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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
This is an amazing novel. I think Science Fiction boasts more "important" novels than are credited by many non-genre readers. When i say important, I mean the novels which deserve to be taught in school literature classes, ones that should be required reading. This is one for the change makers.
Is it a surprise that such an acclaimed Pagan and activist would produce a work which so perfectly balances yin and yang? This, I believe, is this novel's strongest attribute. It is at once a utopian and a dystopian tale. It is a brilliant in-your-face environmental cautionary reflection by Starhawk, and by the end of the story, you will feel as if you have taken a long journey.
The characters of The Fifth Sacred Thing are well composed, although one weakness in this category, I feel, was that less attention was given to the primary villain than what I think the book deserves. Starhawk's characters are so real and multi-dimensional and sympathetic, that I found myself stressed out for them during the story's conflicts.
Another strong point of this novel which I'm sure will attract a slew of readers, is that it is, not surprisingly, imbued with Earth-based, Goddess-based, Feminist spiritual wisdom and ritual. This is the magik of the book! We are taken on a journey in which those of us who stand to learn more about the way things really are, have this very opportunity. I was delighted and inspired by Starhawk's infusion of life lessons into a very exciting story. However, there is a little too much supernaturalism within the story at times for my taste, and I felt that it overshadowed the gravity of the plot in places.
While I didn't mind the four to five-page explanation of the utopian political system, some readers might find this to be a bit over-written. And at times, I found myself having to re-read to remember what the character's relationships were. So, while I did find that some of the writing in this novel can be a bit heavy or confusing, overall I enjoy her style and twisting detail.
I do find Starhawk's take (at least here) on non-violent resistance to be possibly naive, and felt that some of the invading military reactions were somewhat unrealistic. The ONE HUGE MAJOR FLAW in this novel are the annoying hippie pagan excuses for eating animals and their reproductive tissues which are presented. To this I say, "Come on, Starhawk; you should know better."
Overall, this novel is quite good and well worth the effort. I recommend it highly to everyone - even younger readers.
Is it a surprise that such an acclaimed Pagan and activist would produce a work which so perfectly balances yin and yang? This, I believe, is this novel's strongest attribute. It is at once a utopian and a dystopian tale. It is a brilliant in-your-face environmental cautionary reflection by Starhawk, and by the end of the story, you will feel as if you have taken a long journey.
The characters of The Fifth Sacred Thing are well composed, although one weakness in this category, I feel, was that less attention was given to the primary villain than what I think the book deserves. Starhawk's characters are so real and multi-dimensional and sympathetic, that I found myself stressed out for them during the story's conflicts.
Another strong point of this novel which I'm sure will attract a slew of readers, is that it is, not surprisingly, imbued with Earth-based, Goddess-based, Feminist spiritual wisdom and ritual. This is the magik of the book! We are taken on a journey in which those of us who stand to learn more about the way things really are, have this very opportunity. I was delighted and inspired by Starhawk's infusion of life lessons into a very exciting story. However, there is a little too much supernaturalism within the story at times for my taste, and I felt that it overshadowed the gravity of the plot in places.
While I didn't mind the four to five-page explanation of the utopian political system, some readers might find this to be a bit over-written. And at times, I found myself having to re-read to remember what the character's relationships were. So, while I did find that some of the writing in this novel can be a bit heavy or confusing, overall I enjoy her style and twisting detail.
I do find Starhawk's take (at least here) on non-violent resistance to be possibly naive, and felt that some of the invading military reactions were somewhat unrealistic. The ONE HUGE MAJOR FLAW in this novel are the annoying hippie pagan excuses for eating animals and their reproductive tissues which are presented. To this I say, "Come on, Starhawk; you should know better."
Overall, this novel is quite good and well worth the effort. I recommend it highly to everyone - even younger readers.
This book was one of my absolute favorites when I first read it at 16. So favorite, like changed my life favorite. And then, rereading it, it just seemed so much weaker than I remembered. I am still a fan of the environmentalist, pacifist message, but the paganism felt so much more in my face than I was remembering. The book felt much more like a manifesto, on the order of Atlas Shrugged but with a more palatable message, than the story that I fell in love with.
A deeply flawed book that grapples with a lot of interesting questions. Read it with someone who has a different perspective on nonviolence.
I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. I wanted to like it more than I did but I just couldn't. I liked some aspects (the need to take care of the planet) but, overall, I was disturbed by the repetitiveness, the slowness, the violence, the amount of sex, and some of the more “out there” (i.e. bees) stuff. I wouldn’t have finished it if I hadn’t been reading it for a book group. It just wasn’t my kind of book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia
Yes. yes, yes yes....this book has awakened things in me that I have missed. My intuition, my grace, my belief that all is worth the work and will it takes to manifest our chosen reality!
I wept no less than five times, like a wound opened in my chest...healing and potent.
I wept no less than five times, like a wound opened in my chest...healing and potent.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really loved this book, but don't think it's for everyone. It's pretty heavy on the moral lessons; sort of like being hit on the head with a pagan rolling pin. BUT, the story was really original, the writing was pretty good, and I totally got emotionally invested in the characters. Also, I was a little traumatized when it was over, but the conclusion was satisfying enough that I was okay with it.
Plot: 2.5/5 stars. Too much randomly being saved by unrealistic circumstances and events. BUT
World building: 6/5 stars. Am interested in hundreds of more pages describing the utopia in the North and the mechanisms of social responsibility? Yes. Do I want to continue reading poetic odes to the beauty of San Francisco? Please!
So 4/5 stars as the summary. :) Thank you Starhawk!
World building: 6/5 stars. Am interested in hundreds of more pages describing the utopia in the North and the mechanisms of social responsibility? Yes. Do I want to continue reading poetic odes to the beauty of San Francisco? Please!
So 4/5 stars as the summary. :) Thank you Starhawk!
I had no idea what to expect from this formidable tome, but it felt high time I read it. The copy I borrowed from the library is so worn and loved I felt justified in my desire to carry it everywhere, and I found myself sneaking moments to read whenever I could. The story pushed all of my buttons - a dystopian future where the nonviolent artsy pagans go up against capitalist, moralistic warmongers (much like The City Not Long After); the Stewards' fear and demonization of non-whites and their culture; a reverence for the natural world; and a character-driven story vivid and compelling. I loved it, even as I can see why its critics are frustrated. This book, holding the Bay Area in its loving embrace, is a treasure. May you never thirst.