual violence. When people like Charly and Rath interact with her, in their roles as representatives of the law and the police respectively, there is a huge mistrust and fear on her side - scepticism that these people could possibly understand her situation or protect her. Such an interesting, and realistic dynamic. And Goldstein has a very complex relationship with Jewish faith and culture, which becomes even more complex when encountering the ever-present antisemitism in Berlin of 1931. He doesn't identify with the strict religiousness of his father and other members of his family, and even kind of disdains it; but he obviously stills feels a loyalty to the Jewish community, and a sort of moral obligation to protect individual Jewish people when they're in danger. It's all very well written and nuanced. At the beginning, it's very unclear how these two characters and their worlds could have anything to do with each other; but they all play their part in a larger story of organized crime, and police corruption. I loved (view spoiler)[ that the Big Baddies at the end were police officers. I mean, you could kind of figure out the general idea from the beginning, but it was still very well done and engaging. (hide spoiler)] The plot is also quite fast-paced - a lot of stuff happens! There are a lot of murders in this book, pretty much every 50 pages one happens, and the story becomes more tangled and complex with every new victim, because there seem to be no similarities at first sight! Charly also plays a larger and more active role in this book, rather than just being Rath's lover, which I tremendously enjoyed. But it's not just her being involved in the plot that I like; mostly it's that she gets to have her own moral conflict (regarding Alex). SO often that's where 'strong female characters' get stuck; even if they do get a lot of 'screentime', they often just do things perfectly and there is no real internal conflict. That's not the kind of female character I enjoy reading about. So the fact that this time it's Charly and not Rath who walks on the edge of legality in this book - extremely nice. One thing though, that really dragged this otherwise great book down for me - Gereon and Charly's relationship? Yeah. Ugh. Still ugh. Rath is just an asshole to her. There is literally no other way to interpret his actions. He's a jealous, hypocritical, belittling jerk. There is nothing wrong with showing complicated relationships, but I feel like this book depicts Gereon and Charly's fights as being the fault of both sides, and that is just so absolutely not the case. Charly just wants to be taken seriously by him, and he refuses to stand up for her or believe her, time and time again. Honestly I complectely understood why she was done with him all the time. He does apologize in the end and seems to be serious, but ....tbh that doesn't make up for all the tomfoolery he pulls here. Get yourself together, Gereon. Otherwise though.....yeah, this book is quite excellent. The plot is very well constructed, the political situations plays into all aspects of the story. I feel like the main theme of this story is the crisis of state insitutions - the police and the law - to hold society together and to create justice. That's what connects Goldstein and Alex thematically: They're both criminals who don't believe in the state's ability to secure that justice. And that's what's at the core of the 'bad guys' ideology as well. And of course, this theme perfectly fits into the historical setting - democratic institutions failing is literally the summary of early 1930s Germany on a macro level. Also, this book has a fantastic ending chapter; even though the case has been solved, there is so much emotional unease on these few pages - first Rath and Charly's goodbyes, which are kind of disillusioning for him, and then the whole book ends with SA troops marching through the streets and Rath feeling like reality is becoming unhinged a little bit more every day. It's an extremely somber, uncomfortable mood to end on, but extremely well done the way it connects the personal with the political. very strong 4 stars! might upgrade to a 5 depending on how I feel about this in the context of the next books ...more |
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Apr 15, 2020
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May 25, 2020
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Apr 11, 2020
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4063952681
| 9784063952681
| 4063952681
| 4.36
| 8,583
| Dec 17, 2014
| Dec 17, 2014
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it was amazing
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and that's it! great ending with just the right tone of hope and promise. i loved to see the change in Shoya's character actually come into the light - and that's it! great ending with just the right tone of hope and promise. i loved to see the change in Shoya's character actually come into the light - him taking intiative and facing things, instead of avoiding uncomfortable situations and responsibility - , especially that scene where the x's on other people's faces started falling away. that was such a great visual storytelling element and seeing the more playful and happy side of Shoko was so good to see, girl deserves the world and nothing less. i've grown quite fond of all the other characters as well, and i do feel a bit sad i have to let them go now overall, i really think this is the type of story i won't easily forget about. it took its themes seriously, wasn't afraid to go to dark and uncomfortable places at times and raised questions about the possibility of growth that are absolutely universal, but also really resonated with me personally. i'm super glad i got to read it! ...more |
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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4063952215
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| 4063952215
| 4.41
| 8,389
| Oct 17, 2014
| Oct 17, 2014
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it was amazing
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probably my favorite yet..........i loved the way this was structured with the backstories of each character. all of them went slightly different ways
probably my favorite yet..........i loved the way this was structured with the backstories of each character. all of them went slightly different ways, but they all somehow revolve around ~what it actually means to be a good person~. and there are no easy answers anywhere, just......hints of how their development or growth could happen. and pretty much every scene is so intensely emotional, it's impossible not to feel personally involved. that scene where Yazuru reveals what's behind her photos............broke me a little. holy shit ...more |
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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4063951111
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| 4063951111
| 4.41
| 9,640
| Jun 17, 2014
| Jun 17, 2014
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it was amazing
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FEELINGS it was great to get more insight into the Nishimiya family - I love the grandma so much (and damn it, I knew where this was going, but it was FEELINGS it was great to get more insight into the Nishimiya family - I love the grandma so much (and damn it, I knew where this was going, but it was still heartbreaking), and especially the mom's backstory, which, once again, seems entirely too real and explains her behavior really well. I was.....also pretty intrigued by Ueno in this volume. I don't like her and her victim-blaming attitude at all, but she's quite complex as a character and adds an important layer to the story imo. Also Yuzuru is such a treasure and has definitely become one of my favorite characters at this point as well! ...more |
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Jan 02, 2020
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Jan 02, 2020
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Jan 02, 2020
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Comic
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B071XHZW23
| 4.40
| 6,644
| Dec 04, 2017
| Dec 04, 2017
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really liked it
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this one hurt a lot. poor Taichi :/ there are so many little details in both the art and characterization that really put this series over the top. ne this one hurt a lot. poor Taichi :/ there are so many little details in both the art and characterization that really put this series over the top. needless to say my emotional investment is at a !!!!!!!!! at this point ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Dec 29, 2019
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Dec 29, 2019
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Dec 29, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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1642750611
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| 1642750611
| 4.36
| 5,475
| Oct 12, 2016
| Jul 23, 2019
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it was amazing
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this one's amazing too. it has more of a focus on gender identity / expression. i like how all of the characters are flawed and all trying to figure t
this one's amazing too. it has more of a focus on gender identity / expression. i like how all of the characters are flawed and all trying to figure themselves out and navigate their place in society, which is process that can be scary and painful, and which means that while they try to help each other, they can hurt each other too. the art and scenery, once again, are stunning. the visuals with the goldfish?? so so good ...more |
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1
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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Paperback
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B07R8HN1HQ
| 4.29
| 8,963
| Dec 11, 2015
| May 07, 2019
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it was amazing
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Oh yes. This is something special. The setting is so beautiful - calm and gentle, and it has that magical realism touch as well. It makes me feel like Oh yes. This is something special. The setting is so beautiful - calm and gentle, and it has that magical realism touch as well. It makes me feel like a soft warm summer day. I just want to live in that world. At the same time, the topic of being a closeted gay teenager is treated with the seriousness it demands. All of the emotions - the isolation, fear, and the very real possible consequences of being outed - are depicted with care and an honest, unflinching realism. (I can't even imagine how this must resonate with people who live in societies and communities where homophobia is the norm. It's so so important that stories like this exist.) It's honestly really astonishing how these two parts of the story - the seriousness, and the lightheartedness - come together so well, and create a cohesive vibe and theme - which is, finding a safe space, a community. A place of freedom, acceptance, and mutual support. In terms of characters, I love the lesbian couple, and also the mysterious ghost-like girl that always seems to be there at crucial moments.....I always love a good mystery, and I want to know more about her! looking forward to the second one!! ...more |
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1
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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B0DM1PT3BS
| 4.33
| 3,013
| May 10, 2012
| 2012
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really liked it
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just remembered that i read this for uni literally like a week ago havent made up my mind on it yet tbh.....so much to think about, and no doubt master just remembered that i read this for uni literally like a week ago havent made up my mind on it yet tbh.....so much to think about, and no doubt masterfully done, but do i actually /like/ it? i dont KNOW (ill update when i do know) ...more |
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1
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Dec 10, 2019
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Dec 10, 2019
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Dec 17, 2019
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0812995341
| 9780812995343
| 0812995341
| 3.75
| 164,863
| Jan 01, 2017
| Feb 14, 2017
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it was amazing
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(spoilers, i guess?) Where to even start reviewing this? Lincoln in the Bardo is.....so many things. An experimental novel. A reimagination of historic (spoilers, i guess?) Where to even start reviewing this? Lincoln in the Bardo is.....so many things. An experimental novel. A reimagination of historical fiction. A philosophical exploration of grief and what it means to be human in the face of inevitable loss. I'm gonna start with the aspect that made me connect to it initially: It's a ghost story. Most of the novel takes place on the cemetery where Abraham Lincoln's son Willie was buried, and (this apparently actually happened, historically) where Lincoln went, alone in the middle of the night, to grieve over his dead son's body. This is the basic premise, but the story is told by the various other occupants of the cemetery - spirits of people stuck in the place between life and death, the bardo. I've always been fascinated by ghost stories precisely because of this idea of in-betwenness, of not quite being a part of life and standing outside it, but not being able to let go of it either. Something holds you back, some unfulfilled dream or some idea of vengeance you couldn't fulfill, or a regret you can't let go of, or worry about the people you loved. This is what the ghosts in this book deal with - every one of them has a reason to still be there, and a story to tell. They all feel forgotten, left behind by the world continuing on without them, and they want their story to be heard. But this is also where, I think, describing this as historical fiction becomes true in a deeper sense: Because it's not just that there are historical figures inserted into some tale of magical realism. It's also painting a picture of the time - in a way, the graveyard is a microcosm of American society, and all of these individuals' stories are related to the larger circumstances of their lives - which is reflected in the way they speak (s o many interesting things are done with language in this book), or look, or the way racism or sexism shaped both their lives and their perspective on it after death. But it's also about....human nature in general. These characters are all actively in denial that they're dead, because they're afraid of its finality. They want to believe that there's a way back to their life, that they're not out of options yet. All of that involves some pretty heavy questions like: What does freedom actually mean? Forever not being attached to anything, or being attached with the knowledge that you're inevitably going to lose whatever or whoever you're attached to? It's this finality that also torments the living who are left behind. This is where the historical Lincoln and his son enter the picture. They're characterized by snippets from real historical documents, as well as ones invented by the author - I didn't look anything up, I actively don't want to know what's invented and what isn't. That's where the fascination of such a play with truth and fiction comes from, after all. It's also kind of hilarious how often these descriptions directly contradict themselves. What color did the moon have after all, that night the Lincolns threw a party? What color were his eyes? Was he a good father, or a neglectful one? We will never know. placing these snippets next to each other highlights the unreliability of 'objective' historical truth, because recollection is always flawed and highly influenced by individual perspective, experience, prejudice....etc I think it's super interesting what kind of effect this had on my perspective as a reader on those figures/people: Simultaneously feeling distant from them (because you have so many options of what they could have been like, and you don't know which is real), and at the same time actually feeling closer to them (because these different perspectives actually make them seem three-dimensional, multifaceted, like real people are). Anyway, the presence of Lincoln at the cemetery and his actions kind of turn the whole ghost society upside town, because it's extremely unusual for a living person to care this much - physically, in presence - about the dead. I've read quite a lot of stories about grief, but this is definitely among the best ones, even though (or maybe because) it's really only a few smaller scenes where we get to hear Lincoln's thoughts. But grief fundamentally changes the way Lincoln sees life, makes him see the transcience of everything, puts him into a deep sense of melancholy. And in effect, makes him doubt the civil war that he's in the middle of. I liked this connection of the larger historical context to these extremely personal motivations. I also felt like the language - which is very stream-of-consciouness in those scenes - really turns these thoughts into emotional gut punches. It's all so raw and immediate. Extremely well done. I also really want to talk about tone, because.....I've been trying to figure out what exactly the tone of this novel is, and I find it so hard because it's so unique, and doesn't fall into any of the cliches of ~detached pretentious avantgarde~. In my experience, the more experimental a work of literature, the more difficult it is to actually become emotionally attached to the characters, because there is often no linear plot and character development and everything's fractured and weird. Of course that is the point a lot of the time, it's more of an intellectual and impressionistic experience. But this is not at all like that with this novel. The mindblowing thing is that I think the formal experimentation is what actually makes it so directly engaging. I already mentioned how the scattered, contradictory accounts of the historical characters actually made them feel more real than a straightforward narration probably would have. When it comes to the spirits of the dead people, it's even more interesting. A lot of the times, their dialogue feels very cartoon-ish, their appearances grotesque and over-exaggerated, as if it was all one big parody. There are a lot of hilarious moments, in a kind of 'funny because it's so absurd and out there' way. But then again, there are moments that seemed to be portrayed in an entirely genuine way - when they tell their stories, or when all those ghosts united to a common purpose and they were released of what held them back and restored a part of their humanity. That genuinely got to me. I think ultimately, that's what this novel gets at - a shared sense of human experience in all those fragmented stories, reports and tales and glimpses of consciouness. A sense of loss, vulnerability and limitation that is part of what it means to be human, and that we all have to deal with somehow, but that's a bit less terrible knowing that we all share it. Anyway, the gist of all this is: This is one of the most interesting novels I've ever had the fortune of reading. It seems totally unique to me, and it's definitely definitely worth reading, and worth thinking about for a long time after that. 5/5 ...more |
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Apr 08, 2020
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Apr 09, 2020
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Nov 25, 2019
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Hardcover
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4.27
| 102,491
| May 07, 2019
| May 07, 2019
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it was amazing
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me: procrastinates this review for 2 weeks straight also me, finally writing it: gonna make this AS LONG AS POSSIBLE ANYWAY, Ted Chiang. The master of m me: procrastinates this review for 2 weeks straight also me, finally writing it: gonna make this AS LONG AS POSSIBLE ANYWAY, Ted Chiang. The master of mindblowing scifi short stories. Reading Stories About Your Life and Others last year was an experience if I've ever had one. What I love about his stories is that he takes an idea for a technological development or a piece of worldbuilding - some of the stories are more on the fantastical side - and then examines it from every possible angle - what would that mean for our self-understanding as humans, collectively and individually? And he just doesn't hold back at all. From that perspective he gets to some of the oldest and most important questions of our whole species. Consciousness, free will, What Actually Makes Us Human, all of that good jazz. It's like an entire universe of questions and implications and debates all condensed into an easily accessible format. And books that are easy and enjoyable to read, but leave you with impressions to sort through for weeks, are....my favorite thing in the world. Now this second collection does definintely not disappoint. It was just what I was looking for. If I had to make a direct comparison, I think I would say the first is a bit better, but that might also just be me already knowing what to expect at this point while the first completely caught me off guard. But sure enough, every single story here made me reexamine one thing or another, which is wonderful. Some thoughts on each story: The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate: ohh yes, a story based in an Islamic setting! I really love Ted Chiang's perspective on religious philosophy. there's no moralizing anywhere to be found, it's just.........a part of his investigations into how humans make sense of the world and interpret it. in this story it's especially interesting how the time travel idea ties into Muslim perspectives on free will vs determination. I think he said it in the author's note himself that there's this incredibly widespread idea that the world being predetermined would be a horrible thing and that it would essentially make human lives meaningless. But it doesn't actually have to be like that, it's just that we (in the ~west~?) have so much of a focus on individual choice in our culture that we would immediately see determinism as a kind of threat. I definitely had that assumption too, and I love how it was subverted in the story with the protagonist trying to fix his past, and then realizing (view spoiler)[ it wasn't actually the changing of events that would make a difference, but knowing what these events meant to the people involved. and that difference in perspective IS freedom, and meaning. (hide spoiler)] Definitely a favorite. Exhalation: title story! this was so cool to read because even though it takes place in a fantastical alternate universe, about halfway through I realized what real life concept the worldbuilding was referring to - entropy! And I remembered sitting in physics lessons at school and just being absolutely fascinated by this concept that any closed off system, left to itself, is gradually becoming more chaotic with every moment, and it's irreversible! and without interaction with the outside one day there is no order = energy left and everything is static! and maybe the whole universe is like that too, and we're moving toward that point with every moment of time! like.....just IMAGINE. Now this idea alone is already mindblowing (to me anyway. i love it ok), but in the world of this story, there is direct proof that this is happening and there are only a few decades left until all life stops, and the focus is on what this actually means for society. (and then of course there's a wonderful final twist which.....made me quite emotional. there is always that undertone of hope and wonder at the core of these stories, like a 'holy shit humanity actually is amazing isn't it' moment, and i love that) What's Expected of Us: a very short little story about the concept of free will and how it would essentially turn people into a state of shock and depression to know that their lives are determined. a darker take on the first story's theme. The Lifecycle of Software Objects: ahh yes my other fave! this one's quite long compared to the others, more of a novella. it's basically about raising artificial intelligence, like you would a child or a pet, and the different ethical questions that are involved with that. now I always love stories where humans and AIs form friendships or mentor relationships (like in A Close and Common Orbit!) because it's both heartwarming and cute, AND raises all these interesting questions on human nature and what consciousness and feelings and all of these things we see as essential to our existence actually are. i just loved everything about this story - the way the relationships between the humans and their digients became closer over time, the different ideas for education they had for them, the way they were like babies but also.........not........,the way the economic world was tied into the story and with it the problems of exploitation and legal rights for AIs....... and the author's note really resonated with me, and summarized the story quite perfectly imo: the fact that the common understanding of how AI would work (as in, you turn it on once and it's a fully formed entity you can communicate with) is quite naive, because any skill, especially communication, is formed by making connections based on experience and practice, and you can't pre-program or automate these developments. if we want AI to be like humans, and have comparable social skills, we have to raise them like humans, and that takes interaction, effort and energy. just like real relationships always do. Dacey's Patent Automatic Nanny: historical fiction about the idea of robots raising human children. it felt eerily realistic and the idea was pretty great, but it didn't resonate with me as much as the other stories. still.........like i said, that eerieness. i did enjoy the vibe of the story a lot The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling: oh boy, i was excited for this by the title alone. and it did not let me down. there are two parallel stories going on here: one taking place in the future where a new technology is introduced that makes it possible to re-access video footage of every single moment of your life by a simple keyword or thought. the second takes place in the past where some missionary exposes a young boy of an African tribe to writing for the first time, and that changes his whole worldview. Now, I do have.......some reservations?....about the premise of that second story because Colonialism Is Unequivocally Bad and it was portrayed quite harmlessly here, but I do get what the story was going for and it was not....horrible, but I do wonder if there could have been a better setting for it. That being said, the basic parallel between those stories is how the media we use to process the information around us fundamentally alters our perception of reality. And just like writing did change our relationship with history and with ourselves, so does this scifi technology. What I love about this is a) the incredibly important point that no technology is in itself good or bad, it always depends on HOW WE USE IT, and b) that use actually offers a lot of potential as well. The scifi part of the story was really amazing, with a plot twist I didn't see coming and that I loved a lot. Our memories really aren't reliable at all, but are all filtered through our current understanding of who we are. They're constantly being reevaluated to fit that current narrative. And having actual objective footage of past events that could potentially contradict that narrative....well, that could aid a lot of personal growth, if it was used with that intention. Really interesting to think about. The Great Silence: a hot take about how we have delusions about communicating with alien species while we don't even communicate with the animals that are directly around us (even though we could, if we cared) and whose habitats we're systematically destroying. whoops. hurtful and true. Omphalos: another one on religion, and what it would mean for a deeply religious person (and scientist) to be faced with evidence that humanity is not the center of the universe. This was quite suspenseful, and the worldbuilding fascinated but also kind of confused me, to be honest. Not being religious myself, the central idea didn't hit quite as hard, but it was well written and I loved all the parts about how scientific curiosity and religious devotion don't have to cancel each other out, but both can actually be seen as the same core feeling of amazement at the universe. Anxiety is the Dizziness of Freedom: and my last favorite! this is a world where it's possible to create a parallel universe and communicate with your own parallel self for a while before the two universes split apart forever. SO interesting as a concept, and the story revolves around the issues this causes for people's mental health, as well as once again the idea of free choice, nature vs nurture, etc. I liked the characters and their relationships a lot, and a lot of the issues that they discussed were issues that we already have in reality, just magnified through that direct parallel to a mirror self. Overall.....well, it's Ted Chiang. And that means reliably extraordinary, if that makes any sense. Definitely an unrestricted recommendation! ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Nov 24, 2019
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Dec 2019
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Nov 24, 2019
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Kindle Edition
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0316341711
| 9780316341714
| 0316341711
| 4.42
| 66,363
| Oct 02, 2018
| Oct 02, 2018
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it was amazing
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Here's the thing. Pragmatically, this isn't perfect and there are things that I do think could have been done slightly better. But at the end of the d
Here's the thing. Pragmatically, this isn't perfect and there are things that I do think could have been done slightly better. But at the end of the day.....I rate books by the way they affect me and speak to me, and just like with Strange the Dreamer, the emotional effect this book had on me is so deep and so wide, in the sort of way that only happens maybe once or twice a year, and that you cherish because it's so rare and special. (You know when it's actively impossible to read something new after you finished a book because you feel like your entire self is wrapped up in the book and its world and characters and themes and letting go is painful? Yeah, this mood.) First, I want to highlight the absolutely brillant choice of bringing in new characters, Kora and Nova, for this second book. In general, introducing new characters later into a series can often be tricky and if it isn't done well, they just feel like they derail the story and make the whole series less cohesive. But in this case - I don't think I've ever seen a more fantastic and inspired way of making use of new characters. Instead of distracting from the main idea of the series, they bring it into even sharper focus; they highlight the way the main conflict between humans and godspawn in the first book are only a small piece in a way larger story: literally larger - both in terms of space and time - and symbolically, in the sense that their story perfectly expands upon and recontextualizes the themes of the first book. Their story carries (literally) entire worlds of emotional weight and tragedy and is SO well written. I love how, at first, I thought Kora and Nova were just going to be side characters used to explain the backstory of the Mesarthim - where they came from, etc. Then, with every additional chapter, their relation to the main story became more apparent, until finally (view spoiler)[ Nova became the main antagonist, and Kora became, in a way, the most important character in the story - even though she died, she's the one that makes every good thing that happens in the whole two books possible, in both past and present. (hide spoiler)] The way this was structured and gradually builds into the main story honestly blows my mind. It is so emotionally resonant because - once again - the themes of Kora and Nova's story build upon the ones from Strange the Dreamer: a legacy of hate, oppression and disenfranchisement - in their lives, it happens both in their home village and of course by Skathis - and against it and beyond it, a dream of something bigger and brighter that seems impossible. (view spoiler)[ The strength of Kora and Nova's love literally makes Nova do the impossible - and then just think back of Lazlo in the first book: 'It was impossible, of course; but when did that ever stop a dreamer from dreaming?' (hide spoiler)] It fits together with the main story like perfect puzzle pieces, but not in the way of resolving everything; instead, when the two stories collide, the emotional scars on every side are so deep-seated and heavy that the legacy of hate and trauma nearly crushes all hope. And there's the second thing I love about this book, and this series in general: almost ALL the main characters, protagonists and antagonists, are....survivors. They have been scarred by horrible things that left deep marks on them, and they are flawed and complex but mostly just painfully human - you always understand, every single moment, why they're doing what they're doing. This is why the exploration of Minya's mind in the first half is so important (not to mention extremely well written - it literally feels like a horror movie) - this book never lets you forget, for a moment, that she is, after all, a survivor and a child who has been given so much more than she could possibly bear - but she did anyway. All of the Minya moments in this book cut so deep, especially (view spoiler)[ the revelation about the Ellens that sent a whole wave of shock, horror and pity for this character through me in one single moment - it's so horrible because it highlights that even love and care was an illusion her own mind had to create for her and the others so they could survive. she was always alone, always. she was a little girl living in a world of injustice and no one, ever, helped her. it's impossible not to understand why she is the way she is after that. - also amazing was the moment she lets go of her ghosts and everyone realizes THAT is what kept her from growing and becoming fully human (hide spoiler)] But if I were to highlight the central character of all this - beside the antagonists - it would of course be the titular Muse of Nightmares herself, Sarai. The titles of the two books in the duology are very aptly chosen because if the last one was Lazlo's book - his hero's journey - , with Sarai as a very important supporting character, here it is the other way around. Sarai really comes into her own in this book and learns how using her ability in new ways, to heal instead of torture, is the key to everyone's salvation - she's the one, the only one, that can make the dream of hope and a better world actually come true, because only she truly understands the antagonist's struggles that are going on inside their minds. It's brillant and wonderful character AND plot development, seamlessly tied together. And of course, it continues a main theme of Laini Taylor's writing: the question of how 'evil', instead of being defeated, can actually be reformed, saved from itself. Of course, this doesn't come easy - there is no magical, sudden healing of years of trauma and this book never pretends that. But the hope and love that Sarai came to know through Lazlo, and that both characters represent, shines in its hope and strength through this whole story and makes its mark - it can, maybe, even do the impossible. There are many more things left to say about the other side characters, but I'll keep it short - I only really want to highlight Thyon, who is my fav and whose character development I've been cheering for since book one, and here we get it and it's beautiful and realistic and liberating and tugs at all of your heartstrings. Calixte is, once again, an absolute icon, and I love how the other godspawn react to all the changes that are happening around them - especially Sparrow who grows so much in this book. Of course, here's also the point where I would usually start talking about writing style and tone, but.....I've already said multiple times how much I love Laini Taylor's writing, about how it's so wonderfully constructed that it even made me enjoy some tropes in the DOSAB series that I otherwise would have never liked. And here, where it's tied to a fantastic plot and fantastic characters, it can shine like never before - her language is so well thought out that I actively slowed down my usual reading speed to take everything in. Every word and line is crucial and brings up an array of impressions. It's beautifully metaphorical, but never in a way that feels cheesy or contrite, because Laini's metaphors are innovative and new and they always seem perfectly tied to the emotion they are meant to express. Which is why her writing is so satisfying to read - it's like, I don't know, watching someone continually shoot arrows that perfectly hit their target. Only the target is like....you know. Emotional resonance. (This is why I'm not a writer. Unlike Laini, I'm not good with imagery in language. :D) Now, about those little criticisms that I talked about at the beginning? Well, sometimes the pacing could feel a little too slow, while towards the end there are scenes that I would've liked to see a little more of (mostly of side characters that got little exposure). The plot doesn't feel quite as tight and straighforward as it did in Strange the Dreamer. And, well, I did kind of miss the setting of Zosma, in an odd way. I already said that overall I really loved the 'widening' of the story both in space and time, but of course, that also means that Lazlo's backstory is largely irrelevant in this book, and something about the magic of his journey is - has to be - unique to the first book. That's not really a criticism anyway, just.....an observation of what I valued more about the first book, I guess. Maybe I just missed seeing into Lazlo's mind a bit more. But overall, of course, I adore and love this book and this series so so much - I could probably write pages more, but I'll just leave it here - I think I got throught to the heart of what speaks to me about this sequel, and the series as a whole. It's never ashamed of going to really dark, horrific places with its themes, while at the same time, representing a sense of magic and love and wonder and.....hope that is deep and rich. I love the way these two sides play out and interact with each other and create something so beautiful and complex. The DOSAB series was good, occasionally great, but Strange the Dreamer is Laini Taylor's masterpiece. And I think it's one that will stay with me for life. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Apr 11, 2020
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Apr 23, 2020
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Nov 17, 2019
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Hardcover
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0827603983
| 9780827603981
| 0827603983
| 4.35
| 1,071
| 1945
| Jan 01, 1991
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it was amazing
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read as I'll write about this for uni. Since our understanding of the Holocaust (as almost anything else in history) is dominated by a male perspectiv read as I'll write about this for uni. Since our understanding of the Holocaust (as almost anything else in history) is dominated by a male perspective, it's so important to read and give exposure what female survivors have written about their experiences, too (which were different in a lot of ways). This book consists of six chapters all centering on the stories of specific women who Liana Millu was in contact with- and often friends with - at the Birkenau concentration camp. Through these very personal stories she touches on a lot of subjects that are often forgotten in this context, such as prostitution (a major topic for women as it was a way to better chances for survival - at a horrible cost, though), and motherhood (there is a story of a pregnant woman, and one who almost starves herself just so she can get enough food for her son, who she meets once a day, to survive). It's incredible to me how much hope and resilience a lot of these women still showed in this absolute dehumanizing horror they were in. Of course, there is also a lot of hate among them - that's what this sort of environment does to you - and what you could see as internalized misogyny, too. And most of the stories, inevitably, end with death and the destruction of hope. Still, the fact that genuine friendship could still exist under these conditions is really remarkable to me. I'm so glad this book exists to give at least some of these women the memory and honor they deserve. An incredibly imporant testimony that I would recommend right next to Primo Levi's much more well known book, If this is a Man. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 29, 2019
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Feb 02, 2019
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Feb 02, 2019
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Hardcover
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3865528783
| 9783865528780
| 3865528783
| 3.88
| 37,647
| Oct 05, 2017
| Feb 02, 2021
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it was amazing
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phew, i needed a day or two to process this (especially the ending...) but here it is: this is a pretty much flawless, incredibly eerie and gripping go phew, i needed a day or two to process this (especially the ending...) but here it is: this is a pretty much flawless, incredibly eerie and gripping gothic/horror story spanning 3 different timelines (!), featuring an old haunted mansion, superstition, herbology and witchcraft, mental health, complex female characters and social commentary. what more could you want? I think one of the biggest reasons this works so well is Laura Purcell really has a knack for setting and atmosphere, which is arguably the most important thing in a story like this. The mansion where most of the story takes place seems kind of eerie from the start, but over the course of the first half of the book, things gradually and subtly slip from 'kind of strange' to 'absolutely terrifying', and in the second half things really get out of control. The first half is definitely my favorite, if only for that fantastic buildup. I love subtle horror like this where you watch things slowly spiral out of control, like I said in an update it's kind of morbidly fascinating and definitely one of my favorite kinds of story arcs. Now, as I said there is more than one timeline here. There is definitely a main one which anchors the whole story - in the 1860s, widow Elsie moves to her husband's country estate after his mysterious death and starts noticing Strange Ongoings - but there is another which takes place 200 years prior, and is the diary of one of her husband's ancestors, who grew up in the same place. I loved this additional element - sometimes I even found this second story more gripping - as Anne Bainbridge, the main character of that story, has so much of a complex internal life, and her own incredibly tragic story really adds a deeper background to the first story which it otherwise wouldn't have had. That's what I love about multiple timelines, done right: They can give the whole narrative a deeper sense of tragedy as well as thematic cohesion. It was definitely done masterfully here. Finally we have a third storyline which takes place in the future, where main character Elsie is in a mental hospital and can't recall anything that happened to her. Slowly she dives back into her past with the help of a doctor she learns to trust. This adds to the eerieness of the main story, as it's clear something big must have happened that almost completely shattered her mind. And up until the very end it's mysterious how the whole thing comes together. Now, as I've mentioned, there is also plenty of social commentary both in the subtext and actual text of the story, which really gave it that additional touch to turn it to real greatness. All of the main characters are women, and all of them have to deal with loneliness - alienated from the men and the world around them, trying to find something to hold on to. That connects over all of the storylines, which makes it a potent theme. And then there are the topics of witchcraft, and mental illness, both of which have been used to discredit, shame, harm and 'other' women in history. All of this is incredibly important to the story and woven into its unsettling atmosphere. But there is also strong subtext regarding the treatment of the poor, and other marginalized social groups. The main character also has to deal with personal trauma, and in the end the difference between that and the supernatural happenings at the mansion start to blur and everything becomes questionable. Is Elsie even a reliable narrator? Is she really imagining all of this, caused by her trauma? That element is masterfully done, because of course you want to believe her over the men in her life who tell her she's crazy and 'irrational', but on the other hand, the uncertainty can't help creeping into you. Like the silent companions creeping around the mansion. Okay, I'm getting carried away. This is fantastic, a real highlight of my reading year already. Reminded me a bit of Sarah Waters, actually, especially The Little Stranger. And of course, Shirley Jackson. If you like any of those two, or even just really well written, creepy historical gothic fiction, this is definitely for you. And I'm really starting to think that horror written by women with a tragic flair and socially conscious undertones might become one of my favorite subgenres ever. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 18, 2019
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Mar 20, 2019
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Nov 09, 2018
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Hardcover
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0330458140
| 9780330458146
| 0330458140
| 3.54
| 12,643
| Jun 23, 2009
| May 01, 2009
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really liked it
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I wrote my bachelor's thesis about this book, so I'm in no mood to go into detail about it once again, but basically - if you want to read about the l
I wrote my bachelor's thesis about this book, so I'm in no mood to go into detail about it once again, but basically - if you want to read about the legacy of colonialism in British society through a fragmented and trippy gothic tale - go for it. It's not that easy to get into at first, but really fascinating and rewarding once you dig in more deeply. (And even without all the postcolonial background in mind, it's just nicely spooky overall, so....generally recommendable for the October / November time, I'd say.) (also, there's wlw!) ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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not set
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Jan 2019
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Oct 25, 2018
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Hardcover
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0330426648
| 9780330426640
| 0330426648
| 4.26
| 114,303
| Jul 05, 2002
| Oct 26, 2010
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it was amazing
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These stories completely blew my mind. I never thought about how well suited science fiction is for the short story format. It's like small glimpses i
These stories completely blew my mind. I never thought about how well suited science fiction is for the short story format. It's like small glimpses into alternative realities where human life is drastically altered - due to new discoveries /technological developments/ or some almost fantasy settings with some thought-provoking differences to our world - and then these differences are thought out in terms of what they would mean - for society, but also for out whole way of seeing the world, the very nature of our consciousness. I'll say it again, this is MINDBLOWING. I have read few books that have made me question things as fundamentally as this one. I also loved this guy's writing style a lot. Quite straightforward, but evocative at the same time. Here are my thoughts on the stories I havent commented on in my updates yet: Understand: this was the first story from this collection i actually loved, im so fascinated with different levels of intelligence correlating with heightened self-awareness, to the point where you could witness your own thinking process happening....and then youd have a meta level in your brain controlling different parts of it? and youd be able to completely control the reactions you have on others? like. holy shit. everything about this was equally fascinating and creepy. Seventy-Two Letters: I had kind of a hard time wrapping my head around the concept of this world. I liked the fact that it was historical, but mixed with 'modern' science, but it was also a little confusing. And it was also a little more predictable than the others? But it was certainly interesting, sort of a new twist on the mind vs body debate. I liked it, but it wasn't quite as strong as the others imo. The Evolution of Human Science: super short, but effective! id find it really creepy to imagine that one day we might create a sort of smarter sub species of humans....but the idea that theyd be living in harmony with us is interesting. if you grew up in a world like this you probably wouldnt think to question it. Hell Is the Absence of God: ohhh yes this was good. all about the age old 'how can god be just if theres injustice in the world' idea but taken to a literal level. i found it kind of absurd to think about angel visitations just being a regular thing at first but i got used to it, and it actually became a little creepy too. I liked the approach to the topic through the different characters all trying to find meaning in their lives where god is an unquestionable reality, in different ways. not sure i entirely understand the significance of the ending. Liking What You See, A Documentary: This might be my favorite of all. I just love everything about it. I love the documentary style with each voice adding a different view on the issue, and how it was basically about technology possibly aiding social justice. I wouldve never even thought about this possibility before, and it opens up an entire new bulk of questions - is it better to not know if a person is beautiful or not, making it impossible to even understand discrimination based on looks, or to know it and consciously fight against your own impulses? it is actually morally better to shut off some of our biological functions because they dont really serve a purpose anymore in our highly advanced society, and are actually cause of injustice? and then the additonal problem of overstimulation in the media possibly 'poisoning' our real life interactions. it all completely blew my mind. it's super unsettling and conflicting. i tried asking myself what i would do if i had the choice like in the story. i honestly don't know. I completely agree with the review at the back that says 'Ted Chiang blends human emotion and scientific rationalism'. Both of these areas are inseparable in these stories, which make them so....realistic i guess? in a weird way? i could actually imagine all of this happening. I might not like all the stories the same (my favorites are Liking What You See, Understand, and Story of Your Life i think), but all of them made me question some fundamental things i never thought i would ever question. and i love that. I would recommed this to anyone, honestly. An incredible collection. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Aug 18, 2018
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Aug 22, 2018
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Aug 18, 2018
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ebook
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1473652375
| 9781473652378
| 1473652375
| 3.38
| 1,499
| Feb 22, 2018
| Feb 22, 2018
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it was amazing
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alright, finally some thoughts. This is the kind of book that's an easy sell for me: deeply psychological, more of a meandering self exploration of th alright, finally some thoughts. This is the kind of book that's an easy sell for me: deeply psychological, more of a meandering self exploration of the protagonist's psyche and her relationships throughout her life than anything else. And I feel like it kind of prepared me for the complicated psychology of being a mother years before that actually is the case (if I end up being one at all). I find that really fascinating. But a lot of the ideas here are generally applicable to having relationships with people or even just understanding yourself. "Sight" is that constant strive for understanding that the protagonist has - understanding her own motivations feelings and subconscious, understanding other people and her relationships to them - , for better or for worse. I felt like the reason this resonated with me is because it comes from a place of perfectionism that I can deeply relate to. It's almost like an obsessive tendency of the main character to understand everything about herself so she knows exactly how she influences her children so they don't accidentally come to harm by her behaviour. It's a thought I've had before - all the ways we all unintentionally inflict violence upon each other, and the way it can never really be prevented. It can be a paralysing thought. But at the same time, the book also stresses the magic that lies in not knowing things, in the mystery of our own subconscious, how accepting that and trying to do good anyway is really the only way to live. The different sections of the book explore the protagonist's relationship to her mother and grandmother (as part of her reflections on her own motherhood), and I loved the chapters about her grandmother in particular, who was a psychotherapist, so the ruthless examination of other people's psyches was literally her job and it influenced the family deeply. There is kind of a tragic tinge to this character as she's portrayed as very competent, but also lacking a kind of warmth, a real emotional connection to her family. She came across as very cold to me at first, but came to realize with the protagonist it came from a very human desire to always be in control of herself. I loved the protagonist's memories from her childlike perspective, trying to reconcile this idea of her mother and grandmother as sort of all-knowing, protective entities with the realization that they also have hidden sides, complex internal lives. I feel like that's kind of the central disillusionment of growing up: The idea that adults have things figured out. In a lot of ways this book is also about how to reconciliate individuality / personal freedom and dependency / relationships. The story focuses a lot on the curious thing about motherhood where you are never totally yourself, as your child is always on your mind, but at the same time the child is its own person and will inevitably grow distant from you. The protagonist reflects on the emotional distance she's always felt with her own mother and grandmother, and the regret she feels about not having built deeper relationships with them. But she also knows that a lot of that distance from their part had to do with a desire for protection. It's all very nuanced. All of this is supported by the additional element of historical figures' stories that all revolve about some scientific discovery or theory - the x-ray, psychoanalysis, the evolution of medicine. they all have to do with the ideas of understanding and interpersonal relationships that are central to the book. Now the themes by themselves are super fascinating, but here are two things that really made this book stand out to me: a) the writing is absolutely phenomenal. i've read other reviews of people finding it too contrived/flowery, and while I get where they're coming from I'm not bothered by that at all. I have a weakness for wordy, melodic, sophisticated sounding writing - I only dislike it when it's all aesthetic and there is nothing of substance actually said by it. But there is PLENTY of substance here. The book is so full of incredibly cutting insights into interpersonal relationships that I could've selected a quote from practically every page. It really gets you into the mood and nuance of the story too. Fantastic job. b) the tone. with a character focused, heavy book like this it's very easy to fall into the whole self-obsessed-but-self-loathing melancholic detached pseudo intellectual vein that i absolutely detest. and while i get how this might come across in similar ways to some, i actually found the tone very honest and appealing. the protagonist always judges herself and others in context, and ultimately just comes across as someone trying too hard to be perfect and it's kind of eating her alive. maybe it's the prefectionism in it i mentioned earlier, but something about this constant examination of the self and past instead of actually....you know, living... really really clicked with me. not even in a depressing light, just an honest and critical one. and for all of the sadness and distance the story explores, there are always moments of hope and connection, too. it's all about trying, in the end. being brave enough to try. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Mar 24, 2019
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Apr 15, 2019
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Aug 16, 2018
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Hardcover
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0316126063
| 9780316126069
| 0316126063
| 4.25
| 20,256
| Oct 03, 2017
| Oct 03, 2017
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it was amazing
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We are the dead. We are the keepers of the stories. We hold the history of blood and promises. We are speaking. Are you listening? Will you hear? I'm We are the dead. We are the keepers of the stories. We hold the history of blood and promises. We are speaking. Are you listening? Will you hear? I'm pretty sure everyone who follows my reviews knows at this time that I consider the Diviners series to be one of the most brillant novels that have ever been written, needless of genre. Especially the second book, Lair of Dreams, which was my favorite book of last year by far and which does a fantastic job deconstructing the idea of the American dream, while at the same time showing the good side of it - its ideas of hope, freedom and promise - through those who have always been kept from it, the marginalized - characters with different backgrounds, stories and experiences, come together. Characters who were complicated and layered and all had their own dreams, their own facades and illusions. Combined with the incredible, atmospheric and haunting (and sometimes downright terrifying) writing and overall vibe of the story, it was damn near perfect. So to say my expectations for this third book were high would be a major understatement. I was extremely hyped for it, but also a little afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations. (big SPOILERS) So what can I say? Well, here's the first thing: this book is different in one important aspect from its predecessors - the stakes. The first two books were mainly focused on the internal lives of the characters and the stories were mostly about them, a contained narrative - yes, the events such as the murders or the sleeping sickness did affect the greater public, but after they were resolved, the world went back to normal. There was no big change or payoff outside of that in the characters' own lives. That has changed now. And here is where it becomes obvious that this is the buildup for the final book in the series - because now this story gets BIG. Subplots that the characters were on in the first two books are now brought up again to get closer to the bigger threat that lies behind all the supernatural AND human threats, and how it all connects together. There are some big revelations, but perhaps more importantly, the effects of these schemes that have mainly been played in the shadows are now brought to daylight. And these effects are terrifying. This is the first time that a real, palpable threat comes not only the Diviners' way, but the way of all marginalized people, from two sides - the most powerful people in American society, and the supernatural. In a way, the Diviners are in fact fictional representations of the diversity of American society, I think. And now they're under attack and being denounced as traitors of the state - that is a metaphor for the justification of hate and bigotry under the pretense of "freedom" and "safety". It is all too real. It was through these books that I found out that the American eugenics movement did in fact predate the Holocaust, and in some way even 'set the stage' for it. In fact I wasn't aware that there was a big-scale eugenics movement in America at all, and that it was funded by actual tons of most powerful people in the country (meaning, rich white men). And that just reinforces the point of the goddamn book, doesn't it. The sugarcoating of history. We don't talk about what we want to forget. We don't talk about our ghosts. We only look forward. Well, this book mainly just takes the idea that if you try to forget the past, the hurt and violence and grief you caused, it will eventually come back to haunt you, and makes it literal. The ghosts in this book are hungry because they have been cast aside by history. Forgotten. Their memories trampled over in an attempt to sell a vision of America that has never been real. And all of this results in the fact that this book made me considerably angrier than anything that came before. Because I know that what's at the core of these books is real, not fantasy. Hundreds of years of oppression and hate and bigotry for anyone who isn't a rich white man is real (also in Europe). And worse, the miswriting of history, the not owning up to the horrors of the past, is real. The denial of responsibility. The denial that there is anything wrong. Still, to this day. Especially in America where the myth-making has been so strong and persistent that today someone can come along and pretend that there is some glorious American past that can be reached again and people actually BELIEVE IT. And all of this is possible because the ugly reality of the past has never actually been dealt with. "We live in a haunted house", Libba Bray writes at the end. A lot of these all-too-realistic descriptions really got to me in a feeling of real rage that I'm sadly pretty familiar with lately. Okay, now, to the actual characters and arcs. Because it's not like these suddenly stop with those bigger contexts. In fact the characters are still the backbone of this series, incredibly well written, I love them all so much and I suffered with them through everything. Evie had incredible character development here, weaponizing her bluntness and "edge" instead of trying to hide it, and trying to use it for defending good instead of trying to run from her problems and hiding behind her charm. She really has developed an incredible moral compass and bravery and I couldn't be more proud of her. Sam has an even bigger place in his heart now as he shows his 'realer' side in this book more than ever, what lies behind all his smugness. Not that that isn't still highly entertaining. I love him. Theta is one of the shining stars of this book, having to finally confront her past head on and learn to control her gift instead of letting it control her. Her Diviner gift is in many ways an image for female power and strength - the way she feels ashamed for it at first, the way she loses it in presence of Roy, but then learns how to use it as a weapon, as an instrument of defense, of freedom - it's perfect. And the way the Proctor sisters sort of become her witch mentors is perhaps my favorite little detail of this book. Jericho has an incredibly tragic story, but also one of the most layered ones with no easy answers. And Mabel....oh my dear Mabel. All the time I thought I knew where her character arc was going - it was all about the age old moral question of "peaceful vs violent resistance" which really doesn't have an easy answer. Mabel once thought there was one, but as she grows more and more frustrated that no real change is brought upon by writing pamphlets and holding signs, she becomes more and more reckless and daring. And yet.....god, I never would've imagined the ending. It broke my heart. Her last chapter really is one of the most transcendendly beautiful ones in the whole book. I'm still hurting. And Memphis and Isaiah....well, their arcs have many focuses, but mostly, Memphis' is about growing more confident, connecting deeper with his "healer" identity beyond just his gift (such as realizing the ghosts need to be heard to be free - but also giving out forgiveness to those who deserve it). And then there is the topic of mental health which is important mainly for the first part of the book. I love the fact that Libba Bray sheds her light on that and didn't forget to include mentally ill people in her discussion of marginalization. The chapter about Henry's mom, as well as the character of Conor Flynn, are incredibly powerful and respectful (and sad) portrayals. They're shown as real, three-dimensional people who experienced things they weren't equipped to handle and, in case of Conor, developed coping mechanisms for that are dismissed as "crazy" (which is exactly the way it still is today in the eyes of many people). Beyond that, she also mentions the institutionalization of mentally ill people has always been (mis)used to discredit and get rid of politically "undesired" people, or those who didn't fit into the system - poor people, women who refused to abide to the rules of society, revolutionaries, etc. It's a really important historical fact that I'm glad was mentioned. (it's like, what a society considers to be "abnormal" shows the norms that are enforced in that society.) The Diviners really work as a team here, and I loved all their bonding moments, the way the gave each other hope even as the world closed in on them. A real American dream. The last point I have yet to talk about is the writing. It's still nothing short of awe-inducing. Only thing is I wish there were more of the "zooming out" chapters without plot where the narrative voice takes over and describes the bigger context of the plot, the construction and deconstruction of America, because these are always fantastic and spot-on and I'm in love with them. There is one in the middle of the book, but not as many compared to the other two. When it comes to setting I specifically loved the descriptions of Marlowe's estate, like I said in my update. The shimmer of glory and lushness and happiness, but when you stop and listen closer, you can feel the horror and screams of a suppressed past. What a great metaphor for the theme of the book as a whole. Overall, I did like Lair of Dreams a little more. But this book is still fantastic. I admire the way it goes bigger in scope than ever before, and like I said, it got to me on a real visceral level at some points. And obviously, I still love the characters and the writing with all my heart. And I'm scared for the final book. And excited. (And I'm also scared and excited for the world, at the same time. Like I said....this series is all too real.) ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Feb 04, 2019
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Feb 12, 2019
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Jul 22, 2018
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Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
1473621445
| 9781473621442
| 1473621445
| 4.37
| 80,072
| Oct 20, 2016
| Oct 20, 2016
|
it was amazing
|
I was madly excited for this second installment in the Wayfarers series ever since I read what it was about. I've always found the topic of artificial
I was madly excited for this second installment in the Wayfarers series ever since I read what it was about. I've always found the topic of artificial intelligence incredibly fascinating, and being familiar with Becky Chambers' warm and gentle approach to science fiction from Small Angry Planet, this promised to be a new and refreshing perspective on the topic. (especially because I'm so over the ~sentient technology is inherently evil and will destroy us all~ narrative, I think it says more about humans than it does about technology when even the thought of another possible sentient life form automatically makes us hostile) And it certainly was - this book was everything I had hoped for. It is essentially about finding your place in the world, your identity, and learning what it means to be human (or, well. a sentient creature). These topics are explored through two stories; Sidra, an AI, trying to get used to her new existence inside a human body, and the backstory of her friend and caretaker Pepper, who grew up as a slave in a dystopian world that reminded me a lot about a chapter in Cloud Atlas- being completely unaware that there is a world outside the one inside the factory where she lives, her whole existence being based around the work she does. As she escapes, she only survives thanks to an AI in a broken spaceship who raises her and teaches her about the world. Since both our protagonists were created by someone else and not naturally (Pepper is a clone), they are already paralleled in their origin, and their stories are both about emancipation; from a place of determination by others (or 'the world' at large) to finding strength and value within themselves. In a way, these are common storylines, but the science fiction topic gives them a whole new, challenging aspect - what really IS the difference between 'organic' and 'artificial' life if we are all determined by our surroundings to a certain extent? if we both have the capability to build connections, to reflect on ourselves? What I love so much is that these issues aren't cheapened in some sentimental way, but it's actually explored how differently Sidra views the world; being made to monitor a ship, she is overwhelmed by the different perspective inside a human body and struggles with it a lot. She is often angry and frustrated, struggling with no one really understanding her situation, but then also ashamed of herself for not being more grateful to the people who love her. it's all very realistic. The point is not that we're all totally equal in the way we see the world; it's that despite our differences, we are all equally valuable. She asks herself so many interesting questions; does being in a human body kit make her more human? or will she always belong to her 'natural' state? will she ever feel at home in her body? The parallel story about Pepper's past that I initially thought I would be less interested in, actually gripped me so much, too, even having more of my interest than the other for some time! Something about this story of surviving against all odds, the beautiful relationship between her and Owl, the way Owl tries to help her even when it's difficult; witnessing the different stages of growing up and the challenges that come with it; something about it affected me so much. there is just so much love and strength in both those characters, against so much hostility. Of course, the storylines converge at the end and I was just an emotional mess at that point. It's been clear since the first book that, despite all the progress that was made in interspecies relations over the years in the universe of the books, AIs are excluded from that; they are not considered to be people and don't have any rights. This book really shows the effects of that; being treated as objects (because theyre seen as nothing more than objects, of course), being discarded / shut down / abandoned without second thought. Seeing all of this through the eyes of AI characters who certainly see the world differently, but nonetheless have real and, well, 'human' emotions and attachments, was truly hurtful and unsettling. The thematic parallels between the stories was nothing short of brillant and the structual element that really made this book for me, especially compared to the first. I also thought that it was a bit more grim, more serious than the first - without ever losing the gentle vibe, but there was a sense of problems taking longer and being more difficult to solve, which i LOVED because it was the one thing i found a bit too sentimental and unrealistic in the first one. This was the perfect balance between beautiful, optimistic and 'wrapped up in a comfy blanket drinking tea' vibe, and serious conflict and struggles. The central idea of what I take away from this book is what it all comes down to, what is most important, is choice. Having the choice to determine yourself, to define your own identity the way you want to and the way you feel comfortable with, should be a given right to anyone - if you're capable of making that choice, you should be able to make it. And of course, it's also about the power of real, genuine connection in helping us become ourselves. But I feel like that is THE Becky Chamber topic in general. I love this book to pieces, it will definitely be one of my favorites of the year. 4.5/5 books for this thought-provoking, but beautiful piece by Becky Chambers. I can't WAIT to read the third one. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jul 26, 2018
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Jul 28, 2018
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Jan 26, 2018
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Hardcover
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B0117K9N3Q
| 4.58
| 702,746
| Sep 27, 2016
| Sep 27, 2016
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it was amazing
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long story short: this was a solid sequel & conclusion to the series and a great way to start my new reading year! while SOC was focused on the heist o long story short: this was a solid sequel & conclusion to the series and a great way to start my new reading year! while SOC was focused on the heist on the Ice Court, in this book Ketterdam is the main star. i love how its not just the location but it represents almost all of the thematic background of the novel - money, social standing, reputation, greed, disillusionment, political conflicts ... all the stories of the different characters came to my mind when i read a description of the city or parts of it. its so lively in my mind that its almost like Ketterdam and its citizens are their own character. the setting is definitely one of my favorite things about this series. what i liked most was getting even deeper into the (heartbreaking) backstories of some characters (jesper, wylan), and seeing each of their personal conflicts get resolved - with each other's help! the first book saw these kids coming together to try to accomplish an impossible mission but in this book you really saw the EFFECTS of their friendship on their character development and the way they eventually grew as people - like an antidote to the consumerism and greed that characterizes Ketterdam. i loved both wylan and jesper even more now. and their relationship, too. jesper's arc was resolved in a surprisingly touching way. and i love how the whole 'learning to see oddities as a gift instead of something to be ashamed of or hide' theme applies to both wylan and jesper and made it possible for them to help each other grow bc they understood each other's struggle. <3 i felt like kaz didnt take center stage as much as he did in the first book, and maybe i wouldve liked a little more exploration of his moral code (like, what are the edges of what he is willing to do? im still not sure. i know that the last scene with pekka was probably supposed to clarify this but truth is there isnt a simple distinction between 'doing ugly things but its ok because theyre necessary or can be excused' and 'doing bad things that are irredeemably bad'. like that area is so murky and...idk i think maybe i wouldve thought inej would want to dig a little deeper with that, but i dont mind that much.) i did like his schemes as usual, especially the last twist that i didnt see coming at all! speaking of inej!! i adored her in the first book but by now she is truly....ok, i can say it: my favorite fictional character, of all time, ever. *round of cheers and applause* i love her so so much. i had read the quote about 'what about us, the nobodies, the ordinary girls?' before but seeing it in context was so much more powerful. beside the fact that i just love her for her personality, i feel like inej's arc was the most interesting and also the most meta in the entire book - first she's captured by van eck and he makes clear that he doesnt actually hate her (he does hate kaz), but simply sees her as a means to an end and doesnt give two shits about her positively OR negatively and thats kinda how the entire world sees inej and 'invisible' girls like her. but instead of letting it be, inej 'when the world gives you nothing you demand something of it anyway' ghafa fought back and goddamn DEMANDED her autonomy from the world and refused to stay a victim and kept her kindness and her wisdom and her dignity and didnt let anyone take it from her I WOULD DIE FOR HER. anyway then there's also dunyasha and!!! i wondered about the point of this character at first but then of course!! dunyasha is the contrast to inej, the girl with royal blood in her veins and a glorious destiny SHE LITERALLY IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE CHOSEN ONE TROPE YALL AND BY BEATING DUNYASHA INEJ SYMBOLICALLY KILLS THE CHOSEN ONE TROPE: AND SAYS NOPE. THE REAL HEROES IN LIFE ARE THE GIRLS LIKE ME. THE GIRLS THAT COME FROM NOTHING. THAT NO ONE CARES ABOUT. THAT DONT HAVE A BIGGER PURPOSE. THE GIRLS THAT REFUSE TO BE NO ONE AND DEMAND IMPORTANCE FROM THE WORLD ANYWAY EVEN IF NO ONE CARES TO GIVE IT TO THEM. I LOVE INEJ GHAFA AND I LOVE LEIGH BARDUGO FOR CREATING HER AND GIVING HER THIS AMAZING CHARACTER ARC ..anyway Nina was wonderful as always, of course. the battle with her addiction was written in such a realistic and affecting way, especially the shame around it and the way she learns to deal with it. i LOVED the idea of her new power. i love her friendship with inej so much too. (view spoiler)[ and even though I had been spoiled for the main character death it still affected me a lot, but i feel like it was necessary to make the stakes of the story seem realistic (thats the reason for pretty much every character death), but also, of course, to make the ending a bit less perfect. because everything else worked out so well that its almost a bit too idealistic, and especially matthias getting shot by a boy who represented everything he overcame...is tragic, of course, but it shows how hate isnt as easy to extinguish as we would like it to be. but we just have to continue fighting. overall i think it was necessary for the story. it also set this bittersweet mood of the last few chapters that i loved (yall know well written bittersweet endings are my cup of tea but i think that kind of tone is actually really hard to get right without making it overly dramatic, but bardugo did it exactly right) (hide spoiler)] i loved getting more insight into the motivations of the 'villains' in this book!! it really gave the story another dimension and made the 'real' friendship between our main crew more special and important, as i said before. overall the book was a tad bit less suspenseful as the first because there wasnt one big goal to work towards, but it was still intriguing. the characters really made this story shine though. i love them all so much - as in the first book, i love the diversity, the focus on social issues (leigh bardugo even left a note on how to help stop real human trafficking, like...wow), but mostly i love how original the characters seemed to me and how closely attached i got to them. this series will stay in my heart for so long. ...more |
Notes are private!
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1
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Jan 05, 2018
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Jan 13, 2018
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Oct 23, 2017
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Kindle Edition
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1627792120
| 9781627792127
| 1627792120
| 4.47
| 1,047,012
| Sep 29, 2015
| Sep 29, 2015
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it was amazing
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alrighty, i couldnt resist, i need to write this review :D picking up hyped books is something i love to do, because there is a certain thrill in it. ( alrighty, i couldnt resist, i need to write this review :D picking up hyped books is something i love to do, because there is a certain thrill in it. (i sound like jesper, lmao). there has to be something about the book that makes people gravitate towards it (excitement! anticipation!), but it's also super easy to be disappointed bc of high expectations. ive had a lot of examples of hyped books that i didnt care for in the slightest. this is not one of them. this book deserves all the hype it can get. because... it just does everything right. it's like i wrote in my LOS review: it has all the elements i love about ya fantasy, and none of those i dislike. things six of crows has: -complex and intriguing worldbuilding -characters with completely different motives, backstories and worldviews coming together to reluctantly form a family, you mean MY FAVORITE TROPE OF ALL TIME -moral ambiguity isnt just a character thing, it's like the backbone of this entire book. it reminded me of a quote from the 100: 'who we are, and who we need to be to survive are two very different things.'. just by the very nature that youre basically rooting for a group of criminals, there is soooo much exploration of what makes a person do the things they do? how much choice do they have? if you have to choose between two evils which one would you pick? seriously, what else could i want. -speaking of: my capitalism detesting heart loved the hell out of this entire book for how the True Enemy is Powerful Rich People ('we greedy assholes create criminals in the first place bc we give them no other chance but to become bad people to survive, and then we treat them like shit and exploit them, because thats profitable af!') -internalized prejudice & hate portrayed realistically and overcome with some beautiful character development? sign me t f up -honestly is there any theme in this book that is not super relevant, super real and explored super well? tell me when you found it -the 'magical' element came so naturally to the story and was a nice extra touch -the actual plot is suspenseful as heck -plot twists that dont come out of nowhere but are tied into character development, aka My Favorite Thing -the multiple POV chapters give each character time to shine and depth and perspective -so much representation!!! disability rep, rep for different ethnic groups, trauma/ptsd, lgbt, and more. and it's not just merely described, it's tied into each characters' storyline. (this is a good point to talk about characters i guess! SPOILERS from now on bc i need to discuss arcs) so what about: -the entire super cleverly interesting awesome thing where we are basically manipulated to believe The Myth of Kaz Brekker at the beginning bc of the awesome stuff that he does, and over the course of the book we get to realize more and more, that he is /just a boy/ after all, and not some badass ruthless bastard that you love bc he's so #cool, that it's all just a reputation he built for himself but he is so devastatingly human after all and he doesnt know how to get back to that humanity he once had before those in power destroyed it all GIMME THAT I LOVE IT, also his ptsd and the whole touch aversion thing is written so well and...it honestly breaks my heart when inej touches his cheek and he's like //internal war//, god i cant wait for this relationship in the sequel -Inej!! her fetishization being portrayed as the horrible thing it is, (which is so relevant to irl readers), and her being trapped psychologically in that state of dehumanization*, and then finding her purpose and not taking shit from anyone but also genuinely being so nice and faithful and h o n e stl y inej i l ove you -jesper is the Funny Sidekick .....until you realize he is deep af (and still hilarious.) honestly tbh he is to me the most relatable character and it surprised me?? like the whole trying to run away from responsibility and loving anything that gives you a sense of focus and purpose and thrill....m an. honestly just let me take a break to say all the characters and their struggles / conflicts are so original??? and so good? -wylan is my actual son, and i love the mix of kinda naivety on one hand and badass cleverness on the other. also, positive dyslexia rep!!! -n i n a, ok first of all she has so many traits that people often complain are Annoying YA Heroine typical like brash, impulsive, etc, but Nina is so....like a subversion of those stereotypes almost because she is so genuinely likeable as well, and funny, and basically a big firework of wonderfulness. also the most heroic of them all? -Matthias explores the whole internalized prejudice topic, and he's also such a great addition to the others bc of his fundamentally different sense of morality. it makes for great humor AND hella interesting dynamics where you can understand both sides awensfnegldngkldgxmdnl I SHOULD GIVE UP BC IM JUST RAMBLING AT THIS POINT buut waitwait the ending. i love it so much....i knew sth was gonna go wrong at the exchange, but this is So Good, it's like the old goal was difficult but manageable, but the new one is truly terrifying- to win over him they have to....basically tear apart the entire foundation their society is based upon?? kinda?? i am so thrilled. i know i sound like a 15 year old basic fangirl in this entire review but im so happy this took all tropes and stuff i love and turned it into an awesome novel, honestly it's like a dream. crooked kingdom, im waiting for you! we will meet in december, i promise! :D <3 *i am only now realizing that dehumanization is like such a big theme i n general as well? and it connects kaz and inej's backstories but in different ways ajfasdjfklsfjn i love this ...more |
Notes are private!
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Oct 15, 2017
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Oct 24, 2017
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Oct 15, 2017
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Hardcover
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my rating |
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4.16
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really liked it
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May 25, 2020
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Apr 11, 2020
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4.36
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it was amazing
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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4.41
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it was amazing
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Jan 03, 2020
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Jan 03, 2020
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4.41
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it was amazing
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Jan 02, 2020
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Jan 02, 2020
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4.40
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really liked it
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Dec 29, 2019
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Dec 29, 2019
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4.36
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it was amazing
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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4.29
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it was amazing
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Dec 28, 2019
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Dec 28, 2019
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4.33
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really liked it
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Dec 10, 2019
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Dec 17, 2019
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3.75
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it was amazing
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Apr 09, 2020
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Nov 25, 2019
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4.27
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it was amazing
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Dec 2019
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Nov 24, 2019
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4.42
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it was amazing
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Apr 23, 2020
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Nov 17, 2019
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4.35
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it was amazing
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Feb 02, 2019
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Feb 02, 2019
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3.88
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it was amazing
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Mar 20, 2019
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Nov 09, 2018
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3.54
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really liked it
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Jan 2019
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Oct 25, 2018
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4.26
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it was amazing
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Aug 22, 2018
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Aug 18, 2018
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3.38
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it was amazing
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Apr 15, 2019
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Aug 16, 2018
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4.25
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it was amazing
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Feb 12, 2019
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Jul 22, 2018
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4.37
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it was amazing
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Jul 28, 2018
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Jan 26, 2018
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4.58
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it was amazing
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Jan 13, 2018
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Oct 23, 2017
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4.47
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it was amazing
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Oct 24, 2017
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Oct 15, 2017
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