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kcrouth's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, there is so much to say about this book. It leaves me thinking about all manner of things, and wanting to go back re-read to look for ones I missed. The tale spans 2000 years, following three timelines, each a thousand years apart from the closest. The middle timeline is set about 10 years ago, so is contemporary to our time. Much like "The Girl in the Road", "The Actual Star" introduced me to places, culture and peoples I am not familiar with. Also like tGitR, the writing immediately dives into the deep end and pulls the reader in head first. New terms, languages, technologies, and cultures are encountered from the very beginning, with only hints from context and conversation to help the reader parse the narrative (and a MUCH appreciated glossary!). This is a great technique, which is a lot like William Gibson's narrative style! As each of the three threads progress, we learn of the connections between them, and gain insight into the interrelationships between history, legend, myth, religion, philosophy, politics, sociology, ecology, and so many more aspects of our world. This is a powerful story that inspires consideration and thought about many questions that need be reckoned with as a society and a species. I hope to get a chance to re-read at some point to further unpack and process this powerful story.
prototypejuly's review against another edition
2.0
So conflicted because there are some really good things in this book but also a lot of disappointing and sometimes frustrating parts.
crimsoncor's review against another edition
4.0
A strange and dense book. A pretty overwhelming deluge of terms and language to try and wrap your head around. There is a glossary (which I discovered after finishing the book) which might have made things easier to deal with (but also would have spoiled some of the fun of trying to figure it all our from context clues). Enjoyed it even if I did not always understand it.
Coming back to edit this after reading some of the other reviews here on goodreads. There are some that take the book to task because the future setting is too "cringey woke". It is like a book cannot dare to posit a genderfluid sex-positive future unless it is willing to interrogate the entire body of 21st century sexual and gender dynamics. And it is just like, yeah all those cis-hetero scifi novels don't bother with this either. No one book has to be all the things all the time. But this demand that a book justify its existence is something constantly heaped on things that dare to break from more conventional views of society. And it is dumb. I'm not here to say that the "utopian" view of the future in this book would be my utopia. But demanding that the book deliver both a compelling story and be a full gender studies course is ridiculous.
Coming back to edit this after reading some of the other reviews here on goodreads. There are some that take the book to task because the future setting is too "cringey woke". It is like a book cannot dare to posit a genderfluid sex-positive future unless it is willing to interrogate the entire body of 21st century sexual and gender dynamics. And it is just like, yeah all those cis-hetero scifi novels don't bother with this either. No one book has to be all the things all the time. But this demand that a book justify its existence is something constantly heaped on things that dare to break from more conventional views of society. And it is dumb. I'm not here to say that the "utopian" view of the future in this book would be my utopia. But demanding that the book deliver both a compelling story and be a full gender studies course is ridiculous.
atgerstner's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
rachaelprest's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bucketsjen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The events of the novel take place across three periods in time, separated by thousands of years... but the events and the people are more connected than that would make it seem.
This book is cerebral and spiritual. A strong aspect of the storytelling is not only the events themselves, but the archetypes and souls of the characters. I loved it, but it definitely makes you think (and feel).
Ultimately, I think it's wonderful to imaginethat you're never going to be as alone as you feel .
This book is cerebral and spiritual. A strong aspect of the storytelling is not only the events themselves, but the archetypes and souls of the characters. I loved it, but it definitely makes you think (and feel).
Ultimately, I think it's wonderful to imagine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
contains multiple instances of self-harm (cutting) for spiritual purposestheeuphoriczat's review against another edition
3.0
First, I have to state that I have only read up to page 330 and my impression of this book would be of that. One can tell that the author has done some research and the glossary included in this book definitely helped.
This book is described as David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas meets Octavia Butler's Earthseed series, while I have not read the first book, I can definitely see its relation to Earthseed series in terms of climate changes and religion and cultural progression. This book follows three timelines, 1012, 2012, 3012, 3 souls who seem distant but interconnected (reincarnation; a major theme) as they go through life, seeing humanity merge and diverge. Civilizations rise and fall, socialist and communist ideas take foot and lose standing as we observe through a Mesoamerican cultural lens.
I do think that there is a voyeuristic tendency that the author has with describing things like sex, mutilation, colonisation, white capitalism, white passing and much more. I am still trying to figure out if the author was doing it on purpose to make my skin crawl. The strangeness of this book felt familiar to me, especially when I reflect on my feelings of DUNE. We did not need to discuss every currently relevant topic in the scope of this book . While I understand the discourse around gender fluidity, I don't think erasure or metamorphosis is the answer.
Like I said, I am still reading it and my impression is that this is a well-structured, appropriately researched, definitely ambitious book. Loving how well planned the intercorrelations of the timelines are, you can almost feel the atmosphere shift as you move from one timeline to the next. I just want to know how it ends because I elbows deep in it.
Thanks to Pride Book Tour for making this book available to me.
This book is described as David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas meets Octavia Butler's Earthseed series, while I have not read the first book, I can definitely see its relation to Earthseed series in terms of climate changes and religion and cultural progression. This book follows three timelines, 1012, 2012, 3012, 3 souls who seem distant but interconnected (reincarnation; a major theme) as they go through life, seeing humanity merge and diverge. Civilizations rise and fall, socialist and communist ideas take foot and lose standing as we observe through a Mesoamerican cultural lens.
I do think that there is a voyeuristic tendency that the author has with describing things like sex, mutilation, colonisation, white capitalism, white passing and much more. I am still trying to figure out if the author was doing it on purpose to make my skin crawl. The strangeness of this book felt familiar to me, especially when I reflect on my feelings of DUNE. We did not need to discuss every currently relevant topic in the scope of this book . While I understand the discourse around gender fluidity, I don't think erasure or metamorphosis is the answer.
Like I said, I am still reading it and my impression is that this is a well-structured, appropriately researched, definitely ambitious book. Loving how well planned the intercorrelations of the timelines are, you can almost feel the atmosphere shift as you move from one timeline to the next. I just want to know how it ends because I elbows deep in it.
Thanks to Pride Book Tour for making this book available to me.
finalgirlfall's review against another edition
4.0
going to be chewing on this novel for a while. the things it had to say about knowledge and idealism were fascinating. not sure i understood the significance of the final scene.
barnaclethereal's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The inside cover said a combination of Cloud Atlas and Earthseed. Definitely agree with Earthseed, not sure about Cloud Atlas. Really enjoyed it, loved her vision of a possible future, which for me felt related to Ursula K le Guinn's Hainish novels. At the end I was very confused.
dubsington's review against another edition
5.0
Holy %$*# this book.
I loved this book. Its layers unfolded brilliantly and it’s themes and symbolism were thick with meaning, helped by being clearly and deeply rooted in well-researched mythos.
The Actual Star takes place across three stories, each set 1000 years apart. In 1012 there is the story of 3 royal Mayan siblings getting ready to take the throne of their tribe. In 2012 there is a young woman who travels from Minnisota to Belize to learn more about her father and find a feeling of fullness she’s only felt once before. in 3012 there are two individuals in a near “utopia” society who develop followings based on opposing views who are set to meet.
There is simplicity in each story’s plot which allows for the complexity of each character’s search for truth. Truth about their world, the truth of their place in it and whether there is a truth to the afterlife.
But each story also has it’s purpose and success. The story from 1012 reads like a classic royal fantasy tale and sets the stage for what’s to come. The 2012 story is unassuming and offers the reader an entry point to the beliefs of Myans today. And finally, the standout storyline for me, is the future society in 3012 which is astounding in its worldbuilding and clarity.
All of these stories are rooted deeply in the very real Maya people’s mythos and beliefs. It’s this backbone that makes The Actual Star more grand, more satisfying and more realised than many stories where the lore or mythos is made up just for the story.
The novel is a longer one for me, coming in at about 600 pages, but I found it moved smoothly with fantastic pacing, always knowing just when it should jump to the next storyline, and when to return.
The fairly straightforward nature of all three plots also gives the author more time to delve into each of our central characters in each story. The novel does an excellent job at highlighting the way in which we change, and the ways in which we don’t across multiple millennia.
For fans of character driven stories, especially when those characters are wrestling with meaning and seeking understanding, The Actual Star immediately became a favourite of mine.
I loved this book. Its layers unfolded brilliantly and it’s themes and symbolism were thick with meaning, helped by being clearly and deeply rooted in well-researched mythos.
The Actual Star takes place across three stories, each set 1000 years apart. In 1012 there is the story of 3 royal Mayan siblings getting ready to take the throne of their tribe. In 2012 there is a young woman who travels from Minnisota to Belize to learn more about her father and find a feeling of fullness she’s only felt once before. in 3012 there are two individuals in a near “utopia” society who develop followings based on opposing views who are set to meet.
There is simplicity in each story’s plot which allows for the complexity of each character’s search for truth. Truth about their world, the truth of their place in it and whether there is a truth to the afterlife.
But each story also has it’s purpose and success. The story from 1012 reads like a classic royal fantasy tale and sets the stage for what’s to come. The 2012 story is unassuming and offers the reader an entry point to the beliefs of Myans today. And finally, the standout storyline for me, is the future society in 3012 which is astounding in its worldbuilding and clarity.
All of these stories are rooted deeply in the very real Maya people’s mythos and beliefs. It’s this backbone that makes The Actual Star more grand, more satisfying and more realised than many stories where the lore or mythos is made up just for the story.
The novel is a longer one for me, coming in at about 600 pages, but I found it moved smoothly with fantastic pacing, always knowing just when it should jump to the next storyline, and when to return.
The fairly straightforward nature of all three plots also gives the author more time to delve into each of our central characters in each story. The novel does an excellent job at highlighting the way in which we change, and the ways in which we don’t across multiple millennia.
For fans of character driven stories, especially when those characters are wrestling with meaning and seeking understanding, The Actual Star immediately became a favourite of mine.