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nhnabass's reviews
109 reviews
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
5.0
The book's dedication, "for anybody who could use a break," honestly gives you everything you need to know.
I truly believe this little novella is for everyone. Short, sweet, ever so gentle, and finally something post-apocalyptic told from an optimistic perspective-- a first for me. I went scouting for a witty sci-fi and stumbled upon this gem. Yes, I was told it would make me cry. No, I didn't think I would cry. Yes, I eventually cried.
The author throws you right into the world, which I know some people aren't a fan of but personally is my favorite way to begin a story. I love piecing the world together, and Chambers does a wonderful job leaving the breadcrumbs to do just that. It was a very fast read, but much needed and a story I suspect I will revisit often.
I truly believe this little novella is for everyone. Short, sweet, ever so gentle, and finally something post-apocalyptic told from an optimistic perspective-- a first for me. I went scouting for a witty sci-fi and stumbled upon this gem. Yes, I was told it would make me cry. No, I didn't think I would cry. Yes, I eventually cried.
The author throws you right into the world, which I know some people aren't a fan of but personally is my favorite way to begin a story. I love piecing the world together, and Chambers does a wonderful job leaving the breadcrumbs to do just that. It was a very fast read, but much needed and a story I suspect I will revisit often.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
5.0
What a lovely, strange little story. I did not read any reviews about this book nor had I heard of it before starting it-- I was looking for books with unreliable narrators (similar to House of Leaves by Danielewski)and this popped up.
It did not disappoint! I love how we are just thrown into a world and we just have to accept the rules of it. We are given sweeping descriptions of beautiful halls and passages with intricate details of the statues and wildlife of this world. It felt strangely peaceful as the narrator takes us meandering through his world via his journal entries. I found it easy to read quickly through his vignettes and love the little breadcrumbs we are given to put pieces of the puzzle together as we read more and more of the narrator's journals.
I had a wonderful time getting to know him and although the twist wasn't a huge surprise, that did not detract from the impact of it. The author does a great job portraying the heaviness of the revelations the main character has and the weight he feels is very apparent. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed!
It did not disappoint! I love how we are just thrown into a world and we just have to accept the rules of it. We are given sweeping descriptions of beautiful halls and passages with intricate details of the statues and wildlife of this world. It felt strangely peaceful as the narrator takes us meandering through his world via his journal entries. I found it easy to read quickly through his vignettes and love the little breadcrumbs we are given to put pieces of the puzzle together as we read more and more of the narrator's journals.
I had a wonderful time getting to know him and although the twist wasn't a huge surprise, that did not detract from the impact of it. The author does a great job portraying the heaviness of the revelations the main character has and the weight he feels is very apparent. I am looking forward to reading more from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed!
From What Is to What If: Unleashing the Power of Imagination to Create the Future We Want by Rob Hopkins
4.0
I began this book on the heels of the incredible "How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy" by Jenny Odell in an attempt to find tangible ways to invest our attention elsewhere as a form of protest to capitalist dogma of productivity that is slowly killing us and the world. With that goal in mind, this book certainly did what I expected it to do! A hopeful manifesto in support of re-imagining everything we hold as a "truth" or a "given" about the way we live. There is something freeing about being able to "what if?" your way through thought experiments without the constant, usual "that's not possible" "we could never" "we can't afford it" "politicians wouldn't buy in"-- the "realist" rhetoric that we are always met with that keeps us in imaginary boxes.
Hopkins does a great job laying out what individuals and organizations are already doing successfully as he takes us through these through experiments. It is wonderfully exciting to read case study after case study about the many different ways projects big and small have successfully diverted attention away from the economy and productivity but into social happiness, access, creativity, and imagination. This sparked hope, joy, and more than anything relief to read in a world that continues to feel bleaker and bleaker.
However, that really is all this book is-- case study after case study. Only deducting a star as I found myself really struggling to continue by 2/3 of the way in. As this was a completely new topic to me, I understand the value of presenting the many different case studies and showcasing that there are numerous well-studied scholars who have already done work here as well, but man it was starting to read drier and drier. Perhaps a symptom of a shortened attention span, but it was getting difficult to finish. I'm glad I did though, and I thoroughly enjoyed this as a follow up to a book that posited the need to divert our attention and this one being a guide on how exactly to do that. Overall, really enjoyed.
"It is my hope that this book might prompt a reconsidering of the strategies used by organisations and campaigns working in responses to the challenges we are facing, that they might work to make sure the expression of a positive vision of how the future could turn out, their dream of it, comes through loudly, imaginatively and passionately in all that they do."
Hopkins does a great job laying out what individuals and organizations are already doing successfully as he takes us through these through experiments. It is wonderfully exciting to read case study after case study about the many different ways projects big and small have successfully diverted attention away from the economy and productivity but into social happiness, access, creativity, and imagination. This sparked hope, joy, and more than anything relief to read in a world that continues to feel bleaker and bleaker.
However, that really is all this book is-- case study after case study. Only deducting a star as I found myself really struggling to continue by 2/3 of the way in. As this was a completely new topic to me, I understand the value of presenting the many different case studies and showcasing that there are numerous well-studied scholars who have already done work here as well, but man it was starting to read drier and drier. Perhaps a symptom of a shortened attention span, but it was getting difficult to finish. I'm glad I did though, and I thoroughly enjoyed this as a follow up to a book that posited the need to divert our attention and this one being a guide on how exactly to do that. Overall, really enjoyed.
"It is my hope that this book might prompt a reconsidering of the strategies used by organisations and campaigns working in responses to the challenges we are facing, that they might work to make sure the expression of a positive vision of how the future could turn out, their dream of it, comes through loudly, imaginatively and passionately in all that they do."
Sabriel by Garth Nix
4.0
Surprisingly enjoyable for what it was, and it does a lot right given it's age.
I love the way the necromancers are regarded in this world-- I feel most often necromancy is usually a hated, evil, and taboo magic. To see the characters in this world regard it with such respect really emphasized the importance of Sabriel's journey and added stakes that I was not expecting! Also, using bells to cast spells was a very interesting magic mechanic I have not seen before that I particularly liked. I will say the journey is a little breakneck, but the pacing isn't awful. Sabriel makes logical choices, doesn't doddle, and reacts appropriately to the situations that befall her.
I went in with really low expectations for some reason and I actually was happily surprised with the writing. It definitely reads as a YA for most of it-- the romance was silly but it's a kids book from the 90s, so I won't fault it. That aside, the gruesome descriptions of the Dead and the things Sabriel fights are *fantastically* terrifying. The imagery is frighteningly vivid and very well done, which again emphasizes the stakes. There's nothing worse than an adventure story where the danger doesn't feel real.
My only qualms: I felt thrown into the world with not a lot of history/understanding of the magic system or the Charter. I would like a better, deeper dive into the history of the Charter Mages and more lore on the Abhorsens. The main characters aren't the most developed either, but I'm reading this as a story about the journey, but I wish I could've learned more about Sabriel along the way. Also, what the fuck is Mogget? Where the fuck is Mogget? I quite liked their character as a snarky little thing and then all of a sudden we get this insane description of some Free Magic and seemingly inter-dimensional demon type creature? Very interested in more background on that as well.
Overall, excited to read the sequel! Enjoyable read.
I love the way the necromancers are regarded in this world-- I feel most often necromancy is usually a hated, evil, and taboo magic. To see the characters in this world regard it with such respect really emphasized the importance of Sabriel's journey and added stakes that I was not expecting! Also, using bells to cast spells was a very interesting magic mechanic I have not seen before that I particularly liked. I will say the journey is a little breakneck, but the pacing isn't awful. Sabriel makes logical choices, doesn't doddle, and reacts appropriately to the situations that befall her.
I went in with really low expectations for some reason and I actually was happily surprised with the writing. It definitely reads as a YA for most of it-- the romance was silly but it's a kids book from the 90s, so I won't fault it. That aside, the gruesome descriptions of the Dead and the things Sabriel fights are *fantastically* terrifying. The imagery is frighteningly vivid and very well done, which again emphasizes the stakes. There's nothing worse than an adventure story where the danger doesn't feel real.
My only qualms: I felt thrown into the world with not a lot of history/understanding of the magic system or the Charter. I would like a better, deeper dive into the history of the Charter Mages and more lore on the Abhorsens. The main characters aren't the most developed either, but I'm reading this as a story about the journey, but I wish I could've learned more about Sabriel along the way. Also, what the fuck is Mogget? Where the fuck is Mogget? I quite liked their character as a snarky little thing and then all of a sudden we get this insane description of some Free Magic and seemingly inter-dimensional demon type creature? Very interested in more background on that as well.
Overall, excited to read the sequel! Enjoyable read.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
5.0
Huh.
I feel a little empty inside.
That is to say- I suppose the novel did its job.
I feel a little empty inside.
That is to say- I suppose the novel did its job.
Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune
3.0
3.5 stars
I read through this a lot faster than I was expecting. I would honestly give it a full 4 or even 4.5 if not for the ending. I truly wish the author went through with it. If this is a story about grief and the aggressively complexities that come with it, he should have pulled the trigger and let Wallace cross. As someone who doesn't read a lot of happy feel good books, I did admittedly cry quite a bit in the ending and was absolutely gutted when the author was like "ahh just kidding! It's fine! This ONE exception for all of eternity!! I'm a big terrifying all powerful god and this right here is the one exception!" It really undermined all of the buildup leading to that scene and I felt a little robbed emotionally! I would have loved to see Hugo work through Wallace's departure.
All in all, it was a fun ride. It was my first book by this author and I enjoyed his witty writing and sarcastic tone. Wallace was an absolute asshole and his 180 temperament flip could have certainly been made more realistic had the character been a little more dimensional-- going further into his childhood perhaps, showing us why he was the way he was.
I can't complain, quick read, tugged on my heart strings a bit, not a fan of the ending and probably won't read again but will probably still recommend anyways.
I read through this a lot faster than I was expecting. I would honestly give it a full 4 or even 4.5 if not for the ending. I truly wish the author went through with it. If this is a story about grief and the aggressively complexities that come with it, he should have pulled the trigger and let Wallace cross. As someone who doesn't read a lot of happy feel good books, I did admittedly cry quite a bit in the ending and was absolutely gutted when the author was like "ahh just kidding! It's fine! This ONE exception for all of eternity!! I'm a big terrifying all powerful god and this right here is the one exception!" It really undermined all of the buildup leading to that scene and I felt a little robbed emotionally! I would have loved to see Hugo work through Wallace's departure.
All in all, it was a fun ride. It was my first book by this author and I enjoyed his witty writing and sarcastic tone. Wallace was an absolute asshole and his 180 temperament flip could have certainly been made more realistic had the character been a little more dimensional-- going further into his childhood perhaps, showing us why he was the way he was.
I can't complain, quick read, tugged on my heart strings a bit, not a fan of the ending and probably won't read again but will probably still recommend anyways.
Vicious by V.E. Schwab
5.0
Honestly, can't lie. Really fucking liked this. I have never really taken a liking to any specific author's writing style before but every single Schwab book I've finished has always left me wanting more (in a good way), without fail.
I wasn't really sure what to expect, given this was her first "adult" book, and I had only read her YA prior. I was hooked by her YA but this- this shit was good. It really was vicious. You don't like anyone. No one's the good guy. Everyone's an asshole. There was satisfying gore, psychopathically planned violence, no real love interest (thank god), and a fulfilling ending. I'm excited to pick up book 2.
I wasn't really sure what to expect, given this was her first "adult" book, and I had only read her YA prior. I was hooked by her YA but this- this shit was good. It really was vicious. You don't like anyone. No one's the good guy. Everyone's an asshole. There was satisfying gore, psychopathically planned violence, no real love interest (thank god), and a fulfilling ending. I'm excited to pick up book 2.