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A review by nmcannon
Landfalls by Naomi J. Williams
3.0
Reading this story was an interesting exercise in timing and circumstance for me. I knew nothing about the Lapérouse expedition going in besides that it was doomed, which kept me from wanting to connect to any of the characters. I was looking for a reason to get an Audible account and this seemed like as good as any, but the sound of so many French names and similar personalities clustered together addled my California Spanglish brain. The treatment of the natives was at times stereotypical, which normally would have only elicited a pained sigh, but I read the book during Indigenous Peoples Day. Overall, I didn't approach the book with a mindset ready for a Game of Thrones level of characters and death, and that snarled up my reading experience considerably.
I can see how this book's gotten so much attention and praise though. Williams' dizzy amount of research shines bright, and she is rigorous and thorough in deploying details. Her ruthlessness extends to characters too: she delves into each character's mind determined to unearth pearls, will them or nil them. The effect sometimes has a wandering diver feel, making me wish we be spared a particular agony in favor of furthering the plot. I also question some of the suggested universalities of humanity: do women REALLY offer themselves at every port, do ALL the men really desire women at every moment, do ALL natives, no matter what island, think white people sail on clouds and/or are gods, did LITERALLY EVERYONE actually think those brothers were charming, is EVERY naturalist all about their ego and reputation 24/7, was it REALLY the highlight of everybody's year that a bunch of French sailors showed up and asked for plant samples?
Don't get me wrong. Beautifully, lovingly written, Landfalls deserves every star and happy reviewer. Williams' use of the lens of landfalls was masterful, and I immensely enjoyed playing detective sifting through the conflicting accounts of different events. I'd keep half an eye on this author and see if anything more washes ashore.
I can see how this book's gotten so much attention and praise though. Williams' dizzy amount of research shines bright, and she is rigorous and thorough in deploying details. Her ruthlessness extends to characters too: she delves into each character's mind determined to unearth pearls, will them or nil them. The effect sometimes has a wandering diver feel, making me wish we be spared a particular agony in favor of furthering the plot. I also question some of the suggested universalities of humanity: do women REALLY offer themselves at every port, do ALL the men really desire women at every moment, do ALL natives, no matter what island, think white people sail on clouds and/or are gods, did LITERALLY EVERYONE actually think those brothers were charming, is EVERY naturalist all about their ego and reputation 24/7, was it REALLY the highlight of everybody's year that a bunch of French sailors showed up and asked for plant samples?
Don't get me wrong. Beautifully, lovingly written, Landfalls deserves every star and happy reviewer. Williams' use of the lens of landfalls was masterful, and I immensely enjoyed playing detective sifting through the conflicting accounts of different events. I'd keep half an eye on this author and see if anything more washes ashore.