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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I love a good character-driven book and this was one. I guess I was a bit disappointed as I had just expected a novel that falls more into the cli-fi section but that was just me. The aspect of the freezing earth is more than just a minor backdrop to the plot but it is also not a novel about a change in climate. Fagan writes beatifully and both the descriptions of nature and the frozen surroundings as well as the characters are well written. Stella is just such a badass teenage girl that you got to love her for it.
This is a fascinating and unusual book.
While technically an apocalyptic book it doesn't read that way. It's a very character-driven, rather quiet story.
Issues of transgenderism/gender dysphoria are done in a thoughtful way. Also, what you might call polyamory, though I'm not sure all parties are a hundred percent on board with it. It's complicated. That's okay.
This is a hard book to describe. One thing is certain. You will feel cold. Very, very cold.
While technically an apocalyptic book it doesn't read that way. It's a very character-driven, rather quiet story.
Issues of transgenderism/gender dysphoria are done in a thoughtful way. Also, what you might call polyamory, though I'm not sure all parties are a hundred percent on board with it. It's complicated. That's okay.
This is a hard book to describe. One thing is certain. You will feel cold. Very, very cold.
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you're looking for a straight apocalyptic story, you're looking in the wrong place. While climate change has led to temperatures dropping, icebergs moving towards population centers, and brutal winters looming, this only serves as the setting of the novel rather than the driving force. Instead, the novel is a great story about three individuals thrown together during these circumstances. The characters are richly developed (Stella, a transgender preteen is especially wonderful) and so realistic, dealing not only with a changing world, but dealing with love, death, and change.
Highly recommended.
If you're looking for a straight apocalyptic story, you're looking in the wrong place. While climate change has led to temperatures dropping, icebergs moving towards population centers, and brutal winters looming, this only serves as the setting of the novel rather than the driving force. Instead, the novel is a great story about three individuals thrown together during these circumstances. The characters are richly developed (Stella, a transgender preteen is especially wonderful) and so realistic, dealing not only with a changing world, but dealing with love, death, and change.
Highly recommended.
I totally read this in one sitting. More to come!
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A global environmental disaster sets the backdrop for The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jennie Fagan, yet for all that the synopsis emphasizes these apocalyptic times, the story focuses more on family connections and growing up/living in a small town. The main part of the story that drew me in and kept me interested was Stella and seeing her try to cope with life in a tiny, bigoted crowd.
Character development was the driving point of this Sunlight Pilgrims. Readers see Stella evolve from extremely insecure, depressed, and self-conscious, to realizing the boys and kids around her aren’t worth her attention, depression. She learns this the hard way after an alluded to hospital stay. Why is Stella having such a hard time? Because she is a transgirl living in a tiny, religious town. Stella was the high point for me and I was extremely eager to read her chapters, to see more of her evolution. Meanwhile, we also have Londoner Dylan befriending Stella and trying to woo her mother. His arc started with emotion and steam, but fizzled out almost immediately. The only time his arc picked up interest was when he discovered his dark family secret, which I would have loved to have seen more fully explored.
While this reminds me a bit of A Sudden Light by Garth Stein mixed with The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber, it doesn’t seem to come close to being as great as either. Still, The Sunlight Pilgrims by Jenni Faber is a solidly written book, but does falter at living up to the synopsis. I would have preferred the apocalyptic nature of the extreme cold and snow had been shown as something extremely serious (like it was in “The Book of Strange New Things“) and/or that there be a greater focus on Stella’s development and maturing, as well as a more in-depth look at Dylan’s family secret and its impact.
// I received this title for free in exchange for an honest review //
The dystopian element of this book is more of a backdrop to the human story - I would have preferred more world building and a greater prominence to the events happening around the characters.
The main characters were well fleshed out, and I particularly enjoyed reading the parts of the plot which were focused on Stella. However, there were elements to the story which felt a little bit "soap opera" to me at times.
The main characters were well fleshed out, and I particularly enjoyed reading the parts of the plot which were focused on Stella. However, there were elements to the story which felt a little bit "soap opera" to me at times.
I was disappointed in this book. While geared toward adult readers given some mature situations, it has a very Young Adult sensibility. The characters were very interesting, but nothing happened and they never make the meaningful adjustments to their lives to improve their situation. One has commitment issues, another lacks confidence and has a drinking problem. Another is young and struggling with identity. The most frustrating thing was that the plot was very limited - it's 2020 and really cold out and everyone is going to freeze to death!! - but significant sections of the book are spent on sections that don't advance the plot. Girl goes biking, parents get scared that she will freeze to death, she gets home without their help, nothing calls back to episode in the rest of the book.
I did not the inner angst of the characters compelling. Also, there was a bit of a science dump from the author that didn't seem accurate, and wasn't that compelling. Others compared this to Stephenson, which is ludicrous.
I did not the inner angst of the characters compelling. Also, there was a bit of a science dump from the author that didn't seem accurate, and wasn't that compelling. Others compared this to Stephenson, which is ludicrous.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes