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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
My favorite part about this book was the structure. Typically in books with rotating perspectives I align myself with a particular voice or wish more of the story was told from one of the perspectives. In Clade the reader doesn't have much of a chance to feel that way because the narration shifts not only in perspective but in time. Though each narrative is interwoven with those that came before it and characters recur, the shift in time feels appropriate and well paced. Through the eyes of each character we feel the passage of time and the evolution of the problems and in many causes literal catastrophes they live with and through.
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’m reading ‘Clade’ for a prose fiction class and it certainly makes for a great discussion topic. While reading I went through a whirlwind of emotions: sadness, disgust, horror, and astonishment mostly. Mainly because the cover is so innocuous; I believed this book would have more to do with bees.
Bradley’s style is simple but his eloquence is obvious throughout. The fractured structure is interesting and his use of symbolism—especially at the beginning of the book—is a delight to reflect on. The science-fiction elements of this book were incredibly clever and eerily prophetic given today’s current circumstances. In saying this, some of Bradley’s representations could have been better. His depiction of an autistic character, while thought-provoking, is preceded by a grossly ableist narration from a neuro-typical protagonist that is never resolved. The female characters in this book are driven by a need to procreate and then described as being distant and even absent mothers while the male characters are hailed as heroic.
I actually had quite a few issues with this book. Why were members of the LGBTQ+ community still considered controversial by the masses? Was that necessary? Do we really need another book where the immediate response to learning about someone’s autism is an apology? Even if it’s represented in fiction, endorsing this kind of reaction only fosters harmful prejudices against minorities.
So yeah, this one wasn’t for me, but it still stands as a prime example of cli-fi and it’s still an interesting read. I’d recommend it to science-fiction buffs for sure but please be mindful of the current social climate and your own limits! (Warning: pandemic references, possibly triggering ableism, death of children, death on a global scale)
Madi
Bradley’s style is simple but his eloquence is obvious throughout. The fractured structure is interesting and his use of symbolism—especially at the beginning of the book—is a delight to reflect on. The science-fiction elements of this book were incredibly clever and eerily prophetic given today’s current circumstances. In saying this, some of Bradley’s representations could have been better. His depiction of an autistic character, while thought-provoking, is preceded by a grossly ableist narration from a neuro-typical protagonist that is never resolved. The female characters in this book are driven by a need to procreate and then described as being distant and even absent mothers while the male characters are hailed as heroic.
I actually had quite a few issues with this book. Why were members of the LGBTQ+ community still considered controversial by the masses? Was that necessary? Do we really need another book where the immediate response to learning about someone’s autism is an apology? Even if it’s represented in fiction, endorsing this kind of reaction only fosters harmful prejudices against minorities.
So yeah, this one wasn’t for me, but it still stands as a prime example of cli-fi and it’s still an interesting read. I’d recommend it to science-fiction buffs for sure but please be mindful of the current social climate and your own limits! (Warning: pandemic references, possibly triggering ableism, death of children, death on a global scale)
Madi
Well done and intricate story of the multifaceted devolution of society / humans as climate disaster unfolds around the world. I’ve got questions (what did they EAT? How and why did our protoganists survive so well? What happened to the bees? And the birds? How can we keep going when they’re gone? What happened to Ellie’s step mum?) but I like it when the author doesn’t answer my questions (even as I rail about them)
Would that our world leaders, or maybe just ScoMo would read this piece of fiction. Would we take action in time?
Would that our world leaders, or maybe just ScoMo would read this piece of fiction. Would we take action in time?
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Para ser bastante corto, este libro abarca una gran cantidad de tiempo, explorando el tema del cambio climático en el progreso cotidiano y como cada generación tiene que lidiar con los cambios.
Visto así, como en la vida real, de trata de un asunto que está constantemente en el fondo de nuestras vidas afectando nuestra realidad pero no es algo que esté perpetuamente en la mente hasta que se toca otro hito de cambio.
Es una lectura que podría llevarse bastante rápido, ya que es emocionante e interesante a pesar de abarcar tanto tiempo. Yo la fui leyendo poco a poco porque me ha costado concentrarme y hay varios cambios de personajes que no alcanzaba a asimilar propiamente.
Puntos extra porque abejas.
Visto así, como en la vida real, de trata de un asunto que está constantemente en el fondo de nuestras vidas afectando nuestra realidad pero no es algo que esté perpetuamente en la mente hasta que se toca otro hito de cambio.
Es una lectura que podría llevarse bastante rápido, ya que es emocionante e interesante a pesar de abarcar tanto tiempo. Yo la fui leyendo poco a poco porque me ha costado concentrarme y hay varios cambios de personajes que no alcanzaba a asimilar propiamente.
Puntos extra porque abejas.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
An outstanding novel that spans three generations of a family living in a world so very similar and yet so vastly different to the one we currently inhabit.
This is speculative fiction at its finest. Breathtakingly believable, the world is in crisis and we are the reason why. Told in time jumps and shifting perceptions, sometimes from peripheral characters, it's a haunting caution of what could be.
This is speculative fiction at its finest. Breathtakingly believable, the world is in crisis and we are the reason why. Told in time jumps and shifting perceptions, sometimes from peripheral characters, it's a haunting caution of what could be.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No