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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In a few words: part [b:The Shining Girls|16131077|The Shining Girls|Lauren Beukes|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1352227705s/16131077.jpg|21956898] (though to be honest, I haven't read the book beyond maybe 50 pages - actually I shelved the book as 'half-started' in 2014, I guess I'll get around to it eventually) in the murder mystery across space-time sense, part The Umbrella Academy with its incredibly threatening but sort of posh antagonist that's the head of a time travelling organisation
Why: I forgot where I heard about this book from, though I distinctly remember being wary about it but decided to go for it anyway (the cover is great, but I don't recall the embroidery aspect being relevant to the content of the book, or reflective at all of the tone or aesthetic of the story)
I'm not one to complain about non-linear stories or switching between narratives, the more jeremy bearimy the better. But I don't think it's successful here because you never get to stay in one place long enough to get a sense of character and the moment they're occupying. But that's hand in hand with the fact that the worldbuilding and mystery seem like they've just been skimmed off the surface. There are a lot of great premises and ideas, but they're propped up without much support and don't develop into any depth. What the hell does the Conclave even do? Whatever they fucking want, I guess? Some of them are detectives, maybe? They have all of this supposed culture, but we don't really see it -- we get more told to us in a slang dictionary. I'm fine with out-there ideas, but there's a lack of internal world logic built up here to actually allow for a suspension of disbelief about the plausibility of things. This book doesn't commit fully, not even to the exploration of time travel as a way of experiencing, manifesting or healing trauma, mental illness and grief, despite the its own title.
Why: I forgot where I heard about this book from, though I distinctly remember being wary about it but decided to go for it anyway (the cover is great, but I don't recall the embroidery aspect being relevant to the content of the book, or reflective at all of the tone or aesthetic of the story)
I'm not one to complain about non-linear stories or switching between narratives, the more jeremy bearimy the better. But I don't think it's successful here because you never get to stay in one place long enough to get a sense of character and the moment they're occupying. But that's hand in hand with the fact that the worldbuilding and mystery seem like they've just been skimmed off the surface. There are a lot of great premises and ideas, but they're propped up without much support and don't develop into any depth. What the hell does the Conclave even do? Whatever they fucking want, I guess? Some of them are detectives, maybe? They have all of this supposed culture, but we don't really see it -- we get more told to us in a slang dictionary. I'm fine with out-there ideas, but there's a lack of internal world logic built up here to actually allow for a suspension of disbelief about the plausibility of things. This book doesn't commit fully, not even to the exploration of time travel as a way of experiencing, manifesting or healing trauma, mental illness and grief, despite the its own title.
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received a copy of The Psychology of Time Travel through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The Psychology of Time Travel is the debut novel of Kate Mascarenhas, and believe me when I tell you that it is absolutely worth reading. The novel is being described as perfect for fans of Hidden Figures, which I agree with. It’s one of the most intelligent stories I’ve read about time travel, and I just can’t say enough positive things about it.
At the beginning of the book, Kate Mascarenhas makes a point of talking about her motivation for writing it. She said that she felt that there wasn’t enough of a representation of women, or people of color, in time travel plots. And she’s not wrong. I don’t think it ever really hit me until I read The Psychology of Time Travel, but I have never read something quite like this.
Going back to the Hidden Figures reference – picture Hidden Figures meets time travel - and you’ve got an idea of the tone of this novel. It’s smart and sassy and full of brilliant women of all types. It also tells a story of time travel that I’ve never seen before, and I absolutely adored it.
I went into The Psychology of Time Travel with high expectations, only to have those expectations completely blown away. This novel was so much more than I had ever hoped it would be. It was brilliant and well thought out. It also had strong and wonderful characters. More than that though, the characters were human through and through, for good or for bad.
I said up above that this novel wasn’t like any other time travel story I’ve read, and I meant that. I loved the concept of there being successfully time traveling, and that it would be open to…well not the general public, but certainly closer to it than anything I’ve seen before. It opened the door for a lot of debating and for a ton of content as well. A lot of which is actually covered during the course of the novel. The end result is a surprisingly complex and well thought out system of time travel.
The consequences and limitations of time travel are also covered. I loved one of the limitations in particular, but I don’t think I’ll spoil it by saying it directly. I do agree with it though, for what it is worth.
The complexity of the story being told combined with the dozens of interesting and unique characters truly created a wonderful reading experience. It was fun trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Especially since the puzzle pieces were handed to us out of order – courtesy of time travel.
I’ll admit that there were a couple of characters in particular that I was especially fond of, while there was one character that I just loved to hate. That they all had flaws made them feel so much more human and it made the situations they were in feel just a bit more possible.
This is one of those novels that really doesn’t need a sequel - it told the story it wanted to, and there are no parts left up in the air. However, I love the world created here so much that I wouldn’t mind seeing another book or two. Maybe not involving the same characters, or even the same general time frame. I just want to see the world continue, I guess. I suppose that’s the sign of a well-written book though, huh?
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
The Psychology of Time Travel is the debut novel of Kate Mascarenhas, and believe me when I tell you that it is absolutely worth reading. The novel is being described as perfect for fans of Hidden Figures, which I agree with. It’s one of the most intelligent stories I’ve read about time travel, and I just can’t say enough positive things about it.
At the beginning of the book, Kate Mascarenhas makes a point of talking about her motivation for writing it. She said that she felt that there wasn’t enough of a representation of women, or people of color, in time travel plots. And she’s not wrong. I don’t think it ever really hit me until I read The Psychology of Time Travel, but I have never read something quite like this.
Going back to the Hidden Figures reference – picture Hidden Figures meets time travel - and you’ve got an idea of the tone of this novel. It’s smart and sassy and full of brilliant women of all types. It also tells a story of time travel that I’ve never seen before, and I absolutely adored it.
I went into The Psychology of Time Travel with high expectations, only to have those expectations completely blown away. This novel was so much more than I had ever hoped it would be. It was brilliant and well thought out. It also had strong and wonderful characters. More than that though, the characters were human through and through, for good or for bad.
I said up above that this novel wasn’t like any other time travel story I’ve read, and I meant that. I loved the concept of there being successfully time traveling, and that it would be open to…well not the general public, but certainly closer to it than anything I’ve seen before. It opened the door for a lot of debating and for a ton of content as well. A lot of which is actually covered during the course of the novel. The end result is a surprisingly complex and well thought out system of time travel.
The consequences and limitations of time travel are also covered. I loved one of the limitations in particular, but I don’t think I’ll spoil it by saying it directly. I do agree with it though, for what it is worth.
The complexity of the story being told combined with the dozens of interesting and unique characters truly created a wonderful reading experience. It was fun trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Especially since the puzzle pieces were handed to us out of order – courtesy of time travel.
I’ll admit that there were a couple of characters in particular that I was especially fond of, while there was one character that I just loved to hate. That they all had flaws made them feel so much more human and it made the situations they were in feel just a bit more possible.
This is one of those novels that really doesn’t need a sequel - it told the story it wanted to, and there are no parts left up in the air. However, I love the world created here so much that I wouldn’t mind seeing another book or two. Maybe not involving the same characters, or even the same general time frame. I just want to see the world continue, I guess. I suppose that’s the sign of a well-written book though, huh?
For more reviews, check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
challenging
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
Beginning in 1967 and spanning the next fifty years, four female scientists and their relations experience the impact of time travel on their lives.
In 1967, following a breakdown after journeys in the first time machine, Barbara is pushed out of the project as Margaret, the leader of the group in all but name, worries for the judgement this may bring.
In 2017, even though they don't speak of it, Ruby knows that it was her grandmother that was the scientist who went mad. But it's a message from another scientist, one that warns of an elderly woman's violent death, that motivates her actions.
In 2018, Odette finds the dead woman when she arrives at work- the body shot in the head, the door bolted from the inside. The locked-room mystery is stuck in her head.
An overview of this story suggests an interesting, complex riddle as the key plot but, while this is integral, the book delves into so much more. This is about non-chronological timelines written in a non-chronological timeline. It considers the consciences of time travel on a person's psyche, like how it affects their perception of death, in a respectful and nuanced fashion. No matter how bad an action may be, it happened and that must be honoured.
When you’re a time traveller, the people you love die, and you carry on seeing them, their death stops making a difference to you. The only death that will ever change things is your own. (p54)
I have to re-read this at some point as I reckon I'd be able to better appreciate the layers of complexity that were achieved. Also, read The Box of Delights by John Masefield; it's referenced throughout and I want to know what I'm missing.
In 1967, following a breakdown after journeys in the first time machine, Barbara is pushed out of the project as Margaret, the leader of the group in all but name, worries for the judgement this may bring.
In 2017, even though they don't speak of it, Ruby knows that it was her grandmother that was the scientist who went mad. But it's a message from another scientist, one that warns of an elderly woman's violent death, that motivates her actions.
In 2018, Odette finds the dead woman when she arrives at work- the body shot in the head, the door bolted from the inside. The locked-room mystery is stuck in her head.
An overview of this story suggests an interesting, complex riddle as the key plot but, while this is integral, the book delves into so much more. This is about non-chronological timelines written in a non-chronological timeline. It considers the consciences of time travel on a person's psyche, like how it affects their perception of death, in a respectful and nuanced fashion. No matter how bad an action may be, it happened and that must be honoured.
When you’re a time traveller, the people you love die, and you carry on seeing them, their death stops making a difference to you. The only death that will ever change things is your own. (p54)
I have to re-read this at some point as I reckon I'd be able to better appreciate the layers of complexity that were achieved. Also, read The Box of Delights by John Masefield; it's referenced throughout and I want to know what I'm missing.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced