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thefantasticalworldofsara's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating read that really talks about the importance of home and culture and how othering can still happen even in space. I found the plot really interesting but I didn't find the writing style as compelling. I still want to read the other novella's in this series though because I want to see how the characters develop!
ps. I love that in this galaxy math is essentially the language of the universe and that people who are exceptional at it are called harmonizers!
pps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music or any of its subsidiaries.
ps. I love that in this galaxy math is essentially the language of the universe and that people who are exceptional at it are called harmonizers!
pps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music or any of its subsidiaries.
flyintothestorm's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
slawler's review against another edition
5.0
Wildly interesting. Okorafor introduces a futuristic world populated with deeply traditional people (and aliens). There were many tantalizing tidbits that I'd love to know more about. Like how is the space ship an actual fish??!?
theillegiblevirgo's review against another edition
4.0
a beautiful novella about tradition, traveling and finding yourself, and how the journey changes you.
who do we become when home is out of reach? do we ever become foreigners to our homelands? the soil that is in our skin?
who do we become when home is out of reach? do we ever become foreigners to our homelands? the soil that is in our skin?
mfeezell's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely little story. It's amazing just how much Okorafor made me care about these characters in such a short amount of time.
boocwurm's review against another edition
3.0
Binti is the first of her people, the Himba, to be accepted into the prestigious intergalactic Oomza University—but her people do not leave their ancestral land. Armed with her personal belongings, a jar of <i>otjize</i> and a mysterious <i>edan</i>, Bitni leaves the world she knows behind... only to come face to face with danger on her journey.
Okorafor's novella blends Namibian culture with maths-based concepts to create a believable, futuristic world. Binti encounters similar issues she would find on Earth—cultural and skin tone-based prejudices, judgements from those outside her community and warring groups that fundamentally don't understand one another. I thought the concepts here were really interesting.
However, I never really came to like the writing style here. At times, sentences flowed nicely and helped to build this new world with rich descriptions. At others, the sentences were choppy, fragmented or stilted. It didn't feel like this fit the overall voice of the novella or Binti herself and made it harder to get through.
I was also left a little confused about some of the world building. The special <i>edan</i> Binti wields uses mathematical theorems to communicate and change the world, but I never felt like I really grasped what was happening in the scenes where it was truly critical. I also felt like the resolution of the novella was a bit rushed and perhaps naive?The Meduse are introduced as a group that hates the Koush—a group of humans—but then reveal they're also warring with Oomza University, which hosts a breadth of species, including Koush, for taking the Chief's stinger. Either way, the "harmony" Binti helps to foster after the Meduse murder and entire ship's worth of her friends felt a little far-fetched.
I don't plan to continue with Binti's story, but I am eager to try out Okorafor's other works.
Okorafor's novella blends Namibian culture with maths-based concepts to create a believable, futuristic world. Binti encounters similar issues she would find on Earth—cultural and skin tone-based prejudices, judgements from those outside her community and warring groups that fundamentally don't understand one another. I thought the concepts here were really interesting.
However, I never really came to like the writing style here. At times, sentences flowed nicely and helped to build this new world with rich descriptions. At others, the sentences were choppy, fragmented or stilted. It didn't feel like this fit the overall voice of the novella or Binti herself and made it harder to get through.
I was also left a little confused about some of the world building. The special <i>edan</i> Binti wields uses mathematical theorems to communicate and change the world, but I never felt like I really grasped what was happening in the scenes where it was truly critical. I also felt like the resolution of the novella was a bit rushed and perhaps naive?
I don't plan to continue with Binti's story, but I am eager to try out Okorafor's other works.
nikki_in_niagara's review against another edition
3.0
Binti is the first of her people to be accepted into Oomza University. This means leaving all she loves and all that is familiar behind. She is an oddity with her black skin, braided hair with codes, and her body covered in red clay. The people of Earth are at war with the Muduse and through uncertain circumstances she is chosen to be a translator for the two.
This is an excellent fast-paced read.
This is an excellent fast-paced read.