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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
took me so long to finish and i think i will reread again in my life, but here are some of my favorite quotes:
"If all life on Earth is one chapter in the story of the Universe, each cosmic night four billion years long, then am I allowed to write a page in the tale of existence, am I to be granted a single word? Does the story even matter or is the witnessing enough, the being aware of each moment of beauty and hardship along the path? And why do we need to believe our lives must add up to some grand narrative, and what happens when we stop believing this?
"There are a myriad of ways to exist in this world."
"I am not really thinking of anything at the present moment. Just of the many different types of light in the world. How each one is precious. How each needs a hand to shelter it to keep it from blowing out."
"If all life on Earth is one chapter in the story of the Universe, each cosmic night four billion years long, then am I allowed to write a page in the tale of existence, am I to be granted a single word? Does the story even matter or is the witnessing enough, the being aware of each moment of beauty and hardship along the path? And why do we need to believe our lives must add up to some grand narrative, and what happens when we stop believing this?
"There are a myriad of ways to exist in this world."
"I am not really thinking of anything at the present moment. Just of the many different types of light in the world. How each one is precious. How each needs a hand to shelter it to keep it from blowing out."
Unexpectedly informative and entirely unlike We Ride Upon Sticks, though just as well-written. Story and characters not quite as compelling as they might've been, but an engrossing read that I felt the need to slow down and really absorb nonetheless.
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I struggled with parts of this. Though Barry’s writing is at times beautiful, the pacing, plot, and characters did not work for me.
This book was perfect to read in small chunks everyday because of the meditative quality of the prose and some real poetic, thought-provoking questions each chapter brought up. It took me a minute to get used to the observant, non-involved tone of Chuluun’s narration but the setting and the characters (fallible, lonely, peaceful, divine) won me over in the end. Definitely a book I’d want to revisit & see if I understand more of it as I grow.
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-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:
No
This is such a bummer because I LOVED We Ride Upon Sticks. This book did not mesh with me at all, from the writing style to the structure to the subject matter. Learning some of the history was interesting, but it was presented in such a way that it was hard for me to grasp. On top of that, I found it difficult to really connect with any of the characters, I felt like I was always held at a distance. It just felt like a slog to read, even though it was only 300 pages with short chapters.
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated