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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
FINALLY read this after years of having it recommended to me and I feel vastly unqualified to write any kind of review of it. So here's my middle-ground review that's neither a critique nor a personal essay:
Of course this is an important novel. And of course the gender politics (and lack thereof) are fascinating. But the writing didn't move me. Was it supposed to? (maybe) Is my lack of response a product of being a 2013 reader who has read some feminist and queer theory? (probably) Did the default to male pronouns really bother me? (yes) I just don't really know what to do with this book other than acknowledge it and move on to what came after -- which is really all of feminist sci-fi.
Of course this is an important novel. And of course the gender politics (and lack thereof) are fascinating. But the writing didn't move me. Was it supposed to? (maybe) Is my lack of response a product of being a 2013 reader who has read some feminist and queer theory? (probably) Did the default to male pronouns really bother me? (yes) I just don't really know what to do with this book other than acknowledge it and move on to what came after -- which is really all of feminist sci-fi.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a pretty interesting book, but I honestly wasn't sure what the plot exactly was. It took forever to get going, and seemed to go to some really random places at times, and I'm not sure what exactly the point of any of it was. Also, I didn't really like the ending much. But I still found the concepts relatively interesting, so 3 stars it is.
The ideas in here are really cool. The book itself is so incredibly boring I couldn’t finish it, sorry.
Wanted a discussion on gender but instead got a discussion on politics. This book wasn't for me sadly
I thought this would be an examination of the political and gender issues of the sixties through science fiction, but an interesting premise (people can choose their gender) became an ordinary escape and survival story that didn't justify the fantastic setting. I know that the backbone of any good story is that it is independent of the setting, but this one did not have enough speculative "what-if?" ideas to keep me interested.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
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
Now I probably shouldn't rate this because I audio booked half of it and spark noted the rest, but I disliked it sm that it deserved a review
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced