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startjpw23's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a novella. The story is set in Mexico City. The exact year isn't given, but it is probably around 2018. The world is the book is much more technologically advanced than the current world. But it has regressed socially. There is a lot of crime. There is a bigger divide between the haves and the have-nots. There are colonies on Mars. The main character is Amelia. For a long time, she has wanted to live on Mars. Due to family circumstances, she had to drop out of college, and she now has a lot of difficulty making ends meet. She doesn't have the resources to go to Mars. The story goes from there. This novella is less about the sci-fi aspects and more about social issues and the way people are forced to live and what they have to do to get by. I liked it a lot. I recommend it to anyone who wants to read a novella that is a little light on the sci-fi but that says a lot about the difficulties people face in trying to survive. The novella is really well written. This is the first book I read by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It won't be the last.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
bookiecharm's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
magicshop's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
But the stars have shifted. This makes sense in an ever-expanding universe, but it brings no comfort to the writer to feel them moving away from the palm of his hand.
you should read this book if...
- you're looking for a competent, if brief, exploration of poverty (particularly in poorer countries) that remains relevant beyond its fantastical setting
- you enjoy positive relationships between women, especially between generations
- you're starry-eyed about space. amelia's wishful thoughts will likely rub off on you in the best way, even though the book itself is set on earth.
the good:
- i would've given this book a lesser score if i hadn't appreciated so much of who the main character was and how she was written (typical well-off or middle class male antihero in an affluent country flipped right on its head, in a cyberpunkish setting to boot). she wasn't very likable at all, made terrible decisions at times, and constantly lost herself in depressive thoughts and destructive behaviors, which are traditionally very unwanted qualities in women.
- without giving too much away, the relationships in this book are almost all between (very different) women, and i enjoyed seeing how each one of them affected the main character throughout.
the bad:
- i came out of this book wishing it was much longer. i think it's a little gem for what it is, definitely enjoyable with very little overstated or overdone, but there just wasn't enough time spent with the characters for me personally to care about them that much. i can't rightfully complain about this, though, since it's not trying to be a full-blown novel or bite more than it can chew; i just would have preferred it that way, because i liked the setting and the main character enough for it.
- the romance is meh. i understand the part it plays in the story and with the way things ended up i don't even resent or outright dislike it, but i would've wished for something a little more creative instead. possibly i am just tired of straight romances at this point in my life (unless they really break the mould lol).
- the writing style was nothing special. not bad, but not all that remarkable either to my tastes. there were a few lines of note, however, and i'll be glad to look back on them in the future.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Grief
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