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A review by readundancies
The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-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? No
4.75
I'm at a bit of a loss for words to explain exactly how much I feel for this novella.
There were so many themes tackled from what it means to hope, to pharmaceutical usage, to the environment, to humanity's need to persist within it's own selfishness, etc.
Catherynne M. Valente has created a world borne out of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with all of its wonderfully whimsical regions like Pill Hill and Electric City and Aluminimopolis and it made both the saving grace and last stand of humanity, with St. Oscar the Grouch as their patron. And I loved it. I wanted to see it in 3D, to feel the heat from the candles burning in Candle Hole, to see the wondrous plays on the barge that was Brighton Pier, to wander the gasoline gardens of Engine Row. The world-building was not poetic in its prose, but it was eye-catching and evocative and bluntly brilliant and I could've stayed within it's confines learning more about it as time past me by without a care in the world.
I still want to.
But the real delight of the story lies in it's narrator: Tetley Abednego. Tetley is the kind of character that is the embodiment of hope because she never gets down on herself when the going gets rough (and the going gets ROUGH for her, real rough). She was always herself, cheerful, honest to a fault - *always* to a fault - and underestimated and undervalued, constantly pushing on to the beat of her own drum, often to her own detriment (mostly to her own detriment) for the greater good. I simply adored her.
The story in both parts has two sort of timelines which culminate to an end that is neither awe-inspiring nor disappointing. It's just this wonderful little peek into a speculative future that is more reminiscent than meant to impart teachings.
My heart is so full of this tale and Tetley and I never really wanted to step out of it. Instead, I will just have to get a physical copy of this book and read it over and over again like I never left.
So I end this review with a reverent salute to the author:
Thank you, Madame Valente, for my instruction.
There were so many themes tackled from what it means to hope, to pharmaceutical usage, to the environment, to humanity's need to persist within it's own selfishness, etc.
Catherynne M. Valente has created a world borne out of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch with all of its wonderfully whimsical regions like Pill Hill and Electric City and Aluminimopolis and it made both the saving grace and last stand of humanity, with St. Oscar the Grouch as their patron. And I loved it. I wanted to see it in 3D, to feel the heat from the candles burning in Candle Hole, to see the wondrous plays on the barge that was Brighton Pier, to wander the gasoline gardens of Engine Row. The world-building was not poetic in its prose, but it was eye-catching and evocative and bluntly brilliant and I could've stayed within it's confines learning more about it as time past me by without a care in the world.
I still want to.
But the real delight of the story lies in it's narrator: Tetley Abednego. Tetley is the kind of character that is the embodiment of hope because she never gets down on herself when the going gets rough (and the going gets ROUGH for her, real rough). She was always herself, cheerful, honest to a fault - *always* to a fault - and underestimated and undervalued, constantly pushing on to the beat of her own drum, often to her own detriment (mostly to her own detriment) for the greater good. I simply adored her.
The story in both parts has two sort of timelines which culminate to an end that is neither awe-inspiring nor disappointing. It's just this wonderful little peek into a speculative future that is more reminiscent than meant to impart teachings.
My heart is so full of this tale and Tetley and I never really wanted to step out of it. Instead, I will just have to get a physical copy of this book and read it over and over again like I never left.
So I end this review with a reverent salute to the author:
Thank you, Madame Valente, for my instruction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence