Jim

Great for its time

Revisado: 08-14-23

The ideas and world building in this book are extremely impressive and ahead of their times. However, the structure of the book is often confusing, stakes aren't well established and characters not particularly well sketched. It's a fun, but imperfect, read.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A fun but flawed read

Revisado: 08-06-23

I would echo the reviews that say this might have been better as historical fiction. I found it a breezy and pleasant read and a great glimpse into the wine world of the 19th century. However, the 'I can imagine Madame Clicquot' doing X or Y (which occurred often) stretched past non-fiction to me. It would seem from the author's note that this occurred due to a severe lack of source material on The Widow Clicquot's life in certain times, but it still stretched a bit too far to me.

Still, all in all, a fun read, so I would recommend to those interested in wine despite the caveat.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Good not great

Revisado: 07-30-23

I'm not sure how to review this one. I read Ancillary Justice a while back and found it really didn't resonate with me. It had interesting ideas, but something stopped me from committing. i genuinely disliked that book.

Against that background, I read this in hopes of finding I was wrong about that book or that it was an outlier from a respected SFF writer whom people with similar tastes love. However, I'll admit I was expecting to hate this.

Neither my hope nor expectation proved correct. on the whole, I felt this was good, not great. Like in Ancillary, I thought the ideas were really interesting. The 2nd person narration is a cool idea that works in the end. The ending pays off. The gods/humans dynamics are cool. The narration is strong. However, it was a real slog at times. I nearly put it down and left it after the first 1/3 of the book (and I am a serious audiobook completionist). What I think was intended to build mystery in the first 6h or so was mostly confusing/annoying. The prose also did not carry me through the confusion. That said, in all, I'm glad I finished it because my opinion really improved on completion.

On the whole, it's fine. If you are a hard-core fantasy or Ann Leckie fan who has read everything else out there, give it a whirl. if you are neither of those, there are better fantasy novels for your time.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Excellent history

Revisado: 07-21-23

Thos covered ab extensive amount of content but never lagged in interest level. It deftly sketched both the events of the war and the characters making decisions. Well worth the time.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Absolutely delightful

Revisado: 06-07-23

This absolutely deserved its Nebula best novella win. I found it paced excellently. I cared about the characters. I was satisfied by the ending. And all of that is true before you even start considering all of the brilliant ways she effectively used so many noir tropes while challenging the misogyny that underpinned so many of them. Excellent book that will make me read her other work.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

important work but a slog

Revisado: 06-06-23

I find myself conflicted on this review. I think the work is an important check on the data-based reality of many issues that are often politically charged. The last hour of it should really be required reading for a politician of any inclination. But man, it's a fight to get there. There are a ton of just bare power calculations through the center of the book. Audio may not be the right format for you.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Excellent book

Revisado: 05-25-23

Regardless of whether Everett's overarching linguistic theory is right, this is an extremely interesting and engaging account of a very different community from any I know in the world.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Amazing

Revisado: 05-15-23

I went into this book knowing nothing of CS Lewis' work beyond Narnia. This absolutely blew me away. the spirituality themes, the anti-colonialism. all miles ahead of its time. And the book itself ripped along at a very pleasant pace. Would certainly recommend. one of the best fantasy books I've read in recent memory.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Solid snippets on space

Revisado: 05-14-23

I found this pleasant throughout but often found myself wishing for more depth, if even an extra 10 minutes on a given topic. The book is most successful where a lot of background isn't necessary, like when describing science history on scientists who were not given their proper due for discoveries.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Excellent!

Revisado: 05-10-23

This book (and the 3-part series as a whole) is excellent. The book paints a fascinating picture of Roosevelt the president while deftly connecting that version of him to the younger man in the first book. it makes me want to go deeper on various areas of his presidency that are mentioned. Would recommend to anyone.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña