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mgerboc's reviews
278 reviews
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is one of the most unique, creative, and memorable stories I've read in a while. It takes place in 1922 Georgia with Jim Crow and a resurgent KKK at the forefront - however, instead of a documentary account of that horror, this is real life in within the fantasy horror genre. This draws on American history, Black American mythology, Lovecraftian horror elements, beloved classic fantasy tropes, and ties all of that together and more into a really interesting critique on hate, vengeance, racism, and a slew of other topics still sadly relevant in today's world.
I haven't had much luck with novellas, but Clark somehow manages a vivid and interesting plot, distinct and memorable characters (Maryse is one of my new favorite protagonists, and the supporting cast of Chef and Sadie are beautifully realized), and some of the most creative and terrifying imagery I've ever read.
I haven't had much luck with novellas, but Clark somehow manages a vivid and interesting plot, distinct and memorable characters (Maryse is one of my new favorite protagonists, and the supporting cast of Chef and Sadie are beautifully realized), and some of the most creative and terrifying imagery I've ever read.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
As with most history, I really enjoy a fictionalized account usually more than a "non-fiction." Non-fiction, no matter what disclaimers precede, claims to a certain truth, whereas historical fiction, or any fictionalizations of events which have actually unfolded, I find somehow more true. When I was in AP US History in high school, out teacher used to have us spend entire classes watching Simpsons episodes which reference historical events rather than spend any time on textbooks. He had the highest rate of 5s on the AP exam in the entire school. The truth of history, as we interpret it and understand it, is found more in the themes of what was going on instead of focusing on dates and the most accurate of facts.
With that said, I REALLY liked Wolf Hall. I've read a lot about the Wars of the Roses and that era, but never really followed up past the rise of Henry Tudor over Richard III. This was a fascinating time - church reformation, More, Erasmus, Tudors, Medici, Hapsburgs - and in Wolf Hall is seen through the fascinating character of Thomas Cromwell, who rises from teen runaway to the highest ranks of English government, all while running his own businesses and managing a complex web of interests around the European continent. His perspective, the context for which is brilliantly framed in the opening of the book, is brutal towards the world. However, he values his friendships and his family dearly, and is often extremely warm with those whom he keeps close. He manipulates and is an opportunist and leverages everything that comes his way to advance himself, but he is constantly taking in young men and women who were discarded by society and molding them into skilled and productive functionaries, and you can tell that, however cynical an outlook he may have, he finds deepest value in, as he reflects to himself, doing well by his folk.
Because of the change in POV from the more classically memorable characters in history, especially St. Thomas More, we get a chance to view England at this time in a really different light. More was a monster and a zealot who relied on torture (something Cromwell shied away from despite his cold persona). The bloody decades of civil war during the Wars of the Roses cause people like Cromwell to genuinely believe that the best thing for England and the people living in it was to get an heir for Henry VIII. It wasn't just cold, self-involved political maneuvering (although that does play some part in it of course), and the English government's actions in reining in the power of the Catholic Church in their country is definitely portrayed as justifiable, given the excesses and violence of the Church at the time.
So, the setting is fascinating, the characters beautifully portrayed, and we have a different and far more interesting set of eyes to interpret this history (who, by the way, also muses on the way that history and the people in it are portrayed as they are only to serve political reasons). A character, who like England itself, is trying to run from its past and reinvent himself/itself by looking ever forward. My only gripe was that sometimes the writing could get bogged down in itself. A friend pointed out to me before I read it that the use of pronouns (eg - using "he" when referring to multiple men in a room so you sometimes don't know who is talking or have to go back several paragraphs to figure it out) seems intentionally obtuse, and without justification.
Overall, this was a great read and highly recommended for people who like historical fiction in general and this era in English history specifically.
With that said, I REALLY liked Wolf Hall. I've read a lot about the Wars of the Roses and that era, but never really followed up past the rise of Henry Tudor over Richard III. This was a fascinating time - church reformation, More, Erasmus, Tudors, Medici, Hapsburgs - and in Wolf Hall is seen through the fascinating character of Thomas Cromwell, who rises from teen runaway to the highest ranks of English government, all while running his own businesses and managing a complex web of interests around the European continent. His perspective, the context for which is brilliantly framed in the opening of the book, is brutal towards the world. However, he values his friendships and his family dearly, and is often extremely warm with those whom he keeps close. He manipulates and is an opportunist and leverages everything that comes his way to advance himself, but he is constantly taking in young men and women who were discarded by society and molding them into skilled and productive functionaries, and you can tell that, however cynical an outlook he may have, he finds deepest value in, as he reflects to himself, doing well by his folk.
Because of the change in POV from the more classically memorable characters in history, especially St. Thomas More, we get a chance to view England at this time in a really different light. More was a monster and a zealot who relied on torture (something Cromwell shied away from despite his cold persona). The bloody decades of civil war during the Wars of the Roses cause people like Cromwell to genuinely believe that the best thing for England and the people living in it was to get an heir for Henry VIII. It wasn't just cold, self-involved political maneuvering (although that does play some part in it of course), and the English government's actions in reining in the power of the Catholic Church in their country is definitely portrayed as justifiable, given the excesses and violence of the Church at the time.
So, the setting is fascinating, the characters beautifully portrayed, and we have a different and far more interesting set of eyes to interpret this history (who, by the way, also muses on the way that history and the people in it are portrayed as they are only to serve political reasons). A character, who like England itself, is trying to run from its past and reinvent himself/itself by looking ever forward. My only gripe was that sometimes the writing could get bogged down in itself. A friend pointed out to me before I read it that the use of pronouns (eg - using "he" when referring to multiple men in a room so you sometimes don't know who is talking or have to go back several paragraphs to figure it out) seems intentionally obtuse, and without justification.
Overall, this was a great read and highly recommended for people who like historical fiction in general and this era in English history specifically.
The Life and Death of Classical Music by Norman Lebrecht
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
The title is a bit misleading - this book is primarily a history of classical music RECORDING, which, to be honest, was much more interesting than I thought it would be. Told in Lebrecht's tabloid style, we get to see how the technology was first developed. Then, most interestingly, we get to know all of the major music labels and the personalities involved in the companies. The history and the economics of the industry are fascinating - the booms and busts, market over-saturation, technological advances, all mixed with the great visionaries and shithead corporatists (all with hilariously large egos) - and I honestly wish this had been a bit longer to really delve into those topics more. For anyone interested in this very niche history (and who doesn't mind the gossip-column-like style), this is an educational and entertaining read. The second half of this book is really a look through famously good recordings (and some famously bad). The reviews he has for each one, describing the merits and historical context, were of particular interest.
Jingo by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Another great entry in the Discworld series. It has all of the signature Pratchett wordplay, turns of phrase, and all the other fun he has with language. It is also a poignant critique of xenophobia and war. I rated this 4 instead of 4.5 or 5 stars as I have with other Discworld books because there was some meander-y parts as well as some dialogue and prose that were maybe a little too on the nose when it came to the lesson it was trying to impart. However, my least favorite Pratchett book is still a very good book and worth reading.
Feet of Clay by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am still very much enjoying my read-through of the City Watch books of Discworld. This seemed to lag a bit in the middle, and some of the humor felt a touch tired compared to the two previous entries, but what really made this book for me (apart from the familiar and brilliant characters and the setting of Ankh-Morpork) was the ending - while much of Pratchett's work has an overarching theme (racism, bigotry, classism, urban realpolitik, etc.), the discussions in Feet of Clay about free will and what it means to be alive were particularly good.
Especially enjoyable (but also kind of unnecessary to the plot) was Nobby's foray into the upper echelons of high Ankh-Morpork society. Nobody does class comedy like the English, and nobody has command of the English language like Terry Pratchett.
Especially enjoyable (but also kind of unnecessary to the plot) was Nobby's foray into the upper echelons of high Ankh-Morpork society. Nobody does class comedy like the English, and nobody has command of the English language like Terry Pratchett.
Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wowowowowow that was certainly something...
First of all, while there were certainly some confusing aspects of this book, I didn't find is as difficult as I had assumed. However, that I've read a bit about Malazan beforehand, and knew that the reader is thrown in in media res, so my expectations had been set for that.
Overall, I REALLY loved this book. It felt like a full immersion in such an epic universe. As much as it can be frustrating because things happen without any background or explanation, if you just keep reading and accept the fact that you're not going to understand everything as it happens, the rewards are well worthwhile.
There are too many characters and too many plot lines to really discuss them with any depth here, but suffice it to say, I really liked Erikson's style. The plot happens and you are an observer. Characters do things that are good and bad and mostly somewhere in between, much like real life. Instead of getting huge exposition dumps and long back stories, you really get to know the characters through their interactions with one another. Sort of like in real life, when you meet two people who have been friends for a long time, with a trusting and loving relationship, you can tell - it's the same in Gardens of the Moon. You don't understand *why* people are so loyal to Whiskeyjack and Dujak Onearm at the beginning, but you certainly understand that that loyalty exists and it is STRONG.
I think the thing I liked most about this book was its critique of the pursuit of power and control. Without spoiling anything, there are scenes where Lorn thinks of Empress Laseen as a pure agent of control and that is her only goal (which makes sense for all empires). Paran looks back on his life in the Malazan nobility and muses that that entire existence seemed to be driven by a pursuit of power. And Raest, the Jaghut Tyrant, can destroy continents and uses all of its ancient magical/fantastical abilities to enslave and dominate everything it sees. Running counter to this seems to be the true greatness of friendship and compassion which are personified the Bridgeburners and the Phoenix Inn regulars. While the Bridgeburners are more jaded after a generation of continuous warfare, you can feel the warmth and goodness and loyalty and camaraderie when they are together.
Another theme I sensed (and I could be wrong this series is MASSIVE) is the spiritual crisis that comes with immortality and near-infinite wisdom. The discussion with Anomander Rake (another amazing character) about the nihilism and ennui plaguing his people, the Tiste Andii, and his attempts to rally them to a cause - any cause, and still sort of failing, was particularly interesting.
There were some frustrations of course, but I think they were mostly borne out of not understanding what's going on (which I quickly got over, because otherwise this would be a miserable experience), but also in the writing itself, which at times could be unduly dense. The action sequences can also be confusingly written. Some character choices also don't make a ton of sense (why does Paran feel so deeply for Tattersail in such a short amount of time? I guess this could be representative of the quick love you can develop for the rare person who shows compassion in a war-ravaged setting, but still).
If there is a book that deserves a re-read, it is Gardens of the Moon. Even as I'm writing this, I keep remembering things (e.g. the Deck of Dragons and other foreshadowing conversations) that I'm sure would both make a lot of sense on the re-read but also would enrich the story further.
In any case, I really look forward to continuing this series. One of the most powerfully enduring aspects of Gardens of the Moon is the compulsion it makes me feel to keep reading and finding out more.
First of all, while there were certainly some confusing aspects of this book, I didn't find is as difficult as I had assumed. However, that I've read a bit about Malazan beforehand, and knew that the reader is thrown in in media res, so my expectations had been set for that.
Overall, I REALLY loved this book. It felt like a full immersion in such an epic universe. As much as it can be frustrating because things happen without any background or explanation, if you just keep reading and accept the fact that you're not going to understand everything as it happens, the rewards are well worthwhile.
There are too many characters and too many plot lines to really discuss them with any depth here, but suffice it to say, I really liked Erikson's style. The plot happens and you are an observer. Characters do things that are good and bad and mostly somewhere in between, much like real life. Instead of getting huge exposition dumps and long back stories, you really get to know the characters through their interactions with one another. Sort of like in real life, when you meet two people who have been friends for a long time, with a trusting and loving relationship, you can tell - it's the same in Gardens of the Moon. You don't understand *why* people are so loyal to Whiskeyjack and Dujak Onearm at the beginning, but you certainly understand that that loyalty exists and it is STRONG.
I think the thing I liked most about this book was its critique of the pursuit of power and control. Without spoiling anything, there are scenes where Lorn thinks of Empress Laseen as a pure agent of control and that is her only goal (which makes sense for all empires). Paran looks back on his life in the Malazan nobility and muses that that entire existence seemed to be driven by a pursuit of power. And Raest, the Jaghut Tyrant, can destroy continents and uses all of its ancient magical/fantastical abilities to enslave and dominate everything it sees. Running counter to this seems to be the true greatness of friendship and compassion which are personified the Bridgeburners and the Phoenix Inn regulars. While the Bridgeburners are more jaded after a generation of continuous warfare, you can feel the warmth and goodness and loyalty and camaraderie when they are together.
Another theme I sensed (and I could be wrong this series is MASSIVE) is the spiritual crisis that comes with immortality and near-infinite wisdom. The discussion with Anomander Rake (another amazing character) about the nihilism and ennui plaguing his people, the Tiste Andii, and his attempts to rally them to a cause - any cause, and still sort of failing, was particularly interesting.
There were some frustrations of course, but I think they were mostly borne out of not understanding what's going on (which I quickly got over, because otherwise this would be a miserable experience), but also in the writing itself, which at times could be unduly dense. The action sequences can also be confusingly written. Some character choices also don't make a ton of sense (why does Paran feel so deeply for Tattersail in such a short amount of time? I guess this could be representative of the quick love you can develop for the rare person who shows compassion in a war-ravaged setting, but still).
If there is a book that deserves a re-read, it is Gardens of the Moon. Even as I'm writing this, I keep remembering things (e.g. the Deck of Dragons and other foreshadowing conversations) that I'm sure would both make a lot of sense on the re-read but also would enrich the story further.
In any case, I really look forward to continuing this series. One of the most powerfully enduring aspects of Gardens of the Moon is the compulsion it makes me feel to keep reading and finding out more.
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Beast Side: Living (and Dying) While Black in America by D. Watkins
5.0
One of the clearest voices I've heard from young urban America about being Black in America. Super easy read, highly recommend.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
5.0
Best book I read in 2016. One of the novels that made me look deeply into myself and evaluate my relationships, how I show affection, and how much I value the loved ones in my life.