robertrivasplata's reviews
609 reviews

Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

Further adventures of the unnamed security android, in which it makes a robot friend/helper, makes some human friends/clients, learns some stuff about it's past, and we (the readers) find out more about the Murderbot universe. Less of a workplace novella, and more of a mystery or private eye story. I like the details about the various space transit centers' amenities and transit systems. Many of Murderbot's abilities to manipulate computer systems (including other AIs) kind of remind me of Moorcock's Elric, whose powers mostly consist of him being able to ask various gods and demons to help him. While definitely the sequel to All Systems Red, I think Artificial Condition can be read without first reading the previous book. 

Justice Warriors Vol. 2: Vote Harder by Matt Bors, Ben Clarkson

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

The Swamp Thing and the Turd are back for some managed-democracy election intrigue. Perhaps even more ultra-violent and disgusting than the first volume. Main plot is an officer-on-leave-going-deep-undercover story. Asks us to imagine what if Deckard was a swamp monster with a Tindr profile. Oveerall, Justice Warriors is like a combination of Blade Runner, and Lynch's Dune, with some Michael Moorcock and Lisa Hanawalt thrown in too. I like the Bors art visions of the Bubble City online milieu. The more extreme sci-fi elements of Justice Warriors really highlight to me how thoroughly cyberpunk has become our reality. 

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad

adventurous emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Novel about a group of Palestinian thespians attempting to stage Hamlet next to the separation wall in Bethlehem. Very much a novel about theatre, so a makes suitable gift for theatre kids. Makes me want to see the plays mentioned: Pierrot Assassin, The Maids, Al-Moharrij (by al-Maghut), and Al-Atmeh (Darkness). Also a novel about being both of a place, but not being from it, or returning to a homeland that one was never from. Also a story about family, memory, and family memories. About the divides and connections between Palestinians on both sides of the Separation Barrier. The Israeli occupation looms over everything, even for the Israeli Arabs, who are at one point described as ghosts who remind the Israelis of the Palestinians driven out during the Nakba, whose homes they occupy. Kind of reminds me of Joe Sacco's Palestine, where he's riding through occupied Palestine in various taxis and friends' cars, talking about relationships. Sonia's status as the person in the family who is the last to know whatever the rest of the family is talking about is very relatable. 

The Electric State by Simon Stålenhag

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

90s retro-futuristic post techno-zombie apocalypse road trip now adapted into a movie (??). Doesn't really tell you the whole story, but gives you the clues to piece it together a bit. The scenery on the Eastern Sierra and Carson Pass makes me think that Stalenhag has taken the road trip from Barstow to Jackson via US 395 & CA Route 88. Many scenes of retro-futuristic derelict kitschy tech inserted into the various Eastern Sierra and West Marin landscapes. Similar to Labyrinth, features dangerous and endangered children, and has a wet ending, but is somehow less depressing. Maybe it's because the bleak ending is not as spelled out. Or maybe it's because much of the art consists of landscapes that look filled with some sort of life, even if they are also filled with bones and wreckage. I kind of want to see if the movie does it justice, but i'm not going to get netflix just to see it, especially since the lesson of The Electric State seems to be about the dangers of being too online. 

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

Coming of age memoir bildungsroman of moving from Korea to the American South as a teenager. The story arc of Ha's coming to America and finding her place there is heartwarming. Does not hold back about the shortcomings of either Korean & American society. Does a really good job of illustrating the experience of only being able to understand every third word or so of what everyone around you is saying. I kind of wish Ha had subjected us to the whole list of all her favorite Korean comics instead of having her read composite comic Queen's Quest. As a child of the 90s, I am amazed at how Korean pop has achieved a place in American pop culture today even larger than Japanese pop culture's in the 90s. The part where people are asking Robin about Korean pop culture,and she's like “I dunno, I only care about the comics” is pretty relatable. Ha does a pretty good job of explaining her mom's motivations and reasons for doing everything she did. Kind of surprised Robin's mom was able to convince her to get in the car to be surprised at the comix shop. I want to see the memoir that covers what their current relationship looks like. 

This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America by Navied Mahdavian

adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

Story of a couple of artists (filmmaker & cartoonist) who move to the country for cheaper housing and all around country living vibes. The introduction telling us that the rural living would only last them 3 years gives a sense of foreboding. What tragedy is being foreshadowed? Spoiler alert: nothing too dangerous, crazy, or dramatic happens. Mahdavian does a really good job of showing the beauty and charm of their corner of Idaho, while also showing the difficulties (cultural and environmental) of living there. I was constantly thinking “wouldn't be me here”, or judging Mahdavian and his wife for stupid reasons (e.g. “who can't tell a jay from a bluebird?”). I was surprised that the 4 hour trip to the clinic when the couple were trying to have children wasn't what convinced them to go back to urban living. Whenever I'm in a charming small town or appealing rural area I always think “how far to the nearest hospital?” followed by “how far is the grocery store?” & “Where is the library?” If I were doing programming for that little theater, it would take probably two requests for John Wayne movies for me to screen The Quiet Man, followed by The Shootist, and then True Grit & then I'd probably try to screen Seven Samurai and Jeremiah Johnson too. But that's less judgment than wishful thinking. Makes me grateful for the tiny weird-cinema theater in my mid-sized city. 

It Won't Always Be Like This by Malaka Gharib

emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.0

Book about family, belonging, & growing up. Follows Gharib's summers in Egypt with her dad as she grows from a kid, to an angsty grumpy teen, to a grown-ass adult. Retells a lot of cultural misunderstandings. While Hala gives no credit to tiny Malaka for being into the Avalanches circa 2003, I will acknowlege that her musical taste marks her as a way cooler middle schooler than I was. Gharib's eventual feeling of never belonging in the place which she found family and her identity reminds me of The Beginning Place. Title can read both sadly and happily. 

Eat the Rich by Sarah Gailey

dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

A creepy meet-the-evil-parents story. With capitalism and its sidekick the cost of healthcare as the main villains. The art style is very "comic books" & reminds me a lot of Paper Girls. A little disappointed that the term "long pig" never appears. Makes want to read the Trashman comics again. 

The Cursed Hermit by Kris Bertin

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

Another Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Scooby Gang style mystery, except that the supernatural stuff is real. Imagine the Gang tears the monster mask off the villain (spoiler alert) to reveal a monster even more, hideous, evil, & undying. The cursed town reminds me a lot of Stephen King's Derry. The creepy school reminds me a lot of the old abandoned hotel in Lucerne CA, which was briefly used as a satellite campus for some SoCal university (yours now for the low low price of $3M!). This sequel focuses more on the uncanny Canuck Pauline, & her uncanny perceptions, with Brennan as sidekick. Sam & Denny act as occasional Deus ex Machinae, & Dana sets up some interpersonal drama for the next book, which I can't wait to read. Has helpful asterisks to indicate when they're talking about something from the first book. 

Vineland by Thomas Pynchon

adventurous challenging emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Story of how the hopeful moment of the late 60s turned into the austere/greedy 80s, mostly told through flashbacks and recollections of hippies, former radicals, snitches, DEA agents, & ghosts, among others. Begins and ends set in the fictional Northern California county/community of Vineland, which is basically a fantasy version of Humboldt/Eureka, located slightly to the south of the real Humboldt County. Has lots of digressions, including musical numbers, and weird sexual urges being major drivers of the plot, so sort of like Gravity's Rainbow. Also like Gravity's Rainbow, some parts are easier to get into than others, although unlike Gravity's Rainbow there isn't really any part of Vineland that I really disliked. While I like the parts with Vineland the best, I'm not sure why Pynchon had to invent a new weird county in that part of CA, when Humboldt County is already right there. Overall, Vineland is pretty good, but I'm still not buying Pynchon as one of the greatest American authors.