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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
slow-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
In terms of ideas, it's a 5 star. In terms of story, 4 stars. When we get to characters they vary but they're pretty good. The problem I have is the problem that happens with lots of things from mainland China. The risque part of it was that someone might not want to get married. The oppressive heteronormativity and cultural repetition was obvious. I just want something that resembles modern culture and what might come, not something that makes the 1960s look progressive.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
'Vagabonds' by Hao Jingfang is an engaging science fiction novel that discusses the political strife between Earth and Mars through the eyes of teenagers.
Vagabonds follows a group of Martian kids that were sent to Earth as a delegation from Mars. Returning to Mars after five years on Earth, they begin to explore the differences between the two societies and their faults. The story primarily focuses on Luoying, one of the kids that was sent to Earth whose grandfather holds a prominent place in the Mars government. As Luoying learns more about her grandfather's role and her parent's deaths, she begins to unravel more about the history of both societies.
'Vagabonds' is a slow and meticulous science fiction story that I can see not being for everyone. It doesn't have the large battles that some people seek out in science fiction but is more of a slow political and social exploration through a science fiction lens. Jingfang does this exceptionally well by centering the group of kids that were sent to Earth as a delegation from Mars, especially with the character of Luoying. Luoying's unique perspective based on her family's involvement in politics gives the reader a personal investment in figuring out what has happened in this world.
One of my favorite parts of this story is how it explores what art could potentially look like in the future. Luoying is a dancer and the first section of the book also focuses on a filmmaker named Echo. By exploring these characters, Jingfang offers ways that artistic pursuits have been impacted by technological advancements. I do wish that Echo had a larger part throughout the rest of the story.
Though I don't think this book will be for everyone, I think that those who are interested in a character study set in space with political machinations going on in the background will really enjoy it. Despite it's setting, the story skews slightly toward literary fiction. Jingfang paired these in an engaging way that makes me interested to read more of her work.
Vagabonds follows a group of Martian kids that were sent to Earth as a delegation from Mars. Returning to Mars after five years on Earth, they begin to explore the differences between the two societies and their faults. The story primarily focuses on Luoying, one of the kids that was sent to Earth whose grandfather holds a prominent place in the Mars government. As Luoying learns more about her grandfather's role and her parent's deaths, she begins to unravel more about the history of both societies.
'Vagabonds' is a slow and meticulous science fiction story that I can see not being for everyone. It doesn't have the large battles that some people seek out in science fiction but is more of a slow political and social exploration through a science fiction lens. Jingfang does this exceptionally well by centering the group of kids that were sent to Earth as a delegation from Mars, especially with the character of Luoying. Luoying's unique perspective based on her family's involvement in politics gives the reader a personal investment in figuring out what has happened in this world.
One of my favorite parts of this story is how it explores what art could potentially look like in the future. Luoying is a dancer and the first section of the book also focuses on a filmmaker named Echo. By exploring these characters, Jingfang offers ways that artistic pursuits have been impacted by technological advancements. I do wish that Echo had a larger part throughout the rest of the story.
Though I don't think this book will be for everyone, I think that those who are interested in a character study set in space with political machinations going on in the background will really enjoy it. Despite it's setting, the story skews slightly toward literary fiction. Jingfang paired these in an engaging way that makes me interested to read more of her work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-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
A complex, and very moving story. Set in the future but felt like a piece of history that already existed.
Note: a bit difficult to follow at times as an audiobook as the character of focus often would switch suddenly and I'd struggle to figure out which point of view I was hearing. I imagine this is much easier to follow in written form.
Note: a bit difficult to follow at times as an audiobook as the character of focus often would switch suddenly and I'd struggle to figure out which point of view I was hearing. I imagine this is much easier to follow in written form.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
I started out really intrigued. The book reminded me a little of the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov which I really enjoyed. I kinda like it when the world takes centre stage instead of the characters and plot. This book is extremely slow-paced which I didn't really mind in the beginning but I think I ran out of steam halfway. It was a bit of a struggle to finish. In all honesty, I also wasn't really sure what has happening near the end in terms of character motivation and plot. It's a really introspective book and I think it grapples with a lot of interesting themes. It just takes a bit of patience to get through. If you like politics, ethics and don't mind slower-paced books, give it a go!
I struggled mightily with this book. I can’t tell if it’s because of the writing, which while literary and poignant in moments, also really dragged, or because of the distracting, CLOWNISH narration in the audio book version (Emily Woo Zeller reads audiobooks like she’s Jessica Rabbit smoking a long cigar—so unnecessarily staged and over the top, and incidentally why I rebuke audm!). But I couldn’t overcome the feeling that reading this book was a form of slow, tedious, punishment.
Alas. Focusing on the words themselves, the good includes the author dropping beautiful similes like it’s his job and thoughtful reflections on capitalism vs socialism, revolution, and inter generational change. The bad is ponderous storytelling with far too many protagonists (many of whom are irritating) that never really reaches a climax.
So yeah. Nowhere near my list of favorite reads, but still worthwhile. And at a minimum skip the audiobook version which just grates and grates and grates against the eardrums as well as your nerves...
Alas. Focusing on the words themselves, the good includes the author dropping beautiful similes like it’s his job and thoughtful reflections on capitalism vs socialism, revolution, and inter generational change. The bad is ponderous storytelling with far too many protagonists (many of whom are irritating) that never really reaches a climax.
So yeah. Nowhere near my list of favorite reads, but still worthwhile. And at a minimum skip the audiobook version which just grates and grates and grates against the eardrums as well as your nerves...
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced