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frazsaysyes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? No
3.5
rubyskies's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book! I wish it had been longer and delved into the relationships more. The book promises this complicated relationship between the two main characters but they hardly get the chance to interact and form any kind of relationship. It’s a 3 star read for me because of that - I felt cheated of the premise. Well written and very interesting world building, however!
knittyreader's review against another edition
5.0
I found out this book was still on my shelves, and I am glad I did.
The world Adem and Hisako live in, is far from perfect. It would have been the most travelled path to focus on the problems like social and financial inequality, the power the rich have over the poor, or to have a main character living in squalor. But none of that, Greene focused on the middle class, and those who are rich enough and privileged enough, but still have to work hard to keep that privilege. 'The Light Years' goes deep into what this kind of society does to those people, while it still points out their privilege and how they struggle with wanting to help the poor they see, but not being able to help all. It also doesn't forget all those common human feelings and emotions that are still there, no matter what the problems are. It was very refreshing to read, and I'd love to read more from this writer, and more in this setting! Especially since I want to know how all of the people I learned to like and appreciate are faring after this book ends.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The world Adem and Hisako live in, is far from perfect. It would have been the most travelled path to focus on the problems like social and financial inequality, the power the rich have over the poor, or to have a main character living in squalor. But none of that, Greene focused on the middle class, and those who are rich enough and privileged enough, but still have to work hard to keep that privilege. 'The Light Years' goes deep into what this kind of society does to those people, while it still points out their privilege and how they struggle with wanting to help the poor they see, but not being able to help all. It also doesn't forget all those common human feelings and emotions that are still there, no matter what the problems are. It was very refreshing to read, and I'd love to read more from this writer, and more in this setting! Especially since I want to know how all of the people I learned to like and appreciate are faring after this book ends.
I received a free copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
jamontenn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Admittedly I’ve not read much science fiction. But I don’t think I’ve read a book quite like this. I picked it up on almost a whim and I’m glad I did.
imrogers's review against another edition
4.0
Fans of speculative fiction that makes smart social commentary on class and race issues will no doubt enjoy this book. Both Adem and Hisako are vivid, likeable characters with genuine points of conflict, particularly Hisako with her angst over finding that her entire life is being dictated by her arranged marriage. I particularly enjoyed the worldbuilding aspects of the novel covering the different Earth nationality factions and their subsequent conflicts, which Greene smartly conveys to readers through an essay for Hisako's history class. I found the novel's other great strength to be its portrayal of class conflicts, as the cruel effects of the lower classes of La Merde (see what he did there???) by the wealthy is shown in heartless detail.
While I enjoyed these aspects of the novel greatly, I do wish other moments had been faster-paced, particularly near the middle -- though readers will no doubt find the ending satisfying.
While I enjoyed these aspects of the novel greatly, I do wish other moments had been faster-paced, particularly near the middle -- though readers will no doubt find the ending satisfying.
oliviafaith's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aoifestardust's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
ximesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This book wasn't "bad" by any means. Rather it described a world too similar to our own— despite it being set up in the distance future. With most characters being queer, of color, and women, this books has done wonderful in portraying the melting pot of humanity and how much more mixed it would be in the future. From there, however, Greene's novel does little to keep the reader interested.
It starts with the negotiation of an arranged marriage between our male lead, Adem, and his unborn bride, Hisako. Hisako's family lives on the borders of La Merde— a living section that houses the poor and federally-unapproved children— and Le Mur— the land of the privileged and wealthy in which teenage rebellion is looking like you're from La Merde. The reader witnesses Hisako develop a jaded outlook on love and does everything she can to take some control over her life during her teenage years.
In the near 24 years of aging and learning, Hisako meets and marries Adem— a Trader, who's time in space travel means that time works different for him— who only made his marriage deal 10 months prior. After their marriage, Hisako and Adem rarely talk as the reader is exposed to family drama that is spectated by the entire ship crew. Hisako is roped into a familial rivalry between family elders with herself being the most crucial piece in the final sway of power.
Although the struggle for power aboard Adem's ship is introduced alongside Hisako's coming-of-age storyline, the novel drags to reach a climax. For more than half of the novel, the reader is merely observing Hisako be a spectator for a class revolution that got her father in jail while her mother criticizes her for her rebellion. Greene takes decidedly too long to reach a point to their 178-out-of 291-page-long world building. When the climax of the struggle for power in Adem's family reaches its peak, the reveal is too slow to be eye-brow-raising and too bland in comparison to the revolution occurring planet-side in which we are introduced to much better storylines.
Greene has an incredible concept, but they take too long to to conclude their story and then rush to close character arcs at the end. I think there is much to be desired with this novel in terms of storyline, reveal, and climax; however, I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
It starts with the negotiation of an arranged marriage between our male lead, Adem, and his unborn bride, Hisako. Hisako's family lives on the borders of La Merde— a living section that houses the poor and federally-unapproved children— and Le Mur— the land of the privileged and wealthy in which teenage rebellion is looking like you're from La Merde. The reader witnesses Hisako develop a jaded outlook on love and does everything she can to take some control over her life during her teenage years.
In the near 24 years of aging and learning, Hisako meets and marries Adem— a Trader, who's time in space travel means that time works different for him— who only made his marriage deal 10 months prior. After their marriage, Hisako and Adem rarely talk as the reader is exposed to family drama that is spectated by the entire ship crew. Hisako is roped into a familial rivalry between family elders with herself being the most crucial piece in the final sway of power.
Although the struggle for power aboard Adem's ship is introduced alongside Hisako's coming-of-age storyline, the novel drags to reach a climax. For more than half of the novel, the reader is merely observing Hisako be a spectator for a class revolution that got her father in jail while her mother criticizes her for her rebellion. Greene takes decidedly too long to reach a point to their 178-out-of 291-page-long world building. When the climax of the struggle for power in Adem's family reaches its peak, the reveal is too slow to be eye-brow-raising and too bland in comparison to the revolution occurring planet-side in which we are introduced to much better storylines.
Greene has an incredible concept, but they take too long to to conclude their story and then rush to close character arcs at the end. I think there is much to be desired with this novel in terms of storyline, reveal, and climax; however, I enjoyed getting to know the characters.
midrel's review against another edition
2.0
So. The Light Years. Honestly, from the moment I first read the premise of this book I was a little enthralled. The idea it wanted to explore were ones I had not as of yet encountered in my admittedly limited scifi reading. Specially the time dilation aspect, and the human relations aspect tied to it.
Unfortunately, The Light Years proved to be a slow-burn book that never really got past the slow part. It never really burned bright, or wholly took into the sky with rushing heat, but sometimes it felt like it was awfully close to, and even when it didnt, it behaved like a cosy enough ship you could not help but laze in.
Two things work against The Light Years. The first is an almost complete lack of gravitas in the way the story progresses. Most of the chapters feel like slice of life episodes from some scifi anime. They are almost all rather dull, disconnected, and what happens in one is for the most part irrelevant to the others. At nearly no point is there any manner of suspense in our tale. Everything is related in a somewhat disappointing matter of fact tone.
The second thing has a lot to do with the first, but is related more to the characters themselves. Over and over we see glimpses of Hisako or Adem's life, but these glimpses never seem to drive at anything that contributes to the central plot. Sure, we learn things about them, but mostly we trapsize about the characters for what feels like no other point but to get past the chapter.
The few really exciting points, like the exploration of the derelict ship, Hisako's trip to La Mer, among others, are defused by the author in what feel like very anticlimactic ways that not only rob the story of potential excitement but also sort of invalidates the characters experiences.
I kind of feel like maybe the book just needed more space to spread its wings, so to speak. It seemed like the author wanted to explore a lot of things, but either just wasn't afforded the space to do so, or didn't have the self confidence to do it fully, either of which might account for the compressed feeling of the narrative.
It's a shame, because I really wanted to like the story, but as it is, it hardly feels like I read the story promised by thr book's blurb.
Unfortunately, The Light Years proved to be a slow-burn book that never really got past the slow part. It never really burned bright, or wholly took into the sky with rushing heat, but sometimes it felt like it was awfully close to, and even when it didnt, it behaved like a cosy enough ship you could not help but laze in.
Two things work against The Light Years. The first is an almost complete lack of gravitas in the way the story progresses. Most of the chapters feel like slice of life episodes from some scifi anime. They are almost all rather dull, disconnected, and what happens in one is for the most part irrelevant to the others. At nearly no point is there any manner of suspense in our tale. Everything is related in a somewhat disappointing matter of fact tone.
The second thing has a lot to do with the first, but is related more to the characters themselves. Over and over we see glimpses of Hisako or Adem's life, but these glimpses never seem to drive at anything that contributes to the central plot. Sure, we learn things about them, but mostly we trapsize about the characters for what feels like no other point but to get past the chapter.
The few really exciting points, like the exploration of the derelict ship, Hisako's trip to La Mer, among others, are defused by the author in what feel like very anticlimactic ways that not only rob the story of potential excitement but also sort of invalidates the characters experiences.
I kind of feel like maybe the book just needed more space to spread its wings, so to speak. It seemed like the author wanted to explore a lot of things, but either just wasn't afforded the space to do so, or didn't have the self confidence to do it fully, either of which might account for the compressed feeling of the narrative.
It's a shame, because I really wanted to like the story, but as it is, it hardly feels like I read the story promised by thr book's blurb.