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loungeroomlizard's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I like the idea that magic just makes a change in the pattern, such that the thing that you wanted to happen was always going to happen, but only because of the magic. Magic as being deniable. It's a very gentle idea and I like the way it's presented through the thoughts of the protagonist.
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest, Grief, Death, Car accident, Bullying, Sexual content, Racism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Child death, and Antisemitism
raesengele's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Have you ever read a book about a kid who can do magic and interact with faeries, but just wanted to know what their life in the real world would be like? This book is for you. It wasn't for me, but it would be good for you if that's what you want.
Now, I love books about people going about their lives, I love books about fae and magic, I love magical realism, I love books about friendship and how connections can get us through the darkest times of our lives, and I love books about books.
But I didn't love this book.
I have so many conflicting feelings about Among Others and I think most of it comes down to how much we saw of the real world and how little magic actually had any effect on it. The magic aspects of the book and the real world aspects were so rigidly separated in the loosest way and I'm fully aware how little sense that makes, but that's my frustration with my feelings over this book. I understand why Jo Walton made the decisions that she did, but I still disagree with those decisions and would have suggested she do something different had I been her editor.
I think another part of my frustration is that I ended the book feeling detached. Actually, I went through most of the book feeling detached. There was so little depth to how Mor experienced anything. Even when talking about her sister's death so often she seemed almost detached from it...but also not? It's odd.
Maybe that's the best way to put it. This book is odd. My feelings about it are odd. I don't know how to feel about anything anymore.
Now, I love books about people going about their lives, I love books about fae and magic, I love magical realism, I love books about friendship and how connections can get us through the darkest times of our lives, and I love books about books.
But I didn't love this book.
I have so many conflicting feelings about Among Others and I think most of it comes down to how much we saw of the real world and how little magic actually had any effect on it. The magic aspects of the book and the real world aspects were so rigidly separated in the loosest way and I'm fully aware how little sense that makes, but that's my frustration with my feelings over this book. I understand why Jo Walton made the decisions that she did, but I still disagree with those decisions and would have suggested she do something different had I been her editor.
I think another part of my frustration is that I ended the book feeling detached. Actually, I went through most of the book feeling detached. There was so little depth to how Mor experienced anything. Even when talking about her sister's death so often she seemed almost detached from it...but also not? It's odd.
Maybe that's the best way to put it. This book is odd. My feelings about it are odd. I don't know how to feel about anything anymore.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Incest, Child death, Car accident, Antisemitism, Ableism, Lesbophobia, and Grief
emma_sky's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Child abuse
saraellington_'s review against another edition
dark
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child death, Suicide attempt, and Abandonment
funktious's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Always nice to start the year with a five star read and this was more like a five million star read. I adored this and am a bit upset that it took me so long to read, when it’s so perfectly me. I’ve now added Jo Waltons entire backlist to my TBR.
If you were a bookish child who preferred books to people, you will like this. Particularly if you like old school SFF (I don't, bar the absolute classics, But I’ll be picking up the authors essays collections about SFF to find my way in.)
I loved Mori and I loved how the story ended for her. I’m still not entirely sure whether fairies / magic are real, or just her attempt to asssert control where she has none, which instead of finding frustrating, I think is a genius move on the authors part. There’s the walking stick, and Wim I suppose, although Wim may just be horny (and he is not good enough for her, dammit, but teenagers will be teenagers.) and I loved Sam and the librarians and even Deirdre.
My mums family is from the valleys (Fochriw, not a million miles from Aberdare) and they were also a big family where all the women were teachers, so that’s an element of why I enjoyed it so much too.
If you were a bookish child who preferred books to people, you will like this. Particularly if you like old school SFF (I don't, bar the absolute classics, But I’ll be picking up the authors essays collections about SFF to find my way in.)
I loved Mori and I loved how the story ended for her.
My mums family is from the valleys (Fochriw, not a million miles from Aberdare) and they were also a big family where all the women were teachers, so that’s an element of why I enjoyed it so much too.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death and Sexual assault
carabones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh, wow—what a special book. Walton’s protagonist is Mori, a 15-year-old girl who has run away from her dangerous mother and is sent to boarding school away from her beloved home in Wales. At school, Mori immerses herself in her favorite sci-fi books and dabbles in magic while trying to make friends and process her trauma and new disability. The diary style and heavy sci-fi/fantasy references may not appeal to everyone, but if you're up for that, this book is a real treat. A love letter to genre fiction, libraries, and the healing powers of books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, and Death
Moderate: Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Car accident, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicidal thoughts
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