4.5 - A super charming novella set in a future version of our world where sentient robots, once mass-produced, have since been outlawed due to ethical4.5 - A super charming novella set in a future version of our world where sentient robots, once mass-produced, have since been outlawed due to ethical concerns over their personhood. Sal is one such robot, going on 300 years old, her existence pre-dates the laws and her presence is tolerated at best by most people.
Clara is a technician who repairs AI creations. She stumbles upon Sal's teashop and their paths become intertwined.
This was a lovely, thoughtful, cozy novella with depth and heart. It is light while still prodding the reader to ask probing questions about humanity, acceptance, grief, and relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My only real complaint is that I wanted more time in this world and with these characters....more
4.5 Stars - A beautifully written story of love, loss, found-family, and hope set amidst a dystopian society run aground by climate change, greed, and4.5 Stars - A beautifully written story of love, loss, found-family, and hope set amidst a dystopian society run aground by climate change, greed, and a government and police force which are both corrupt. Rainy seeks refuge on a boat on Lake Superior and searches for a reunion with his book loving wife Lark. His journey brings him in contact with dangerous people who seek to hunt him down.
Enger's books have an epic quality to them. The writing is lovely, the themes are grand, and the characters are intriguing people who refuse to let go of hope even when surrounded by bleakness. I was carried along by this story and thoroughly engaged the whole way through. ...more
DNF @ 16% - Putting this down as I can tell it will be a 3 ⭐️ book for me. This is very much focused on the perspectives/internal dialogues of those iDNF @ 16% - Putting this down as I can tell it will be a 3 ⭐️ book for me. This is very much focused on the perspectives/internal dialogues of those individuals astronauts as they are peering down on Earth and contemplating their humanity and the state of the world
I am completely on board with slow-paced character-focused novels, but I need more dialogue and interpersonal relationships to keep me interested. ...more
Climate change has wreaked havoc, and the Earth is now drowned. We follow Tetley, a wonderfully vibrant character who absolutely comes to life with thClimate change has wreaked havoc, and the Earth is now drowned. We follow Tetley, a wonderfully vibrant character who absolutely comes to life with the fabulous audiobook of this novella. Despite living in Garbagetown, a literal Texas-sized mass of detritus left behind when solid Earth existed, and being the approved focus of everyone's anger, Tetley sees her world as bright and beautiful.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time listening to this sci-fi dystopian novella. It was odd in the best of ways and quite immersive. I appreciated the dark humor, the characters, and the uniqueness of the story....more
Griz has spent his life with is family on an isolated island away from the mainland where he has been told there are no more people left due the GeldiGriz has spent his life with is family on an isolated island away from the mainland where he has been told there are no more people left due the Gelding, which occurred many years back. One day, a man sails up to his home quite unexpectedly, and as the family begins to awaken the next morning, Griz finds one of his beloved dogs has been stolen. Griz gives chase, bringing nothing but his other dog as he follows the thief's red sails away from the only home he has ever know into the mysterious and dangerous mainland.
A character-focused post-apocalyptic story which I found to be very compelling. Anytime I had to stop the audiobook, I found myself thinking about the story and eager to pick it back up again. This was well-written, had good character work, and kept my interest up from start to finish....more
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this Book of the Month selection which is a mix of at least four different genres. I went into it fairly blindI wasn't sure what to expect going into this Book of the Month selection which is a mix of at least four different genres. I went into it fairly blind without any real expectations and found myself carried along by the story. I won't go into many plot details but the main conceit is that a government agency oversees bringing a few people from the past into the current day via time travel. Our female main character is employed by the agency to be a guide or companion of sorts to a man from the 1800's who was on a failed Arctic expedition.
This book definitely seeks to juggle a lot in its genres, plot, and themes. While it wasn't a perfect book, as I did raise my eyebrows at a few questionable ideas, it was a quick-paced and interesting story which combined a love story with the feeling of an action movie and aspects of historical fiction thrown in as well.
3.5 Stars - If I'm rating my personal enjoyment, this was probably a 2 star book as I found our main character Spence completely insufferable.
"Spence3.5 Stars - If I'm rating my personal enjoyment, this was probably a 2 star book as I found our main character Spence completely insufferable.
"Spence and Anthony have been friends for years, but it’s only when he witnesses a classmate die in what looks like a tragic accident at a house party that a flicker in the fabric of time helps Spence ‘see’ Anthony for the first time. When Spence wakes up to the same day again and sees Clara, the girl who died, alive and well, it’s clear he’s been granted a second chance. And a third. And a fourth…"
This book uses the Groundhog's Day trope, which generally works for me, and I rarely find it to be too repetitive unless it is very poorly executed. The repetition wasn't the issue for me. My main problem was that I could see from the very first instance exactly what was going on and who the actual problems in the scenario were, but our main character was utterly clueless. Spence was almost as awful as the actual villain of this book. Granted, this book is YA, so I will give it some grace. I also appreciate where the story ultimately ends up going and its message, but I wish Spence had been more likable and less oblivious....more
Cassie is working at a New York City bookstore when an elderly customer she has befriended passes away and leaves her an extraordinary gift, The Book Cassie is working at a New York City bookstore when an elderly customer she has befriended passes away and leaves her an extraordinary gift, The Book of Doors. A book which can turn "any door into every door." Cassie and her roommate Isabel begin exploring with this incredible gift only to soon discover that it is valued and wanted by some very dangerous people. Thus starts an adventure in which they both must struggle to survive and to outwit those who would cause incredible evil if they could only get their hands on the book.
This was a wonderful premise, and while I had some issues with specific writing choices/descriptions, it was a compelling story that kept my interest. The villains definitely veered towards the mustache-twirling side, but the main character was fairly well developed and the story was engaging.
ETA: It’s now been a few weeks since I finished this book and I find myself randomly thinking about various scenes from the book. Points for how atmospheric this was. ...more
3.5 ⭐️ - Set in the future, this novel tells the story of Jones who walks into a tattoo shop requesting one final tattoo that will serve to connect th3.5 ⭐️ - Set in the future, this novel tells the story of Jones who walks into a tattoo shop requesting one final tattoo that will serve to connect the many existing tattoos she has covering her body. Each of her tattoos represent a different piece of someone’s life which she herself lived, some in the past and some in the future.
The author of this book is an award-winning poet, and her writing is stunning. I felt this book was special from the opening pages. I loved the story of Jones, her family, and her time in the tattoo shop. Where it lost me a bit is that this reads much like a short story collection, and it is a very rare short story compilation which leaves me feeling satisfied. As a character-driven reader, I find myself wanting to focus more on the characters I connect with rather than constantly jumping into new stories.
With that said, I thought this book thoughtfully and creatively examined some heavy themes including, identity, sexual violence, patriarchy, misogyny, and family. If this author ever writes a more traditional novel following one set of characters, I have no doubt it will be a favorite of mine. ...more
DNF @ 48% - I just wasn't engaged enough to continue on with the story. I think jumping back to the earlier timeline made me lose interest a bit, and DNF @ 48% - I just wasn't engaged enough to continue on with the story. I think jumping back to the earlier timeline made me lose interest a bit, and I never regained it....more
This was such a unique book that it is hard to classify as far as genre goes. I would call it literary sci-fi with a mix of dystopian and utopian elemThis was such a unique book that it is hard to classify as far as genre goes. I would call it literary sci-fi with a mix of dystopian and utopian elements. Whatever it is, it is most certainly a beautiful and moving book. I originally picked it up as a “should read” type of book, but I was completely hooked within the first thirty pages.
The plot is simple, we open the book with a woman who is recounting her life. Her memories begin with the many years she spent living in an apparently underground shelter caged with 39 other women. Our narrator is younger than the others and, unlike the other women, has no recollection of “normal” life before they were taken captive. The women are constantly monitored by three male guards who do not interact with them except to direct a whip at them if they do anything that is not allowed. They have food, water, and electricity but nothing beyond the basics
Themes of humanity, identity, love, and the purpose of life are all explored with grace and intelligence. The book raises many questions which it leaves the reader to answer instead of pushing ideas with a heavy hand. It was quietly powerful and moving story. ...more
DNF @ 43% - Putting this one down through no fault of its own. I have been listening to and enjoying this sci-fi book on audio, but due to the severalDNF @ 43% - Putting this one down through no fault of its own. I have been listening to and enjoying this sci-fi book on audio, but due to the several points-of-view and the complexity of the political happenings of the story, this is a book I know I would do better physically or immersive reading. I feel like I am missing some important details by only listening to it. It is well written, has interesting and strong female characters, and I want to give it the attention it deserves. I'll likely wait until after the second book of the trilogy is released to dive back into this....more
A creative, Sapphic, sci-fi dystopian novel set in the near future where the government is always watching, ready to mete out punishment for those whoA creative, Sapphic, sci-fi dystopian novel set in the near future where the government is always watching, ready to mete out punishment for those who don't follow the rules. Gone are the prisons. Instead, people who commit crimes are punished and publicly shamed by having a second shadow assigned to them. These "shaded" people are socially outcast, including children who have no understanding of their supposed crimes.
I found this to be a creative thought experiment with interesting characters. It focused on relationship dynamics and consequences of living in this world and did not have a ton of plot, which worked fine for me. I was engaged throughout the story and found it to be clever and interesting....more
4.5 Stars - A wonderful blend of dark humor, mystery, speculative fiction, women's lit, and suspense which all came together beautifully in this story4.5 Stars - A wonderful blend of dark humor, mystery, speculative fiction, women's lit, and suspense which all came together beautifully in this story about murder victim Lou who has been brought back to life after falling victim to a serial killer. This is much more of a character-driven story than a thriller, but it's very well-written and smart. I appreciated the examination of the expectations placed on women and mothers vs. their own lived realities. I listened to this on audiobook and found myself looking for things to do that would allow me to keep going with the book....more
DNF @ 19% - A sci-if novel featuring elements of Hindu philosophy, two main characters who have been married for years, and people who literally manipDNF @ 19% - A sci-if novel featuring elements of Hindu philosophy, two main characters who have been married for years, and people who literally manipulate objects around them to create & sustain the sky world where humanity lives now that climate change has decimated Earth. So many aspects of this are appealing to me, but it just wasn’t coming together in a way that worked for me. There are elements of a great book in here, but I wasn’t connecting with the characters or the story enough to compel to continue. ...more
A 1970s sci-fi novella with an intriguing premise, what if you could play god by dreaming a better world into existence? I appreciated the quality of A 1970s sci-fi novella with an intriguing premise, what if you could play god by dreaming a better world into existence? I appreciated the quality of the writing and found the story quite compelling and the characters to be believable. As with may novellas, the ending felt a bit abrupt to me. I would have liked another twenty pages or so drawing it out further, but I really enjoyed my reading experience with this story....more
I love the concept of this collection of speculative short stories from 25 authors imagining a future for the United States shaded by justice, joy, anI love the concept of this collection of speculative short stories from 25 authors imagining a future for the United States shaded by justice, joy, and equity. I have yet to find a short story anthology that works particularly well for me, collections from one author tend to fit my tastes much better. Unfortunately, this anthology wasn't the exception to the rule. The stories I read were not bad by any means, they just were not making a strong impression on me....more
3.5 ⭐️ - I listened to this with my husband on the drive home from our summer vacation. It was a fun, engaging sci-if novel that helped the hours pass3.5 ⭐️ - I listened to this with my husband on the drive home from our summer vacation. It was a fun, engaging sci-if novel that helped the hours pass more quickly. Nothing Earth shattering but definitely a good time and a great concept. ...more
Having thoroughly enjoyed Dune, I was expecting Dune Messiah to deliver for me. Alas, it wasn't the case. This installment in the series felt dryer inHaving thoroughly enjoyed Dune, I was expecting Dune Messiah to deliver for me. Alas, it wasn't the case. This installment in the series felt dryer in its telling and less atmospheric than the first. The characters felt more distant as well. I will likely continue with the series and hope for more enjoyments as I've heard this book is many people's least favorite. The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by a full cast, which made the experience more pleasant for me....more
3⭐️ - bumped up since I’m not the targeted demographic
An imaginative and heartwarming take on a Mars exploration rover and what goes on behind the sc3⭐️ - bumped up since I’m not the targeted demographic
An imaginative and heartwarming take on a Mars exploration rover and what goes on behind the scenes in a space expedition. This sci-fi middle grade would be a great one for younger middle grade readers with an interest in space. I didn’t connect as deeply as I would have liked with the characters, but I can see the appeal of the book, “beeps and boops.”...more
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