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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Tengo sentimientos encontrados, porque sí, me parece una historia valiosa, y un muy buen Coming of Age. Pero siento que es más largo de lo que debería, o al menos así lo sentí. Y del todo, no conecté con todo lo del show de Universe City, entiendo la importancia que tiene, y que de esa manera se forma la conexión entre los personajes, pero no conecte con esa parte de la historia.
Los personajes son entrañables, eso sí. Sobre todo, porque a aled lo venimos, siguiendo como un Side character de Heartstopper, pero creo que el personaje más destacable para mí, fue Daniel.
Frances me pareció un poco insoportable, pero es que en realidad así está construido, y actúa tal cual una adolescente y tiene sentido, sin embargo, no quita que no haya conectado con el personaje.
Los personajes son entrañables, eso sí. Sobre todo, porque a aled lo venimos, siguiendo como un Side character de Heartstopper, pero creo que el personaje más destacable para mí, fue Daniel.
Frances me pareció un poco insoportable, pero es que en realidad así está construido, y actúa tal cual una adolescente y tiene sentido, sin embargo, no quita que no haya conectado con el personaje.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Radio Silence is easily one of my favorite stories from the Osemanverse. As a former straight-A, perfectionist student, I related so much to France’s and Aled’s struggles. The whole cast is lovable (except Carol Last of course. We hate her to the moon and back.) and I’m glad they created this friend-group to support and celebrate each other.
At this point I think I’d read anything Alice writes!
At this point I think I’d read anything Alice writes!
[99/166]
Two hot takes:
1: controversial opinion but osemanverse good
2: the cover is garbage. I mean look at that. Why is she grayed out like that? Why is this person so very white/white-passing? Why is the cover art like this when Oseman is literally an artist??? And a good one??? Was it worth it to make this book look generic as possible??
Anyways. The actual book.
So. Radio Silence, like Bridge to Terabithia and a few other novels I've read, contains something of a self-enclosed narrative, that is to say, passages of the fictional "Radio Silence" podcast sprinkled in with its narrative. For those of you who want to write embedded narratives, I'd consider this a must-read, not because the embedded narrative is compelling (sorry Oseman! I promise I like this one) but because it's very easy to track exactly where it lands and where it falls short. Universe City only ever works well as a supplement to the existing narrative, that is, when we're thinking about February Friday, or when it drives plot drama, or in little glorious bits of prose like the ??? night where Aled, Daniel, and Frances get drunk and we get to hear this wonderful bit of word vomit on the podcast. This is totally fine, but it does wreck suspension of disbelief in that Frances is *very invested* in this story that we the audience can't exactly get behind, and every attempt to clarify it makes it seem more vague. We're supposed to be engaged with Radio, but I never fell in love with Radio. I fell in love with Aled, who is clearly projecting through Radio, which is a whole other can of beans. When the narrative starts falling apart, I'm not thinking, "oh no! radio :(" so much as I'm thinking "oh no! aled" which also is, I guess, fine...
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that this book is really good at making you feel things, but the plot is very very character driven, to the point that things like worldbuilding and suspension of disbelief do get shafted at points. Then again, I will say that the depictions of internet fame (invasive) and the depictions of abuse (see Aled being cautious about intimacy, the hair cutting, a bunch of stuff bordering on supervillain-ness from his mom which I can unfortunately say ring true to experiences I've born witness to) are actually strikingly accurate. The story is always verging between something that could be about someone you know and something that could have been written by someone you know, between the sublimely tactile in its depictions of late-grade anxiety and dark camping nights and the unfortunate climax. Where it falls for you totally depends on your ability to live in the moment with the characters.
Two hot takes:
1: controversial opinion but osemanverse good
2: the cover is garbage. I mean look at that. Why is she grayed out like that? Why is this person so very white/white-passing? Why is the cover art like this when Oseman is literally an artist??? And a good one??? Was it worth it to make this book look generic as possible??
Anyways. The actual book.
So. Radio Silence, like Bridge to Terabithia and a few other novels I've read, contains something of a self-enclosed narrative, that is to say, passages of the fictional "Radio Silence" podcast sprinkled in with its narrative. For those of you who want to write embedded narratives, I'd consider this a must-read, not because the embedded narrative is compelling (sorry Oseman! I promise I like this one) but because it's very easy to track exactly where it lands and where it falls short. Universe City only ever works well as a supplement to the existing narrative, that is, when we're thinking about February Friday, or when it drives plot drama, or in little glorious bits of prose like the ??? night where Aled, Daniel, and Frances get drunk and we get to hear this wonderful bit of word vomit on the podcast. This is totally fine, but it does wreck suspension of disbelief in that Frances is *very invested* in this story that we the audience can't exactly get behind, and every attempt to clarify it makes it seem more vague. We're supposed to be engaged with Radio, but I never fell in love with Radio. I fell in love with Aled, who is clearly projecting through Radio, which is a whole other can of beans. When the narrative starts falling apart, I'm not thinking, "oh no! radio :(" so much as I'm thinking "oh no! aled" which also is, I guess, fine...
I guess what I'm trying to get at is that this book is really good at making you feel things, but the plot is very very character driven, to the point that things like worldbuilding and suspension of disbelief do get shafted at points. Then again, I will say that the depictions of internet fame (invasive) and the depictions of abuse (see Aled being cautious about intimacy, the hair cutting, a bunch of stuff bordering on supervillain-ness from his mom which I can unfortunately say ring true to experiences I've born witness to) are actually strikingly accurate. The story is always verging between something that could be about someone you know and something that could have been written by someone you know, between the sublimely tactile in its depictions of late-grade anxiety and dark camping nights and the unfortunate climax. Where it falls for you totally depends on your ability to live in the moment with the characters.
emotional
lighthearted
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
AMAZING audiobook. This narrator should really do more books because she can give a unique voice to each character! Highly recommend
I have a very complicated relationship with this book. I really, really wanted to like it. But...
I almost stopped reading it before I hit the 50 page mark. And I am a staunch book finisher. I couldn't tell you the last book I didn't finish. But I nearly put this down because of sweet Daniel Daesung Jun.
I just knew he was Korean-American with that name, and in the beginning of the book he's portrayed as an emotionless automaton striving only for good grades. He has no personality besides being a straight-A student, but he's ranked #2. Frances, the protagonist, is #1 of course, and even though she's a high achiever herself, she doesn't particularly like studying. She just does it to get good grades so she can get into a good college. She thinks Daniel likes studying.
Obviously, I had a lot of problems with this portrayal. However, I did finish this book, and Daniel's character improves. We get to see a little bit more of him outside of school and we get some insight into his feelings and relationships. Ultimately, Frances and Daniel form a tentative friendship and that's quite nice - Frances realizes that she was "wrong" about him. But if I hadn't finished this book? I would have kept that horrible portrayal of Daniel from the first 50 pages in my head. And it's still there and it kind of hurts because I'm sure that's how some of my high school peers saw me. Daniel Daesung Jun, you smart, hard-working boy, I will protect you with all I've got!
Now. Frances. My main problem isn't with ther exactly, but rather the author's choice to make her mixed race. There doesn't need to be a point or purpose to having POC characters in books. They should exist without justification. However, if a white author is writing a POC main character, I am expecting something. I want fair representation, I want accuracy, I want respect. And I didn't get it with Frances.
I appreciate the representation, and if it matters to a mixed race person, and makes them feel seen and validated, I cannot speak over that. I'm glad that Frances is able to be that character for them. But from a writing standpoint, when a POC character could easily be made white without it changing anything in the story, I want to know why the author made that choice, and I could not see it in the book.
Frances doesn't talk about race (and she doesn't necessarily need to), except when taking some cheap shots at white people, like the old white interviewers at Cambridge or to poke a little fun at Carol Last. It doesn't add anything, and it doesn't feel real.
I suppose this leads into my main issue with the book, which is the lack of depth. I know, this is a YA book, so maybe I just need to calm down. But writing is one area where I cannot calm down. I am apathetic about most things, but books? Writing? I am absolutely feral and I make no apologies.
So, yes. Race is treated quite shallowly here. (Aside: there's this completely random drunk moment when Daniel tells Frances that his Korean name is Daesung and kids made fun of him for it. I cannot stress how awkward this was in context and how utterly superficial. Almost every Asian kid has had their name made fun of once - go deeper).
The other themes are quite surface-level as well. And it's disappointing because I like the themes! Grades/academia don't mean as much as we're taught that they do, the normalcy and power of platonic friendship, etc. But there's just no depth. I think this book could have been great, but for me, it sadly was not.
It sounds like I hate it, so why do I have a complicated relationship with it? Well, because Aled Last identifies somewhere within asexuality (close to demisexual - but he doesn't strictly define it), and this is only the second book I've read with an asexual main character. And his family dramatics aside, Aled's character is created with a lot of care - I can feel it, and I love it.
I almost stopped reading it before I hit the 50 page mark. And I am a staunch book finisher. I couldn't tell you the last book I didn't finish. But I nearly put this down because of sweet Daniel Daesung Jun.
I just knew he was Korean-American with that name, and in the beginning of the book he's portrayed as an emotionless automaton striving only for good grades. He has no personality besides being a straight-A student, but he's ranked #2. Frances, the protagonist, is #1 of course, and even though she's a high achiever herself, she doesn't particularly like studying. She just does it to get good grades so she can get into a good college. She thinks Daniel likes studying.
Obviously, I had a lot of problems with this portrayal. However, I did finish this book, and Daniel's character improves. We get to see a little bit more of him outside of school and we get some insight into his feelings and relationships. Ultimately, Frances and Daniel form a tentative friendship and that's quite nice - Frances realizes that she was "wrong" about him. But if I hadn't finished this book? I would have kept that horrible portrayal of Daniel from the first 50 pages in my head. And it's still there and it kind of hurts because I'm sure that's how some of my high school peers saw me. Daniel Daesung Jun, you smart, hard-working boy, I will protect you with all I've got!
Now. Frances. My main problem isn't with ther exactly, but rather the author's choice to make her mixed race. There doesn't need to be a point or purpose to having POC characters in books. They should exist without justification. However, if a white author is writing a POC main character, I am expecting something. I want fair representation, I want accuracy, I want respect. And I didn't get it with Frances.
I appreciate the representation, and if it matters to a mixed race person, and makes them feel seen and validated, I cannot speak over that. I'm glad that Frances is able to be that character for them. But from a writing standpoint, when a POC character could easily be made white without it changing anything in the story, I want to know why the author made that choice, and I could not see it in the book.
Frances doesn't talk about race (and she doesn't necessarily need to), except when taking some cheap shots at white people, like the old white interviewers at Cambridge or to poke a little fun at Carol Last. It doesn't add anything, and it doesn't feel real.
I suppose this leads into my main issue with the book, which is the lack of depth. I know, this is a YA book, so maybe I just need to calm down. But writing is one area where I cannot calm down. I am apathetic about most things, but books? Writing? I am absolutely feral and I make no apologies.
So, yes. Race is treated quite shallowly here. (Aside: there's this completely random drunk moment when Daniel tells Frances that his Korean name is Daesung and kids made fun of him for it. I cannot stress how awkward this was in context and how utterly superficial. Almost every Asian kid has had their name made fun of once - go deeper).
The other themes are quite surface-level as well. And it's disappointing because I like the themes! Grades/academia don't mean as much as we're taught that they do, the normalcy and power of platonic friendship, etc. But there's just no depth. I think this book could have been great, but for me, it sadly was not.
It sounds like I hate it, so why do I have a complicated relationship with it? Well, because Aled Last identifies somewhere within asexuality (close to demisexual - but he doesn't strictly define it), and this is only the second book I've read with an asexual main character. And his family dramatics aside, Aled's character is created with a lot of care - I can feel it, and I love it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
sad
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