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A review by oceanwriter
WHO WRITES THE RULES? by Norman George
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Though set on a different planet, Who Writes the Rules? is as relevant as ever in this day and age. Covering topics such as the environment, spirituality, and society as a whole, this book makes for a thought-provoking read.
The book follows Mosse and Heelia's relationship and their life on the planet of Thera. Through their conversations and experiences, we learn about their home and the planet's history. Several chapters cover different topics from the Big Bang to climate change and everything in between.
I find the draw of this book is the discourse more than the story. Though I’m inclined to disagree with some of the arguments being made here, I’m someone who enjoys hearing opposing opinions in a civil manner. However, I personally don’t look for this often in fiction. I did expect a great deal of conversations of this nature given the book's description, but it ultimately overshadowed the story itself. Because of this, I also struggled to connect with the characters.
My highest compliment goes to the writing. I enjoyed the style and everything flowed together exquisitely. The world-building was also fantastic. Right away I got a feel for the setting. Though descriptive, the details also didn’t ramble on for pages and pages. In my experience, I struggle to find a happy medium with dystopian novels either giving too much or too little information. This book hit the sweet spot.
In the end, I was left feeling indifferent. I would have liked more focus on the characters themselves rather than a laundry list of social issues, which in fairness, is advertised quite plainly. As someone who prefers dystopia more for the psychology and action of the plots, I found it okay. Readers who enjoy heavy debates and have a deep interest in current events will enjoy the book immensely.
A huge thanks to the author and Discovery for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
The book follows Mosse and Heelia's relationship and their life on the planet of Thera. Through their conversations and experiences, we learn about their home and the planet's history. Several chapters cover different topics from the Big Bang to climate change and everything in between.
I find the draw of this book is the discourse more than the story. Though I’m inclined to disagree with some of the arguments being made here, I’m someone who enjoys hearing opposing opinions in a civil manner. However, I personally don’t look for this often in fiction. I did expect a great deal of conversations of this nature given the book's description, but it ultimately overshadowed the story itself. Because of this, I also struggled to connect with the characters.
My highest compliment goes to the writing. I enjoyed the style and everything flowed together exquisitely. The world-building was also fantastic. Right away I got a feel for the setting. Though descriptive, the details also didn’t ramble on for pages and pages. In my experience, I struggle to find a happy medium with dystopian novels either giving too much or too little information. This book hit the sweet spot.
In the end, I was left feeling indifferent. I would have liked more focus on the characters themselves rather than a laundry list of social issues, which in fairness, is advertised quite plainly. As someone who prefers dystopia more for the psychology and action of the plots, I found it okay. Readers who enjoy heavy debates and have a deep interest in current events will enjoy the book immensely.
A huge thanks to the author and Discovery for sending me a free digital copy of the book to read and review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content