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jhbandcats's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An ostensible sci-fi novel that’s really a close look at a family fractured after trauma, this book is a joy to read. The father disappeared the same time as the adult son Jakob, but then showed up alone, insane, and babbling about aliens several days later. Several months later the father dies in his fruitless search for Jakob and the remains of the family fall apart.
When we meet the family, fifteen years after these events, the sisters are estranged and the mom has Alzheimer’s. One sister studies aliens and the other, scornful, is a therapist who also takes care of Mom.
There’s strong character development showing the years of anger and resentment that has built up, and which explodes when Jakob suddenly appears. Is he a wastrel back from a drug-fueled trip around the world or a soldier who’s been fighting to save the universe from aliens? We see the frustration and anguish of the sisters as they come to deal with past ideas of one another juxtaposed with the current reality.
The trauma can never be fixed, but at least talking about it is a step towards a life of understanding and compassion. Ultimately hopeful, this funny and painful story is a delight.
When we meet the family, fifteen years after these events, the sisters are estranged and the mom has Alzheimer’s. One sister studies aliens and the other, scornful, is a therapist who also takes care of Mom.
There’s strong character development showing the years of anger and resentment that has built up, and which explodes when Jakob suddenly appears. Is he a wastrel back from a drug-fueled trip around the world or a soldier who’s been fighting to save the universe from aliens? We see the frustration and anguish of the sisters as they come to deal with past ideas of one another juxtaposed with the current reality.
The trauma can never be fixed, but at least talking about it is a step towards a life of understanding and compassion. Ultimately hopeful, this funny and painful story is a delight.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Grief, Death, Abandonment, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Dementia, and Mental illness
traa's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia and Death of parent
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, Drug abuse, Death, Grief, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, and Gaslighting
Minor: Body horror, Infidelity, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Car accident, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
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