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aneton's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
csawasaki's review
Too slow paced. Read for book club and couldn’t force myself to finish.
sonofthe's review
4.0
Death gives meaning to life. I've seen that sentiment repeated in different ways, in many places.
Love brings meaning to life. Filial and paternal love. Fraternal and sororal love. Erotic love. In love, there's a spark that can pass from one person to another, rejuvenating them, sustaining them for a time, all because of a meaningful look, a familiar glance, a routine act of devoted love.
Life and death are forever at odds. At least, that's the way it plays out in this story. Immortality versus mortality. Each envy the other what they cannot have. Each makes the other into hyperbole.
On the surface, Rupetta is about a mechanical woman. A marvel of technology, created by a genius, never to be repeated. Her existence changes the world. From her come the inspiration for all sorts of mechanical marvels: Wynder lights; clockwork toys; airships; ominous bladed mounts. Power structures change based on people's relationship to her, changing the history of our world into something else.
But there's a sort of spiritual connection between Rupetta and each woman in the long line of her Wynders. Never stated explicitly, the Wynding that keeps Rupetta going is more than just a mechanical winding of a mainspring. There's some sort of life that passes from each Wynder to Rupetta, and a sharing of thoughts and memories. Those around her think she's eternal, but she still relies on others like a parasite or vampire. Or maybe it's simpler. In a way, we all live off the death of other things, other animals and plants.
Rupetta, the novel, seems initially like it'll be just another steampunk story, but I'm glad it isn't. Most steampunk stories seem cliche and tropy to me, so I've avoided them. Rupetta, though, rises above my stereotype. I saw Nike Sulway get her Tiptree award, and heard lots of interesting discussion about the book in panels throughout WisCon weekend. Still, my anti-steampunk bias kept from reading the book. Until now.
I'm so glad I read it.
Love brings meaning to life. Filial and paternal love. Fraternal and sororal love. Erotic love. In love, there's a spark that can pass from one person to another, rejuvenating them, sustaining them for a time, all because of a meaningful look, a familiar glance, a routine act of devoted love.
Life and death are forever at odds. At least, that's the way it plays out in this story. Immortality versus mortality. Each envy the other what they cannot have. Each makes the other into hyperbole.
On the surface, Rupetta is about a mechanical woman. A marvel of technology, created by a genius, never to be repeated. Her existence changes the world. From her come the inspiration for all sorts of mechanical marvels: Wynder lights; clockwork toys; airships; ominous bladed mounts. Power structures change based on people's relationship to her, changing the history of our world into something else.
But there's a sort of spiritual connection between Rupetta and each woman in the long line of her Wynders. Never stated explicitly, the Wynding that keeps Rupetta going is more than just a mechanical winding of a mainspring. There's some sort of life that passes from each Wynder to Rupetta, and a sharing of thoughts and memories. Those around her think she's eternal, but she still relies on others like a parasite or vampire. Or maybe it's simpler. In a way, we all live off the death of other things, other animals and plants.
Rupetta, the novel, seems initially like it'll be just another steampunk story, but I'm glad it isn't. Most steampunk stories seem cliche and tropy to me, so I've avoided them. Rupetta, though, rises above my stereotype. I saw Nike Sulway get her Tiptree award, and heard lots of interesting discussion about the book in panels throughout WisCon weekend. Still, my anti-steampunk bias kept from reading the book. Until now.
I'm so glad I read it.
jadereads_'s review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
nickifairy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
rivqa's review
challenging
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Achingly poetic and deeply philosophical, this beautiful alternate history is a careful examination of history, zealotry, love and loss. Effortless characterisation and lush descriptions that never strayed into self-indulgence made the mystery of Rupetta all the more joyful (albeit a bittersweet flavour thereof) a journey for me. A gorgeous, enriching book.
lene_kretzsch's review
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
linguisticali's review
4.0
I have some mixed feelings about this one.
It was inventive and unusual, and it had diverse and interesting female characters. The sections with Henri were my favourite, and I absolutely loved the romance that developed between her and Miri. Their love was really at the heart of the book for me.
I also enjoyed the writing style. It was quite beautiful, and some of it was very poetic. One particular part which stood out for me was a page describing Henri's feelings towards Miri, and it's a clash of mixed images that somehow works so well to capture what it feels like to have that overwhelming young, new love.
On the other hand, there was a lot of the book which I found frustrating and difficult to engage with. A big part of this was that I struggled to engage with the fundamental premise - I wasn't really convinced by the worship of Rupetta, which underpinned the greater political context of the story.
I also struggled to follow the story a lot of the time. I never really developed a clear sense of time or place, and I struggled to follow the characters' motivations. I really lost the plot in the last third of the book, and I didn't really feel like the story resolved or went anywhere satisfying.The very ending (with Henri) was comforting, but I didn't have the sense that the larger issues in the plot were really addressed. I didn't feel like there'd been any real change - I don't know if the destruction of the false Rupetta was supposed to signal a shift in the religious and political situation, but it didn't fully answer that for me. The last part of the book felt like a lot of repetitive running away and being caught without any real change taking place.
Some things didn't feel very well explained.It's possible I missed something, but I never clearly understood where Perdita had come from. I never fully grasped the implications of the Penitents' hearts and what it meant for them with respect to aging. Henri's reaction to discovering Miri's secret seemed like an overreaction, and it was particularly hard to make sense of given that we experienced her response before it was totally clear what the secret was - or why it would have such an impact.
I don't know if I can really recommend this book. I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 star rating, but I love books by and about women, and the well-written female characters and their relationships warrant the higher rating for me. It was inventive and really interesting, and while I found it frustrating a lot of the time, there was a lot about it which I did appreciate.
It was inventive and unusual, and it had diverse and interesting female characters. The sections with Henri were my favourite, and I absolutely loved the romance that developed between her and Miri. Their love was really at the heart of the book for me.
I also enjoyed the writing style. It was quite beautiful, and some of it was very poetic. One particular part which stood out for me was a page describing Henri's feelings towards Miri, and it's a clash of mixed images that somehow works so well to capture what it feels like to have that overwhelming young, new love.
I wanted to eat her. Wanted to shell her like a pea. Find her fresh green centre. My whole body was turned inside out. I was a spilled sack of stars. I had no right to be so happy. To walk so completely out of myself and into her.
On the other hand, there was a lot of the book which I found frustrating and difficult to engage with. A big part of this was that I struggled to engage with the fundamental premise - I wasn't really convinced by the worship of Rupetta, which underpinned the greater political context of the story.
I also struggled to follow the story a lot of the time. I never really developed a clear sense of time or place, and I struggled to follow the characters' motivations. I really lost the plot in the last third of the book, and I didn't really feel like the story resolved or went anywhere satisfying.
Some things didn't feel very well explained.
I don't know if I can really recommend this book. I'm torn between a 3 and a 4 star rating, but I love books by and about women, and the well-written female characters and their relationships warrant the higher rating for me. It was inventive and really interesting, and while I found it frustrating a lot of the time, there was a lot about it which I did appreciate.
tregina's review
5.0
God this is gorgeous. So gorgeous. I should say more about it, talk about the ways in which it explores humanity and gender and relationships, talk about the glorious libraryporn, talk about how the words and the ideas and the characters moved me so much. But I'm still basking in the afterglow so that shall have to wait for another time.