And I read this book yet again. But really I get to talk about it in another book group on Tuesday!
And on this read, I'm now absolutely sure - the autAnd I read this book yet again. But really I get to talk about it in another book group on Tuesday!
And on this read, I'm now absolutely sure - the author had the series basically planned before the first book was finished. The clues are all there. === I didn't mean to read this book again right now. But the book appeared in the house unexpectedly and I couldn't stop myself, though I could read it in bits and pieces. The first chapter is still awful. === So it looks like I'm going to have the opportunity to talk about this with friends. And I still have it checked out from the library. So I re-read it. And wow, it's at least as good the second time. Still have the same favorite lines. Still hate the last line. What a crazy awesome book. === I really wasn't expecting much from this. I mean it had strong recommendations from a few people that it was worth talking about. And I'd read others of the author's books. Uprooted was very good, but for me it was kind of a near miss.
And the book starts out, and the whole book is first person narrative, and you are in El's head and she is an awful brat. And after about a half a chapter I almost put the book down. And then it just moved. And it kind of had that outrageous crazy feel of the best of the John Scalzi books, where it was so over the top that it just achieved a different level.
And this book works on just so many levels. Galadriel is just broken. Sure she's a super powerful Mary Sue but that won't be enough. She's gone her whole life knowing she's awful, without friends and the last 3 years without her mom. She's driven but all her goals are bad ones.
Her mom we find out about bits throughout the book. But suffice to say that her mom raised her right, which is really much of the problem. There's the bit which is telling in which El says - my mom taught me how to control my anger, but didn't teach me how to want to control my anger.
This is a political book about the haves and the have-nots and how the world is rigged. And there is clearly an upper and lower caste. But there are no screeds. It's just an integral part of the world.
And then there is the use of language in the book. The monsters and monster names are just spot on, they just feel so real that I kept on looking them up to make sure they weren't in the dictionary.
The use of magic wasn't all that detailed to see a rigorous system, but it was believable nonetheless.
There was just so much here. This will be one of the best books I read this year and one I already want to re-read. Even if the last line of the book was annoying....more
A re-read with work friends. Made me angry a second time. Basically a reminder that to work on an issue, you might need to focus on it. Much of this hA re-read with work friends. Made me angry a second time. Basically a reminder that to work on an issue, you might need to focus on it. Much of this had commonalities with books on racism and anti-racism we've been reading.
Overwhelming. The basic problem described in this book is apparently everywhere. And its worse than you think. Too many specific stories, issues, problems to possibly remember. I wouldn't think of this as a reference book but in reality it probably needs to be one. Or expanded into a purpose organized wiki. Definitely worth reading and by as many people as possible....more
A re-read for a book club. This was the selection for the month that in-person book club was ended due to covid.
I wish I had story breakdowns from befA re-read for a book club. This was the selection for the month that in-person book club was ended due to covid.
I wish I had story breakdowns from before. I'm just now through with re-reading the second one, Model Minority. And I kind had to just step away. I've been reading quite a few book on prejudice and racism and hidden bias over the last couple of years. I don't know where I was exactly when I read this novella the first time. It is a Superman and Batman story without using those names. But Superman stops a set of cops from possibly beating a black man to death. Fiction is a way to tell the same story that you tell in nonfiction but perhaps in a way that some readers won't get in any other way. I don't remember what I thought about this a couple of years ago. But at this point I found this almost unbearably believable.
And then there is Radicalized. Which is basically a story supporting terrorism. It punches hard. And I had to take a break 2/3 through. Or as my daughter says, "Capitalism". It is not a good world where corporate America has to be convinced to do the less wrong thing with direct violence.
The first story is Toast. And it is pretty terrific. For treating refugees and poor people like crap, it's very light-hearted. It is a near future with interesting technology ideas.
The fourth story, Masque of the Red Death is unlikely to have gotten better since I read it last. My memory is that its main point is that rich people who think they can avoid an apocalypse like climate change by riding it out in their bunkers, are assholes and probably won't win in the end anyway. And this one is slightly better than I expected and just a little bit different. But still not enjoyable, though really the others aren't enjoyable either.
I'm struck by how vivid this book, how easy it is to remember, and how easy it is to put it out of mind while life rolls on, waiting for all this to come through. 5 of 5.
Original Read
Wow. So this is a collection of 4 novellas. And they run the gamut from fantastic to fantastic and scary to very good. They are all pretty much near future, though Radicalized is essentially right now. They are all pretty much future's that I wouldn't want to be in. Or for that matter now's that I don't want to live in. A scary take on what technology can do. Worth reading. 5 of 5....more
A tough book in parts. And flawed like anything you'd expect from someone who normally doesn't write books or write for general audiences. But definitA tough book in parts. And flawed like anything you'd expect from someone who normally doesn't write books or write for general audiences. But definitely the best book I've read on what's going on in the study of dna as it relates to human history and migration and so forth. For sure the most science I've seen in one of these books as well. There's hints of math and statistics though not enough for my data and math friends but also not too much. I think I missed a lot of this book but I got the flavor. It also had an interesting style to it - basically a we had this question, we thought this so we did something to figure it out and we found out something different. It also dealt with some of the ethical questions on studying dna from old dead humans - basically racism and consent. In general it was quite readable enough and detailed enough....more
A re-read. Definitely this was worth revisiting. I found some of the later chapters less impressive than I remembered - mostly because they were more A re-read. Definitely this was worth revisiting. I found some of the later chapters less impressive than I remembered - mostly because they were more computer science and less algorithms that you could act on. It was fun to try to discuss this with a mixed work group. Certainly the math/computer science/software engineering pushed some of my coworkers a little over the edge. 4.5 of 5.
This is one to buy re-read and to some degree commit to memory. It is a great walk between human life and psychology on one side and computer science and software engineering on the other. On lots of the big subjects of computing - stopping, sorting, caching, scheduling and more - the authors make the connections back to everyday life. Much of the details of this book I've seen though not in this form. Much of it I hadn't seen. And it stayed readable all the way through. 5 of 5....more
Another read through on this one. It is not a fast read. And as a third read I knew not to rush it. This read again felt like a Firefly knockoff. But Another read through on this one. It is not a fast read. And as a third read I knew not to rush it. This read again felt like a Firefly knockoff. But with aliens. The book just builds and hits and repeats.
This book is far from perfect. It comes off as being completely unoriginal. In fact way too often it resonated as being as life on the Serenity in the Firefly universe. But with the travel mechanisms of Gateway. And it's got the runaway heir. And a Mos Eisley knock off. And it was a travelogue, which I particularly don't like. And fact dumps, completely unhidden. And it has that first book feel to it for good and bad. And at least one small problem that should have been solved with a 3d printer.
But. It is also a character study. And it is has interestingly different aliens. And a ship that comes alive. And kind of a love for all things that define science fiction - especially in space. And about a third of the way through I just slowed way down reading it, jut to make it last longer. Definitely looking forward to the sequel. And re-reading this some day.
And on the re-read I felt basically the same way. So clearly it's not for everyone. It's not an action adventure book. And it's not a deep intricate world book....more
And now on discussing it I'm thinking that I need to read it slower next time. Maybe pause at least an hour after each chapter. To get completely suckAnd now on discussing it I'm thinking that I need to read it slower next time. Maybe pause at least an hour after each chapter. To get completely sucked into the art.
A re-read to be discussed. And kind of a tough one. Certainly I didn't like it as much as the first read. Presumably I'm in a different head space. It's just so depressing. Certainly a strong ending. And I expect to read it again. Presumably accidentally in exactly 5 years.
Wow. And Whoa. Not a happy book. But triumphant. And brilliant. And sad. With simple but fantastic art. And text that zooms along even when you wish it would slow down. And another book to thank goodreads for, I would have been unlikely to have found it otherwise. Relationships, art, philosophy and even superheros all wrapped up in a black and white graphic novel all wrapped up in a heavy book. I doubt I'll read something better this year....more
I had read the first two graphic novels in this series, because that's what the library had. But what with the netflix series coming, http://en.wikipeI had read the first two graphic novels in this series, because that's what the library had. But what with the netflix series coming, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.K.A._J..., I figured it was time to get the library to buy the full set. And wow. Okay this isn't for everyone. It is dark, and this character Jessica Jones, she is broken. And she spends most of the book reacting rather than acting. But it's real and true. And it's written and drawn well. Even to the point that Jessica is not drawn as a babe - well except when she tried to get into a club that one time. And when she was a young mind-controlled zombie. Luke Cage's role could have been a bit bigger, the book would have had to have been longer. But Jean Grey's role was awesome, one of the better guest bits, we hardly ever get to see Jean acting like a real person....more
I like the idea that the world is analyzable. And this book is all about that. And yet the writing has a certain amount of flair to it which I typicalI like the idea that the world is analyzable. And this book is all about that. And yet the writing has a certain amount of flair to it which I typically would find off-putting which presumably means some won't like it just for that. This is not a heavy math or statistics book, though the math and statistics is just off stage. Mostly this book is concerned with what we are saying about ourselves and others - through dating sites and facebook and twitter and google searches. It's also about racism and lying and beauty in charts....more
As with probably any 5 star book, though more this one than most, your mileage may vary. The only other book I've read to date by the author is Among As with probably any 5 star book, though more this one than most, your mileage may vary. The only other book I've read to date by the author is Among Others. I found that book to not really be much of a fantasy by my standards but wow did it understand what it meant to love science fiction and fantasy books and talking about them.
I encountered Jo Walton outside the only panel I saw her in at Sasquan. I don't recall what she was saying but I remember being very amused by her and thinking "who the heck was that?" The panel was on writing reviews. And she was pretty much exactly what she sounds like in this book.
And I mean exactly. I kind of hate books that sound like the author talking even when I like the books. Mostly it's because I'm thinking Garrison Keilor who talks slowly and therefore I read his writing slowly which drives me crazy. I hear Jo Walton's voice in this book but she is speaking rapidly, almost too rapidly to make out the words.
I love science fiction books and to a lesser degree fantasy books. And I love talking about them with other readers. And discovering book in common with agreements and disagreements. And books they've missed. And books I've missed. And reading this book was like having an length conversation on the subject.
Sure I enjoyed the book more for the books I knew. But even the ones I hadn't read were interesting. And some of them went right to my to-read list. And the general chapters were just as good. And yes I read all the time and carry a book pretty much everywhere though I might carry a less heavy book around and read thick heavy books only at home. And I have skimmed though mostly I reserve that for hell-rides in Amber and speeches in Atlas Shrugged and some pages of description in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. But mostly I find the questions worth talking about.
Does this mean I'll read the author's blog entries that were not in the book? Probably not. Because it's still not a book. But I know I should....more
Possibly the best alphabet book ever and I kind of decided this before I got past E. The pictures are so rich and involved. The words at an over-the-tPossibly the best alphabet book ever and I kind of decided this before I got past E. The pictures are so rich and involved. The words at an over-the-top high level but funny and inventive. wow....more
Fantastic retelling of fairy tale characters in the modern world. Some of the characters are drawn inconsistently - especially Snow White. And for thaFantastic retelling of fairy tale characters in the modern world. Some of the characters are drawn inconsistently - especially Snow White. And for that matter Rose Red, though she's always awesome. But even within all of its lack of originality as its ultimate shtick, the characters here are completely original and endlessly fun. ...more
A purchase. And a re-read. I should really break down and try to learn the equivalent of what this book tries to tell me, but for regular books. But IA purchase. And a re-read. I should really break down and try to learn the equivalent of what this book tries to tell me, but for regular books. But I've never really wanted that. I've read a lot more graphic novels and comic books since I first read this 8 years ago. And really, I'm blown away by the art in this book - it really wouldn't seem to have needed to have been this good. The last chapter could have been stronger, but otherwise, this is still a wow book for me. And now I have books 2 and 3 so I'll get to see what I think of those.
It's hard to judge this completely fairly. To some degree comparisons are relative and I can't say I have much to compare it to. It's just a very academic book on comic art - or to be fair - "juxtaposed pictorial and other images in deliberate sequence" and also a lot of fun. It is both historical and fairly current. With good writing and tons of example bits. In an odd way it kind of reminds me of the books of Edward Tufte, in that it takes something you think you know and show you that it can be analyzed much deeper....more
What an awesome ride, though kind of a rushed ending. Book 2 in a near future idea based sf by someone who actually has a background in technology. PeWhat an awesome ride, though kind of a rushed ending. Book 2 in a near future idea based sf by someone who actually has a background in technology. Perhaps a few too many ideas - whether uploading intelligence, or programming your brain, or group mind or using such techniques for helping children with autism - but still it worked. Still sad to see the US government as a believable bad guy....more
A re-read. I've read this so many times and over so many years. This is the second copy of this graphic novel that we have owned and pages are fallingA re-read. I've read this so many times and over so many years. This is the second copy of this graphic novel that we have owned and pages are falling out of it. So familiar. At this point there is no way to judge it strictly on its merits.
I figure if I was going to loan the first volume of Elfquest out, I might as well re-read it first. The basic story is not all that complicated. But the art, the writing, the characters, the character names. The lines. All way more beautiful than it needed to be....more
This is a book I was reading for the Endeavour Award and by multiple recommendations. For the Endeavour Award I see a snag - since it has a 2012 publiThis is a book I was reading for the Endeavour Award and by multiple recommendations. For the Endeavour Award I see a snag - since it has a 2012 publishing date, luckily this is not my call but I pointed it out reluctantly because this would have been one of my top picks in 2012 if it had appeared then.
Okay so far of all I found this book flawed - especially in the first half. Its flow was off, the writing in general felt choppy and the ideas were too strongly stated - and all of this got in the way of enjoying the book. But oh the ideas! But the ending was strong and believable. And I was sold on pretty much all the characters actions and motivations.
I'm getting used to seeing the US government as a bad guy - though in this one not the only one. And it doesn't make me happy that it looks more and more believable and less and less of a stretch.
The Nexus OS for the brain - oh wow. As a software guy, all of this rang true - though it may make the book somewhat less accessible for the general audience.
But in general the idea of what it looks like to augment and update your brain rang true and seemed reasonable - something I have trouble with in many books.
Oh yeah, the opening "sex" scene may be a little hard to take for some and doesn't really repeat....more
Wow. I haven't reread this book in a long time - presumably when I read all the L'Engle books in one fell swoop 20+ years ago. I remember trying to reWow. I haven't reread this book in a long time - presumably when I read all the L'Engle books in one fell swoop 20+ years ago. I remember trying to read this to my kids and failing - perhaps because it was just too plain weird.
This is a pretty packed book - it's young adult but written at an adult level. It uses a high level of language and quotes in multiple languages. It's got science and philosophy and is as anti-totalatarian a book as 1984.
And in the end the characters are both cardboard-cutouts and completely real. Worth re-reading, worth studying.
And then there's IT which is kind of a centralized brain - which I read now as Information Technology (which is kind of funny).
This is my 2nd or 3rd read of this book. Subtle this book is not. It is fairly obvious pretty much from page one that there is a trainwreck somewhere This is my 2nd or 3rd read of this book. Subtle this book is not. It is fairly obvious pretty much from page one that there is a trainwreck somewhere along the way. There's no question that it's a Romance. But it's not fantasy. The time traveling in this book is internally consistent and explained and believable. But crazy sad. But with lots of sex. And food porn....more
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