A difficult memoir to hear, and so important to listen to. It's one of those pieces that will inform my thoughts and feelings from here on out. A difficult memoir to hear, and so important to listen to. It's one of those pieces that will inform my thoughts and feelings from here on out. ...more
I've been wondering how this series was going to remain interesting, given how bad-ass Harry has become. In true RPG fashion, DM Butcher goes ahead anI've been wondering how this series was going to remain interesting, given how bad-ass Harry has become. In true RPG fashion, DM Butcher goes ahead and introduces Harry and his buddies to a much bigger web of intrigue and danger.
I thoroughly enjoyed the rearrangement of the Harry faction of this universe. Changes indeed. Looking forward to the next book, so much. ...more
I admit it. I'm simply a sucker for these books. They're fast-paced and fun. Light enough to be candy, but with enough substance to not give me high bI admit it. I'm simply a sucker for these books. They're fast-paced and fun. Light enough to be candy, but with enough substance to not give me high blood sugar.
Things are starting to get pretty dang complicated in Harry's world. The characters have all gotten so complex... the payoff for getting this far into the series is that everyone has changed... like real people.
Who do magic, and have fairy armies. Like that....more
I enjoyed this book, would say a 3.5 read for me. I listened to the audio book, which had many little flaws that pulled me out of the narrative.
Of couI enjoyed this book, would say a 3.5 read for me. I listened to the audio book, which had many little flaws that pulled me out of the narrative.
Of course this is a very sad story - a vibrant 9 year old dunked into a world of pain, uncertainty, and merciless teasing (or, worse, furtive stares) by her fellow human beings. It's about more than the physical obstacles for Lucy; it's also about how people's inability to handle emotion, to discuss scary things, to prepare a child for the things she is going to experience... I think that's the real damage done to Lucy. Lucy was unseen as an individual from the very beginning, when they didn't tell her she was going to lose her jaw.
For me, that was the true fury of the memoir....more
This is a quiet novel with a very violent underpinning: the erasure of memory.
It could be argued that memory is critical to self identity, social cohThis is a quiet novel with a very violent underpinning: the erasure of memory.
It could be argued that memory is critical to self identity, social cohesion, and basic growth. In The Memory Police, memory is systematically dismantled, and those who don't/can't conform are themselves disappeared. This novel takes things to their natural conclusion.
I think this is a very relevant novel. As a global society, we forget important events, items, and people so easily. Open secrets, disregarded facts... these cut at our universal soul, make us thinner, so that we become anesthetized to more significant disappearances.
I suppose it is a series's final volume that gets saddled with a review that encompasses the feel of the series in general. I really liked the Codex AI suppose it is a series's final volume that gets saddled with a review that encompasses the feel of the series in general. I really liked the Codex Alera. Following Tavi from adolescence to fatherhood was delightful. I listened to the series, and Kate Reading was an excellent interpreter of the story. I enjoyed every hour of this fantasy piece!...more
I have never heard of Maggie Nelson before I listened to this book (read by Nelson); I had no knowledge of the book at all, except it is on Powell's BI have never heard of Maggie Nelson before I listened to this book (read by Nelson); I had no knowledge of the book at all, except it is on Powell's Books "25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die" list. I'm focusing on woman writers this year, so there we go. Discovery.
I'm a sucker for book lists. This book illustrates why.
The book opens with an attention-grabbing scene (shocking and explicit and also full of thought, and I knew I was in for a ride), and I was held fast the whole way through. Nelson touches on so many issues: feminism, the changes in feminism, anxiety, aging, pregnancy, motherhood, gender fluidity, human mutability, devotion, loss, love, family, sexuality, culture, queerness... it's a sweeping ride through a thinking person's thought train.
There is so much to think about here. An excellent experience. ...more
Butcher is a great writer of pastime fiction. I am sad that I'm nearing the end of his backlog.
This series is classic fantasy fiction - huge story, loButcher is a great writer of pastime fiction. I am sad that I'm nearing the end of his backlog.
This series is classic fantasy fiction - huge story, lots of pages (hours, since I'm listening to this series), some ambiguous ethics (though not for our hero!), and an interesting cast of characters. Having an awesome reader (Kate Reading) makes a significant difference, as she does voices so well that I never, ever get lost as to who is speaking.
Picked it from the library on a whim, and while it was a fine audio diversion (Kowel is an excellent reader), ultimately this book was mostly brain caPicked it from the library on a whim, and while it was a fine audio diversion (Kowel is an excellent reader), ultimately this book was mostly brain candy of the lightest kind. I enjoyed listening as I painted the dining room, and the romance was sweet, but the book didn't leave me thinking about much after it was done. ...more
There is a lot of really good stuff in this book, and I often enjoyed it very much. However, it wasn't a great audio book for me, and I found myself hThere is a lot of really good stuff in this book, and I often enjoyed it very much. However, it wasn't a great audio book for me, and I found myself having to just let things go when I missed a transition (such as when we enter into the myth element of the novel for the first time).
That said, this is a powerful novel about women and how women are often left with a series of poor choices when they are at the mercy of a more powerful man in societies that expect women to go along with what men want. When faced with limited options, choices become extreme, powerful, and devastating.
I often like retellings of myth, but I struggled a bit to fully catch this novel. It may be worth a re-read (on paper) in the future. ...more
Five stars because this book is over 60 years old, is one of the trailblazers of the genre, and still holds it own despite the dramatic (and ongoing) Five stars because this book is over 60 years old, is one of the trailblazers of the genre, and still holds it own despite the dramatic (and ongoing) maturation of science fiction in general. My only significant beef about the book is also rooted in its time; Bester clearly didn't think much about gender dynamics. I notice when a book lacks female characters; I notice even more when female characters are backdrops without agency. The Demolished Man is an unfortunate example of its time, with the women all stunted and childish. Big eye roll.
That said, I enjoyed listening to this book. It's a tasty blend of detective story and spec fiction, and there isn't a lot of unnecessary exposition. There is a lot to think about, though: society and how it can function, what's an ethical punishment for crime, what it could mean if we couldn't keep secrets from authorities, what a society of empaths could look like... Interesting stuff. Well worth the read....more
Loading...
