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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Such and interesting piece of writing and one that I'd definitely read again. It's interesting to think of Lee writing the first part, perhaps (I think) without fully planning the second and her probably thinking 'oh yeah, they need to get the fuck out of there I know some people found the first part a slog but it's not long enough to be one in my opinion. It's no longer than any bit of worldbuilding in some Branden Sanderson monstrosity of a novel, and those are 700 pages plus!
I can definitely see this as a slightly cynical descendant of The Left Hand of Darkness but I hope modern audiences don't see this as being transphobic because I don't think it is, or rather that's not how it ends. I think it does play with the idea of changing gender as a lark, as a bit of play, but by the end none of characters regret such actions or believe their bodies, in this case the main characters, somehow erase their past memories. I think it's very open about sexuality, eventually, but I think to prescribe hard and fast rules of current morality to a book that is, effectively a thought experiment would be a mistake
I can definitely see this as a slightly cynical descendant of The Left Hand of Darkness but I hope modern audiences don't see this as being transphobic because I don't think it is, or rather that's not how it ends. I think it does play with the idea of changing gender as a lark, as a bit of play, but by the end none of characters regret such actions or believe their bodies, in this case the main characters, somehow erase their past memories. I think it's very open about sexuality, eventually, but I think to prescribe hard and fast rules of current morality to a book that is, effectively a thought experiment would be a mistake
What can I say other than groshing ooma, absolutely groshing
okay, maybe I can add just a bit more....
This book came very close to ending up on my "did not finish" list.
If it hadn't come with such high recommendations and fervent insistence that I read it, I would have given up early.
But I'm glad I didn't.
I've come off of reading space operas with sweeping epic story lines. Or at least sci fi books where the fate of worlds of even universes rests on the leading character.
This book is different. It's almost more of a slice of life book. There's a little more going on than just that, but large parts of it are just the protagonist (who isn't named) doing their day to day thing. There isn't some big evil world ending enemy. And the people in this book live sheltered lives where suicide can be either a hobby and a way to get a new body. So their lives aren't generally in mortal danger. So in the first page sof this book I found myself thinking "blah blah blah, you're spoiled, immortal, and bored... I get it.. and I don't care".
And then a little deeper in and i was thinking "okay, I care a little".
That's when I just kinda relaxed, and stopped expecting anything momentous to happen and just enjoyed.
If you can relax and just enjoy the story as it unfolds at a leisurely pace, this story will pull you in over time. And it has what I thought was a nice satisfying conclusion.
Oh, and the slang is jarring at first and feels forced in the beginning. But by the end it feels natural, and it actually plays a part in the story. And as a bit of evidence on how well it works, I'm writing this review a bit over a week after finishing the book and i'm still finding myself using the slang terms from the book in my inner thoughts, how zaradann is that oomas?
okay, maybe I can add just a bit more....
This book came very close to ending up on my "did not finish" list.
If it hadn't come with such high recommendations and fervent insistence that I read it, I would have given up early.
But I'm glad I didn't.
I've come off of reading space operas with sweeping epic story lines. Or at least sci fi books where the fate of worlds of even universes rests on the leading character.
This book is different. It's almost more of a slice of life book. There's a little more going on than just that, but large parts of it are just the protagonist (who isn't named) doing their day to day thing. There isn't some big evil world ending enemy. And the people in this book live sheltered lives where suicide can be either a hobby and a way to get a new body. So their lives aren't generally in mortal danger. So in the first page sof this book I found myself thinking "blah blah blah, you're spoiled, immortal, and bored... I get it.. and I don't care".
And then a little deeper in and i was thinking "okay, I care a little".
That's when I just kinda relaxed, and stopped expecting anything momentous to happen and just enjoyed.
If you can relax and just enjoy the story as it unfolds at a leisurely pace, this story will pull you in over time. And it has what I thought was a nice satisfying conclusion.
Oh, and the slang is jarring at first and feels forced in the beginning. But by the end it feels natural, and it actually plays a part in the story. And as a bit of evidence on how well it works, I'm writing this review a bit over a week after finishing the book and i'm still finding myself using the slang terms from the book in my inner thoughts, how zaradann is that oomas?
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
what a fantastic book, I really enjoyed it! I would recommend it to anyone and everyone
A post scarcity world where all your fantasies are easily fulfilled. A utopia at the surface that seems more dystopian as the book continues.
It really spoke to me in a time of AI - we allow these mechanical constructs to create and manufacture stories, art, music but it takes the humanity out of the experience for us. What if our entire lives were like that? This book paints a rose tinted version of this that demists with each turn of a page. In the end the peace she finds comes from nature, and not from popping ecstacy and other hedonistic pursuits - #queenshit
This book is really good at 'show, don't tell', especially about the emotional states of our characters.
The read feels super 'floaty' if I had to describe it, in the best way.
Oh how I wish I had a little scraggly Pet of my own.
A post scarcity world where all your fantasies are easily fulfilled. A utopia at the surface that seems more dystopian as the book continues.
It really spoke to me in a time of AI - we allow these mechanical constructs to create and manufacture stories, art, music but it takes the humanity out of the experience for us. What if our entire lives were like that? This book paints a rose tinted version of this that demists with each turn of a page. In the end the peace she finds comes from nature, and not from popping ecstacy and other hedonistic pursuits - #queenshit
This book is really good at 'show, don't tell', especially about the emotional states of our characters.
The read feels super 'floaty' if I had to describe it, in the best way.
Oh how I wish I had a little scraggly Pet of my own.
Couldn’t finish. I really enjoyed her book Electric Forest and bought this based on my 4 star review of that book. Oh well. I have another book of hers on my to read list, so fingers crossed.
A favorite of mine from my teenage years. It’s one of those books that I’ve read so many times that I can’t think critically about it. (Well, technically it’s two books, but you really need to read both for the full effect so you might as well read the omnibus version.) Though it’s mostly a coming of age story, I think it speaks to deeper issues about what brings meaning to our lives. It’s also insumattly zaradann, which is always groshing for me, ooma.
The first of the two novellas seemed awfully pointless, like it never quite delivered on the social revelations its bizarre futuristic society promised. The second, however, made the original slog worthwhile. The last 80 pages were delightful.
It's a dystopian Utopia. Imagine your every wish or whim was indulged. Hungry? Great, a quasi-robot will make 8-9 meals a day. Not wanting to eat? Fine, just have a meal injection. As a Jang (spoiled adolescent), your job is to have fun, play, have love (slang expression for sex, instead of making love), and when bored, suicide (don't worry, it doesn't stick) and get a new body, of whatever gender (only two offered, but this was written in the 1970's) and appearance you choose.
The world-building was amazing, but, like the Jang heroine, I found myself seriously bored through much of the first book (this is two books in one). In the second one, things move faster, and we see our heroine (is she ever given a name? couldn't find it) take action and struggle with more than ennui.
Overall, it's well-written, though I could have used more easing into the Jang slang. It's written in first person, not my favorite style, but okay as used here. I'm finding that I'm really annoyed at not knowing her name; that distracted more than a little from my enjoyment of the book, and added nothing in terms of reader payoff. IMO. But it's still a mind-bending read.
The world-building was amazing, but, like the Jang heroine, I found myself seriously bored through much of the first book (this is two books in one). In the second one, things move faster, and we see our heroine (is she ever given a name? couldn't find it) take action and struggle with more than ennui.
Overall, it's well-written, though I could have used more easing into the Jang slang. It's written in first person, not my favorite style, but okay as used here. I'm finding that I'm really annoyed at not knowing her name; that distracted more than a little from my enjoyment of the book, and added nothing in terms of reader payoff. IMO. But it's still a mind-bending read.
challenging
inspiring
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Alcohol
Minor: Animal death, Self harm