Scan barcode
heniaakbar's review
2.0
Not even trying to read the whole issue, this review and star are only for If You Find Yourself Talking to God, Address God with the Informal You, which is not my favorite.
incipientdreamer's review
3.75
Review for If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You by John Chu.
Very very cute. The romance in this was heart-fluttering, and I enjoyed reading this, however, there wasn't a lot happening in it. Which is fine! I still enjoyed it a lot, but I don't think it's something groundbreaking. Yes, I agreed with the Fuck the Police sentiment (because honestly fuck the police). The persecution of Asian Americans especially Asian American women was a huge issue last year specifically so I see where the author is coming from. But there wasn't any set conclusion to it, which I guess is fair enough, how do you fix systemic racism?
I loved the title for this, and what it meant in the story. It was very clever and witty so props to Chu for that.
This won Best Novelette in both the Locus and Nebula Awards 2023. Not sure if this was the best choice since I have yet to read the other nominees, but I did feel like the scifi/fantasy aspect was a very very small part of the story.
Very very cute. The romance in this was heart-fluttering, and I enjoyed reading this, however, there wasn't a lot happening in it. Which is fine! I still enjoyed it a lot, but I don't think it's something groundbreaking. Yes, I agreed with the Fuck the Police sentiment (because honestly fuck the police). The persecution of Asian Americans especially Asian American women was a huge issue last year specifically so I see where the author is coming from. But there wasn't any set conclusion to it, which I guess is fair enough, how do you fix systemic racism?
I loved the title for this, and what it meant in the story. It was very clever and witty so props to Chu for that.
This won Best Novelette in both the Locus and Nebula Awards 2023. Not sure if this was the best choice since I have yet to read the other nominees, but I did feel like the scifi/fantasy aspect was a very very small part of the story.
atuin's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
My personal favorites in this collection were “At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea”, “Fate, Hope, Friendship, Foe”, "Bramblewilde", "Family Cooking", and “If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You”
bookwyrmknits's review
3.5
As with many multi-author compilations, some of these stories and poems were more to my liking than others. That's fine, though; it means more people are likely to find something they enjoy here even if they don't share my taste in reading. There were a couple of stories here with fantasy religion as a big plot point; I haven't seen many of those stories lately and it was good to see even if neither of those pieces were my favorite stories.
A few thoughts on some of the individual pieces:
"Family Cooking" by AnaMaria Curtis is a look at how our feelings about family can get complicated. I liked that the story's ending left the resolution up to the reader.
"If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You" by John Chu gives superheroes an Asian-American flavor. I always appreciate when some stereotypically white character types (in this case a Superman-style hero) are given a POC re-do.
“To Hunger, As with Perfect Faith” by Radha Kai Zan has a bit of body horror mixed with religion and sacrifice. Not my cup of tea but fans of horror might like it.
“At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea” by Juliet Kemp is a new favorite. I love the quiet beauty in this story—both the setting and the theme of self-discovery.
“Bramblewilde” by Jordan Taylor was a fun fairy tale of a story, not as deep as some of the other pieces in this issue but perhaps a better read because of it.
Poem “Mirrors” by Millie Ho was really enjoyable, there was more plot there than I usually expect from a poem and I love how the piece goes from being vaguely innocent to unsettling.
I also very much agree with Jim C. Hines' essay “In Defense of the To Be Read Pile”. He says a lot of things there that I agree with, and I will (try to) no longer feel defensive about owning a bunch of books I will likely never read.
A few thoughts on some of the individual pieces:
"Family Cooking" by AnaMaria Curtis is a look at how our feelings about family can get complicated. I liked that the story's ending left the resolution up to the reader.
"If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You" by John Chu gives superheroes an Asian-American flavor. I always appreciate when some stereotypically white character types (in this case a Superman-style hero) are given a POC re-do.
“To Hunger, As with Perfect Faith” by Radha Kai Zan has a bit of body horror mixed with religion and sacrifice. Not my cup of tea but fans of horror might like it.
“At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea” by Juliet Kemp is a new favorite. I love the quiet beauty in this story—both the setting and the theme of self-discovery.
“Bramblewilde” by Jordan Taylor was a fun fairy tale of a story, not as deep as some of the other pieces in this issue but perhaps a better read because of it.
Poem “Mirrors” by Millie Ho was really enjoyable, there was more plot there than I usually expect from a poem and I love how the piece goes from being vaguely innocent to unsettling.
I also very much agree with Jim C. Hines' essay “In Defense of the To Be Read Pile”. He says a lot of things there that I agree with, and I will (try to) no longer feel defensive about owning a bunch of books I will likely never read.
afreen7's review
4.0
3.5/5
MORE FICTION
Family Cooking by AnaMaria Curtis - 4/5 (that ending! i don't know if its supposed to be redemptive or ominous)
Fate, Hope, Friendship, Foe by Marie Brennan - 3/5 (nice modern mythological story but the ending was too abrupt compared to the long built-up)
Blessed Are the Healers by K.S. Walker - 3.5/5
At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea by Juliet Kemp - 3/5 ( this just wasn't for me, unfortunately)
If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You by John Chu - 3/5
The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi - 4/5
Bramblewilde by Jordan Taylor - 4/5
To Hunger, As with Perfect Faith by Radha Kai Zan - 2/5 (the story doesn't make much sense and I don't know what the point of it was besides gratuitous fornication between immoral beings)
POETRY
I liked the poetry in this edition but nothing really stood out for me personally
EDITORIALS
The Pregnant Body Problem by Meg Elison - 5/5
"No body that can carry a child and give birth is free. Until the right to privacy is secured, codified, enshrined, and acknowledged by every government around the world, no body is free. No body is safe."
"The pregnant body is simultaneously the most valuable and the most vulnerable one in our society. The pregnant body has the absolute inalienable right to own and to defend itself, within and without.
ESSAYS
Finding My Way Back to Solitary Fandom by Keidra Chaney - 4/5
This essay talks about the writer coming to terms with something I understood a long long time ago. Being an introvert means you didn't really have anyone to share your latest pop culture obsession with. So I already knew how to enjoy my slice of the fandom alone. You don't always need to consume the latest fad when everyone else is doing it. Or share your opinion asap. It's ok to watch that show, listen to that artist, see that movie way later than when it's popular. It's not the end of the world. There are lots of fandoms where being online isn't the mainstream of dialogue.
Wonderful Things I’ve Seen in Science Fiction Fandom by Gay Haldeman - 5/5
Such a well-lived life!
In Defense of the To Be Read Pile by Jim C. Hines - 5/5
"I purr every time someone compliments me on the rows of books spread out behind me. Those bright, broad bookshelves are like a peacock’s tail, and my ego swells whenever I get the chance to show them off.
And then someone asks the dreaded question: “Have you read them all?”
This is so me!
"That’s a hard no. There are simply too many books and too few years in the human lifespan. To make matters worse, authors keep writing more books I want to read."
Also this [regarding Marie Kondo's view on books] "I’m not here for Kondo-bashing. But I disagree with the implication that a book’s sole value and purpose is to be read."
I wish I could quote this entire essay, that's how relatable it was to me!
She Is Sword, and She Is Sorcery: Womanhood in The Witcher and The Wheel of Time by Jeannette Ng - 4/5
MORE FICTION
Family Cooking by AnaMaria Curtis - 4/5 (that ending! i don't know if its supposed to be redemptive or ominous)
Fate, Hope, Friendship, Foe by Marie Brennan - 3/5 (nice modern mythological story but the ending was too abrupt compared to the long built-up)
Blessed Are the Healers by K.S. Walker - 3.5/5
At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea by Juliet Kemp - 3/5 ( this just wasn't for me, unfortunately)
If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You by John Chu - 3/5
The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi - 4/5
Bramblewilde by Jordan Taylor - 4/5
To Hunger, As with Perfect Faith by Radha Kai Zan - 2/5 (the story doesn't make much sense and I don't know what the point of it was besides gratuitous fornication between immoral beings)
POETRY
I liked the poetry in this edition but nothing really stood out for me personally
EDITORIALS
The Pregnant Body Problem by Meg Elison - 5/5
"No body that can carry a child and give birth is free. Until the right to privacy is secured, codified, enshrined, and acknowledged by every government around the world, no body is free. No body is safe."
"The pregnant body is simultaneously the most valuable and the most vulnerable one in our society. The pregnant body has the absolute inalienable right to own and to defend itself, within and without.
ESSAYS
Finding My Way Back to Solitary Fandom by Keidra Chaney - 4/5
This essay talks about the writer coming to terms with something I understood a long long time ago. Being an introvert means you didn't really have anyone to share your latest pop culture obsession with. So I already knew how to enjoy my slice of the fandom alone. You don't always need to consume the latest fad when everyone else is doing it. Or share your opinion asap. It's ok to watch that show, listen to that artist, see that movie way later than when it's popular. It's not the end of the world. There are lots of fandoms where being online isn't the mainstream of dialogue.
Wonderful Things I’ve Seen in Science Fiction Fandom by Gay Haldeman - 5/5
Such a well-lived life!
In Defense of the To Be Read Pile by Jim C. Hines - 5/5
"I purr every time someone compliments me on the rows of books spread out behind me. Those bright, broad bookshelves are like a peacock’s tail, and my ego swells whenever I get the chance to show them off.
And then someone asks the dreaded question: “Have you read them all?”
This is so me!
"That’s a hard no. There are simply too many books and too few years in the human lifespan. To make matters worse, authors keep writing more books I want to read."
Also this [regarding Marie Kondo's view on books] "I’m not here for Kondo-bashing. But I disagree with the implication that a book’s sole value and purpose is to be read."
I wish I could quote this entire essay, that's how relatable it was to me!
She Is Sword, and She Is Sorcery: Womanhood in The Witcher and The Wheel of Time by Jeannette Ng - 4/5
8bitlapras's review
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Fate, Hope, Friendship, Foe by Marie Brennan: 2.5/5
Family Cooking by AnaMaria Curtis: 4.5/5
At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea by Juliet Kemp: 3/5
Blessed Are the Healers by K.S. Walker: 4.75/5
If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God With the Informal You by John Chu: 3.25/5
To Hunger, as With Perfect Faith by Radha Kai Zan: 4.75/5
Bramblewilde by Jordan Taylor: 2.75/5
The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi: 3/5
Average rating: 3.5
Family Cooking by AnaMaria Curtis: 4.5/5
At the Lighthouse Out by the Othersea by Juliet Kemp: 3/5
Blessed Are the Healers by K.S. Walker: 4.75/5
If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God With the Informal You by John Chu: 3.25/5
To Hunger, as With Perfect Faith by Radha Kai Zan: 4.75/5
Bramblewilde by Jordan Taylor: 2.75/5
The Hurt Pattern by Tochi Onyebuchi: 3/5
Average rating: 3.5
More...