Scan barcode
A review by catrinsbookshelf
The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros
5.0
It's 3am and I did decide to just read this entire book in one go, even though I'm not well, so I am going to write this review since I won't be able to go to bed otherwise.
Most books I read are set in America, England or mainly fantasy worlds. The ones set in America feel so far away and I'm really disconnected from them; when reading The Hunger Games I didn't really feel anything much about how America turned into Panem, like, not to say that I don't care about people dying but America is just so kind of normalised in dystopias that it doesn't hit hard with me. I haven't read any dystopias set in England (yet?) but generally, books like A Good Girls Guide to Murder or Afterlove are somewhat relatable, like I absolutely love the British references, but somethings missing. Having this book set in Wales just hit hard. It just felt so *real* and terrifying.
There was something just so real about references to actual Welsh places and words that made it hit hard. I really love how the language was included and Rowenna's relationship with it: hating it in school, but growing to love it. As someone who can't hold a conversation in Welsh :( and have seen how many people in my class have said that it's useless, it was cool (I can't find another word for how to explain my feelings) to read how the characters were keeping Welsh alive, even though most of the people are dead. There's something symbolic in that i guess. I don't see any Welsh in my books (unless it's the cultural appropriation shitshow that is ACOTAR) and it was just made this book so real.
The realness of it just made the whole plot *scary*. The author really just sets up the normal, Welsh life before The End and then bam! it's gone. I get that the hairdressers and the kebab shops etc aren't exclusively Welsh, they're just general British stuff, but the Welsh names and little phrases like 'cariad' and 'diolch' did it for me. It really hit hard when Rowenna talks about everyday stuff like going to the kebab shop because they don't exist anymore: it makes me kind of realise that like these little things make up life and you really don't realise it. One thing I will never get is why the names changed in the English translation: whyyy change classic Welsh names like Dwynwen to just one like Mona?
in the end, i love this book and it probably will cause some anxious thoughts when trying to get to bed but I'm glad i read it
Most books I read are set in America, England or mainly fantasy worlds. The ones set in America feel so far away and I'm really disconnected from them; when reading The Hunger Games I didn't really feel anything much about how America turned into Panem, like, not to say that I don't care about people dying but America is just so kind of normalised in dystopias that it doesn't hit hard with me. I haven't read any dystopias set in England (yet?) but generally, books like A Good Girls Guide to Murder or Afterlove are somewhat relatable, like I absolutely love the British references, but somethings missing. Having this book set in Wales just hit hard. It just felt so *real* and terrifying.
There was something just so real about references to actual Welsh places and words that made it hit hard. I really love how the language was included and Rowenna's relationship with it: hating it in school, but growing to love it. As someone who can't hold a conversation in Welsh :( and have seen how many people in my class have said that it's useless, it was cool (I can't find another word for how to explain my feelings) to read how the characters were keeping Welsh alive, even though most of the people are dead. There's something symbolic in that i guess. I don't see any Welsh in my books (unless it's the cultural appropriation shitshow that is ACOTAR) and it was just made this book so real.
The realness of it just made the whole plot *scary*. The author really just sets up the normal, Welsh life before The End and then bam! it's gone. I get that the hairdressers and the kebab shops etc aren't exclusively Welsh, they're just general British stuff, but the Welsh names and little phrases like 'cariad' and 'diolch' did it for me. It really hit hard when Rowenna talks about everyday stuff like going to the kebab shop because they don't exist anymore: it makes me kind of realise that like these little things make up life and you really don't realise it. One thing I will never get is why the names changed in the English translation: whyyy change classic Welsh names like Dwynwen to just one like Mona?
Spoiler
also i was just on the verge of tears the entire book: the rich neighbours going to kill themselves :( listen, i don't like rich old English people in wales (fuck you second home owners killing the culture) but that was just so depressing. That last 'diolch' was just so :(. My favourite scene of them all I think was when Rowenna was scared about Dylan leaving her after Mona died that she just climbed into bed with him and told him about the dreams. finally, the beauty of the setting contrasting with The End was so (idk how to explain it) but the author slayed.in the end, i love this book and it probably will cause some anxious thoughts when trying to get to bed but I'm glad i read it