Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
This book was quite good. I didn't realize that I was picking up a book from the nineties, and it definitely has that vibe. If you've ever read that series about the rapture, this one has LaCroix essence of that series. I doubt I'll read the whole series for that reason.
That being said, this book provides a world that calls back to and calls out The British empire and aristocracy in the US at the turn of the last century and late Victorian periods. It is horrific without being graphic. The science involved is poorly thought out and wonky, but that's par for course in the genre.
That being said, this book provides a world that calls back to and calls out The British empire and aristocracy in the US at the turn of the last century and late Victorian periods. It is horrific without being graphic. The science involved is poorly thought out and wonky, but that's par for course in the genre.
This was a very immersive book. Russell is poetic and detailed. The characters were lovable and knowable. I wish someone in a review would have mentioned that there are disturbing elements, including rape. I am sharing that to help others who avoid that in books. Would I have read it, knowing that? No. It takes me a while to "unread" those images. However, I am actually glad I did read it because the rest of the book redeems and makes it worthwhile. I will be a little lost in the world of this book for a while, which is a sign of a good one.
I have not spent so much time on a book this size in a long time. I could not find the will to go on. I was sure that 2 stars are more than enough, but the last 3 chapters are really unraveling the whole idea. I think I will read the second part as well. This is not SF, it is a book about God, the search for God and about restrained love.
Riveting and heartbreaking and provocative and hopeful etc etc etc
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
All that stuck with me about this book: Alien anal rape. Seriously. The lovely sound of the cosmos...descriptions of the taste of a victim's fear. I just...why does this get such high ratings?? I seriously cannot stand this book, and find it's place in scifi repugnant. Jesuits in space! Give me a break.
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting idea within the Sci-fi genre, especially as it resides in the miniscule sub-genre of 'religious sci-fi.' The idea is fleshed out well and really thoroughly. The writing itself is average and sometimes sub-par. The themes, circumstances, and events of the book are heavy and often really dark. I fear that certain parts are gratuitous when subtle implication would have done the trick, and better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
"I do what I do without hope of reward or fear of punishment. I do not require Heaven or Hell to bribe or scare me into acting decently."
"She laughed. 'Lemme tell ya something, sweetface. I have been married at least four times, to four different men.' She watched him chew that over for a moment before continuing, 'They've all been named George Edwards but, believe me, the man who is waiting for me down the hall is a whole lot different animal from the boy I married, back before there was dirt. Oh, there are continuities. He has always been fun and he has never been able to budget his time properly and - well, the rest is none of your business.'
'But people change,' he said quietly.
'Precisely. People change. Cultures change. Empires rise and fall. Shit. Geology changes! Every ten years or so, George and I have faced the fact that we have changed and we've had to decide if it makes sense to create a new marriage between these two new people.'"
"Have you ever thought about a Twelve Step program for people who talk too much? You could call it On and On Anon."
" 'It is the human condition to ask questions like Anne’s last night and to receive no plain answers,' he said. 'Perhaps this is because we can’t understand the answers, because we are incapable of knowing God’s ways and God’s thoughts. We are, after all, only very clever tailless primates, doing the best we can, but limited. Perhaps we must all own up to being agnostic, unable to know the unknowable.' "
"She laughed. 'Lemme tell ya something, sweetface. I have been married at least four times, to four different men.' She watched him chew that over for a moment before continuing, 'They've all been named George Edwards but, believe me, the man who is waiting for me down the hall is a whole lot different animal from the boy I married, back before there was dirt. Oh, there are continuities. He has always been fun and he has never been able to budget his time properly and - well, the rest is none of your business.'
'But people change,' he said quietly.
'Precisely. People change. Cultures change. Empires rise and fall. Shit. Geology changes! Every ten years or so, George and I have faced the fact that we have changed and we've had to decide if it makes sense to create a new marriage between these two new people.'"
"Have you ever thought about a Twelve Step program for people who talk too much? You could call it On and On Anon."
" 'It is the human condition to ask questions like Anne’s last night and to receive no plain answers,' he said. 'Perhaps this is because we can’t understand the answers, because we are incapable of knowing God’s ways and God’s thoughts. We are, after all, only very clever tailless primates, doing the best we can, but limited. Perhaps we must all own up to being agnostic, unable to know the unknowable.' "
"I do what I do without hope of reward or fear of punishment. I do not require Heaven or Hell to bribe or scare me into acting decently."
"She laughed. 'Lemme tell ya something, sweetface. I have been married at least four times, to four different men.' She watched him chew that over for a moment before continuing, 'They've all been named George Edwards but, believe me, the man who is waiting for me down the hall is a whole lot different animal from the boy I married, back before there was dirt. Oh, there are continuities. He has always been fun and he has never been able to budget his time properly and - well, the rest is none of your business.'
'But people change,' he said quietly.
'Precisely. People change. Cultures change. Empires rise and fall. Shit. Geology changes! Every ten years or so, George and I have faced the fact that we have changed and we've had to decide if it makes sense to create a new marriage between these two new people.'"
"Have you ever thought about a Twelve Step program for people who talk too much? You could call it On and On Anon."
" 'It is the human condition to ask questions like Anne’s last night and to receive no plain answers,' he said. 'Perhaps this is because we can’t understand the answers, because we are incapable of knowing God’s ways and God’s thoughts. We are, after all, only very clever tailless primates, doing the best we can, but limited. Perhaps we must all own up to being agnostic, unable to know the unknowable.' "
"She laughed. 'Lemme tell ya something, sweetface. I have been married at least four times, to four different men.' She watched him chew that over for a moment before continuing, 'They've all been named George Edwards but, believe me, the man who is waiting for me down the hall is a whole lot different animal from the boy I married, back before there was dirt. Oh, there are continuities. He has always been fun and he has never been able to budget his time properly and - well, the rest is none of your business.'
'But people change,' he said quietly.
'Precisely. People change. Cultures change. Empires rise and fall. Shit. Geology changes! Every ten years or so, George and I have faced the fact that we have changed and we've had to decide if it makes sense to create a new marriage between these two new people.'"
"Have you ever thought about a Twelve Step program for people who talk too much? You could call it On and On Anon."
" 'It is the human condition to ask questions like Anne’s last night and to receive no plain answers,' he said. 'Perhaps this is because we can’t understand the answers, because we are incapable of knowing God’s ways and God’s thoughts. We are, after all, only very clever tailless primates, doing the best we can, but limited. Perhaps we must all own up to being agnostic, unable to know the unknowable.' "