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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
Aquí os dejo mi reseña, como siempre sin spoilers, en forma de podcast:
https://sons.red/2021/02/11/79-vagabundos-hao-jingfang/
También podéis escuchar Librorum podcast en ivoox, itunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify y allá donde os plazca.
https://sons.red/2021/02/11/79-vagabundos-hao-jingfang/
También podéis escuchar Librorum podcast en ivoox, itunes (Apple Podcasts), Spotify y allá donde os plazca.
3.5 stars feels like the best range for this book.
Firstly, I am once again impressed with Ken Liu’s talent as a translator. His precision when it comes to word choice, sentence structure, tone, and the flow of the story are without rival in undoubtedly matching up with the original author’s intent. The fact that I am at all able to read and review this work is testament to his goal of improving communication and the sheer enjoyment of the written word across cultural and language barriers. Ken Liu’s real life efforts are the living testaments of the themes and plot of Vagabonds.
Overall, I am grateful that I got to read this and experience a diverse and previously inaccessible author. The story has an interesting and thought provoking premise, exploring the generational struggles for reform, self-identity, and cultural transformation in a way that is greatly applicable to modern day readers. Solely by the sheer scale of its ambition should Vagabonds be hailed as an essential story for a general audience and not just fans of science fiction. The ideas proposed by the myriad of characters are quietly echoed thoughts that each of us experience at critical points in our own development. The ambitious youthful generation or the conservative elder who has already witnessed and fought for the revolutions that shape the present, each reader has ample opportunity for connection and self-reflection. This was all done tremendously well.
My only criticism is that some large portions had problems with the pacing. While the philosophy is central to the themes and tones the author was exploring, the often times grandstanding nature of the presentation was too pompous and self-aggrandizing for my tastes. The points of action that were the results of hundreds of pages of buildup were satisfying when I could see how all these pieces tied together in terms of the entire story. However, that did not completely forgive the almost boring parts that made me strongly consider putting this book down.
Firstly, I am once again impressed with Ken Liu’s talent as a translator. His precision when it comes to word choice, sentence structure, tone, and the flow of the story are without rival in undoubtedly matching up with the original author’s intent. The fact that I am at all able to read and review this work is testament to his goal of improving communication and the sheer enjoyment of the written word across cultural and language barriers. Ken Liu’s real life efforts are the living testaments of the themes and plot of Vagabonds.
Overall, I am grateful that I got to read this and experience a diverse and previously inaccessible author. The story has an interesting and thought provoking premise, exploring the generational struggles for reform, self-identity, and cultural transformation in a way that is greatly applicable to modern day readers. Solely by the sheer scale of its ambition should Vagabonds be hailed as an essential story for a general audience and not just fans of science fiction. The ideas proposed by the myriad of characters are quietly echoed thoughts that each of us experience at critical points in our own development. The ambitious youthful generation or the conservative elder who has already witnessed and fought for the revolutions that shape the present, each reader has ample opportunity for connection and self-reflection. This was all done tremendously well.
My only criticism is that some large portions had problems with the pacing. While the philosophy is central to the themes and tones the author was exploring, the often times grandstanding nature of the presentation was too pompous and self-aggrandizing for my tastes. The points of action that were the results of hundreds of pages of buildup were satisfying when I could see how all these pieces tied together in terms of the entire story. However, that did not completely forgive the almost boring parts that made me strongly consider putting this book down.
The premise is great and the first 1/3 compelling, but then it frequently gets bogged down in boooring speechifying.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
slow-paced
I loved the ideas but found the execution kind of laborious and certainly slow-moving. It was a struggle for me to stay involved.
This book is a kind of philosophical meditation wrapped in a Mars colony story.
There is a fairly large cast, and at first it felt like a slog to get through. Once I understood the central situation and problem, though, I wanted to keep reading. I love it when one of the plot's mysteries is history itself. It starts with a group of teenagers sent from the Mars colony to Earth as ambassadors finally returning home after many years. But that's only where it starts.
The writing is lyrical, and the issues range from debate over the Earth economic system vs the Mars system, to the fate of the Mars colony, to each individual character's Holden Caulfield journey through the agony of existence. It was a lot, and sometimes seemed to be overshooting its scope, but overall Vagabonds was a worthwhile read.
There is a fairly large cast, and at first it felt like a slog to get through. Once I understood the central situation and problem, though, I wanted to keep reading. I love it when one of the plot's mysteries is history itself. It starts with a group of teenagers sent from the Mars colony to Earth as ambassadors finally returning home after many years. But that's only where it starts.
The writing is lyrical, and the issues range from debate over the Earth economic system vs the Mars system, to the fate of the Mars colony, to each individual character's Holden Caulfield journey through the agony of existence. It was a lot, and sometimes seemed to be overshooting its scope, but overall Vagabonds was a worthwhile read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
I loved this absolutely loved it, it is the bar that all other books I read this year will be judged against. It's an especially high bar sorry other books in my reading plan you have a lot to live up to