I'd never heard of this book before, but bought it based on NYRB classics, translated fiction, queer misfits, and I don't think I've read any authors I'd never heard of this book before, but bought it based on NYRB classics, translated fiction, queer misfits, and I don't think I've read any authors from Taiwan before. Plus this cover is just fantastic. Still, I had very little in the way of expectations going in.
Now I am struggling to find a way to talk about it. Central to the story is the narrator, known to us only by the nickname Lazi, and her on-again off-again love with Shui Ling. Told from excerpts from ten notebooks Lazi wrote over a period encompassing what seems to be the last few years of high school (except she is no longer living at home?) through what seems to be a prestigious college -- as she struggles to figure out life and love (mostly love) with the help of a few other queer kids who all seem to be cut off from any larger, established LGBTQIA+ community and so are figuring things out in a vacuum with mostly only their self-doubts, fleeting obsessions, and the judgements of society at large to guid them. The fragmented run-on sentence above is somewhat indicative of the fragmented nature of the text, which sometimes shifts backwards and forwards in time and also sideways to a crocodile analogy in a way that is sometimes bewildering but no more so than it would be to live that way. Most of the characters involved seem to be academically gifted, analytical, obscure-reference making types instantly familiar to anyone who's ever been on a college campus. I couldn't help but love them all and fiercely wish for them to be scooped up by queer elders to share with them joy and radical acceptance.
When a friend commissioned me to make a pair of earrings to match this book cover for the author, I knew I would have to order a copy to keep. We'd waWhen a friend commissioned me to make a pair of earrings to match this book cover for the author, I knew I would have to order a copy to keep. We'd watched The Eagle Huntress documentary as a family and had been fascinated. A return to that world in fiction (especially one I knew to be well researched) was too good to pass up. So I bought a copy for our bedtime story shelf, and my thirteen-year-old picked it up immediately.
This book was instantly captivating to both of my kids. In fact, my nine-year-old frequently tried to bargain to skip his own story to get extra chapters of this book instead. Aisulu's life is so completely different from their lives, but her feelings are so relatable, and even though you suspect from the beginning that she will triumph in the end, enough tension remains to make nearly every chapter a cliffhanger.
An incredibly well told tale, and an unforgettable look into a different way of life. Would love to replace Island of the Blue Dolphins with this in school libraries across the country. ...more
I did not expect this book to switch to the POV of a previously unknown character. I did not expect this book to switch in town to thriller or slow hoI did not expect this book to switch to the POV of a previously unknown character. I did not expect this book to switch in town to thriller or slow horror. I did not expect to be on its hooks the entire time. I was delighted to read this on a readathon day, where I could sit down and read the entire thing in one sitting.
Investigator Chuwan is tasked with unravelling a bloody massacre at Rewar Teng Institute. But the scene has already been tampered with, she's not allowed to speak to any of the prisoners directly, and she faces mounting pressure to sign her name to an official account of the events that she didn't write. After signing off, she's unable to let it go, determined to discover what is being covered up and why.
I loved the different tone of this book, though I was sometimes confused as to how certain events fit in with the rest of the series. Maybe the fourth book will clear some things up? ...more
Well, once I read The Black Tides of Heaven and liked it so much, I suppose it was inevitable that I would read the rest of the series. You know, whenWell, once I read The Black Tides of Heaven and liked it so much, I suppose it was inevitable that I would read the rest of the series. You know, when I write a review like this I generally include a disclaimer about how much I generally try to resist getting pulled into series. But given the number I am currently enmeshed in or have recently finished (this one, Machineries of Empire, the Broken Earth trilogy, the Sixth World series, the Daevabad Trilogy...) I don't think I can really say that anymore.
ANYWAY, this second installment switches to the POV of Sanao Mokoya, who is now struggling with the grief of losing her young daughter. She keeps running around half-cocked, putting herself into dangerous situations, as those in her life struggle between giving her space and wanting her to be safe. As they investigate a massive Naga threatening the desert city Bataanar and Mokoya finds herself drawn to a mysterious stranger, secrets are discovered that could spark all-out war.
There is, again, an incredible amount of worldbuilding in this tiny novella, though I do have to say the lack of description on certain details drove me to distraction on the raptors. What are they? Bird of prey? Velociraptors? Something in between? Something else entirely? Just when I'd think I was starting to develop a good mental picture, some new remark would undermine it all.
Still definitely here for the ride, though. ...more
I saw this book in a display at my local bookstore for books by Michigan authors and I was intrigued (but broke). So when I saw it at the library of cI saw this book in a display at my local bookstore for books by Michigan authors and I was intrigued (but broke). So when I saw it at the library of course I had to check it out.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. I mean, I was drawn in from the back-cover description of Elena as a "hard-nosed, chain-smoking tabloid reporter," and she was, indeed, a great character. Following leads regardless of danger to herself, eye-rolling at woo occult forces despite the weirdness she's already seen, stubborn, driven, with a strong sense of moral outrage.
Now. Let's talk about the art. It's such a magical thing when the art style perfectly matches the voice of the story -- and this does. The drawings seem designed to both reference and subvert blaxploitation aesthetic and tropes. With a lot of great Detroit signatures thrown in. Then on top of that add the coloring. I don't know how much I've ever noticed the colorist as a distinct part of the art team before -- but the effects here are magnificent. The way the whole color palette shifts scene to scene -- the warm peaches/tans/blue-grays of daytime and office work, the pinks and mauves when meeting with Amelia at the club, the violets/indigos/hot pinks and reds of the occult influences/creatures at night. Each color change invokes its own mood while still transitioning into each other seamlessly.
I made two pair of earrings to coordinate with the cover, but I'm also tempted to design earrings for individual page spreads.
Anyway, if you like weird retro occult detective stories, especially if you'd like them updated with intersectional feminist/racist call-outs and LGBTQIA+ representation, this book is for you. ...more
I'd been wanting to support Emma Press for a while now, but not ready to pay international shipping to do so. But as soon as I saw mentions of this poI'd been wanting to support Emma Press for a while now, but not ready to pay international shipping to do so. But as soon as I saw mentions of this popping up on twitter, I knew this would be the one. I hit pre-order and waited impatiently.
It was love at first sight. I loved the beautiful cover. I loved the poems -- telling stories that were familiar and strange both at once. I loved the illustrations throughout. I found myself reading a handful of poems each day, so that I could enjoy them in bursts. I loved the unexpected twists, the explorations of identity.
Some particular favorites: "Nimblemen," with their fabulous warriors with well-glittered hair, "Nessie," who knows who Nessie is and isn't. "Mairead," and her chainmail dress and flame-proof hat. "Love Song for a Wulver," with the wolf and his husband. "The Seven Big Women of Jura."
So, I'd started reading How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS and very quickly decided that I needed to reaSo, I'd started reading How to Survive a Plague: The Inside Story of How Citizens and Science Tamed AIDS and very quickly decided that I needed to read something that was the opposite of that at the same time. Impulsively, I grabbed this off of my thirteen-year-old's shelves, as people have been telling me that I need to read it for years. It turned out kind of perfectly. Whenever I would get overwhelmed with depression or rage reading Survive -- whether I was gnashing my teeth or trying to avoid crying in public, I'd turn to Nimona impulsively stabbing things, and it would help immensely.
Of course, there ends up being some sadness in Nimona, too, so after a while it became more of a change of pace and genre than an emotional catharsis -- but of course by then, I was heavily invested in both.
A punchy story that plays with a few fantasy tropes in interesting ways. I can definitely see why people kept telling me to read it. ...more
A friend of mine who authored one of the poems in this collection signed this book for me back in the spring when I was delivering copies of A Ruin ofA friend of mine who authored one of the poems in this collection signed this book for me back in the spring when I was delivering copies of A Ruin of Shadows to Kalamazoo bookstores. I confess I put off reading it the way you sometimes put off reading something a friend has written because WHAT IF IT'S TERRIBLE?
It wasn't terrible. The collection of art and poetry was the product of a group of artists and writers studying and investigating the concept of alchemy -- in all its chemical, mystical, and psychological aspects. I loved the combination of art and poetry all loosely gathered around one central theme -- it's a lovely way to present both. And the little explanations and allusions in the margins.
I did not expect how many times I would smile in delight ("It grows a face while she pukes on her shoes in a parking lot"), how often I'd want to reach out and hold the art depicted, how often I'd feel a line weigh heavy on my heart.
My friend Karen gave me her copy of this book ages ago, which I was avoiding because of HYPE! But Seanan's online persona was winning me over so eventMy friend Karen gave me her copy of this book ages ago, which I was avoiding because of HYPE! But Seanan's online persona was winning me over so eventually I gave up and dove in.
I... liked it. I don't know how much of my sense of underwhelm was my perverse resistance to hype, or how much I was just maybe not one of this book's people. I liked some of the characters, but I found Nancy, the main character, troubling in some fundamental way.
I mean, I did like it! Maybe even enough to check out another book in the series someday (despite my documented feelings on series.) I just didn't swoon, that's all. ...more
I've been curious about this book since a friend of mine commissioned me to make a pair of earrings to match its cover. I'd decided to pick up a copy I've been curious about this book since a friend of mine commissioned me to make a pair of earrings to match its cover. I'd decided to pick up a copy once the book hit paperback, but then I fell in love with a podcast the author is involved with and pushed up the timescale to put a hold on the hardback at the library.
Really, I didn't know much about the story at all when I started reading it, and what I did know seemed like not an entirely accurate picture of the plot once I got into it. I had a few moments early on when I mistrusted some of the character voices, but as I was reading this during the #24in48 readathon, I just kept reading and soon I got sucked in entirely.
While I still don't know if I feel like Chant's voice matches his background/occupation/experiences (I don't know, something just felt off to me), the situation was so interesting and some of the side characters so fascinating... For instance, Ylfing is the fluffiest cinnamaroll I have ever seen on the page and quickly you just want to cup him in your hands and keep him safe and warm (and supplied with the yummiest of boy candy, of course.) Then there is Consanza who you just know is going to be layered (LIKE AN ONION) and far more interesting than she first appears, and then Vihra, who strongly reminds me of Kushana from Nausicaa, just with less absolute power.
On top of that, the entire thing is just a love letter to stories, and the way we make sense of ourselves as individuals and as civilizations through the stories we tell. How could any book lover not love that?...more
Published by another tiny micro press that I like -- I requested my local library purchase a copy (they bought three!) and waited for it to come in. IPublished by another tiny micro press that I like -- I requested my local library purchase a copy (they bought three!) and waited for it to come in. I don't read a lot of historical fantasy, but the idea that it was about a historical queen, Amina, and that most of the fantasy was about the gods of Zazzau intrigued me.
There were some writing choices that baffled me, but usually I would get a few more chapters in and suddenly realize why she had been writing like that. As interesting as Amina was as a character (and she was), it was possibly more intriguing to witness the slow transition from a time with Islam and polytheistic nature/tribal gods co-existed more or less peacefully to the rising dominance of monotheism and patriarchy.
An interesting tale that kept me turning pages....more
I'd been wanting to read this book since I first heard of it (great cover, polar fiction, intriguing concept), but was forcing myself to wait for the I'd been wanting to read this book since I first heard of it (great cover, polar fiction, intriguing concept), but was forcing myself to wait for the paperback, as per usual. Except then I discovered that the hardback cover glowed in the dark, and then my friend challenged me to make some glowing earrings to coordinate with it, so to the library I went.
(The paperback actually came out while I was reading the library copy, and I ran out to buy it. Tragically, the paperback doesn't glow. But it's still gorgeous.)
I ATE THIS BOOK UP. Interesting world-building, some great, spiky characters, lots of polar-fiction flavor, despite the hotter, climate-changed world. I was on this ride 100% and careening through it as fast as I could to find out would happen until (view spoiler)[the polar bear died. (hide spoiler)] I mean, it's not as it didn't make sense, necessarily, as an in-world consequence. Maybe it just felt bigger to me than the book seemed to make it out to be -- I wanted more build-up to it, more impact after. (Not that there wasn't impact after.) I just felt kind of hollow after that moment -- not 100% on the ride anymore. Which is fine, it just knocked the book down from a 5-star for me, which it was well on its way toward being until then. ...more
I totally fell prey to twitter hype -- but in a spectacularly wonderful way. I mean, I have loved Valente so hard ever since The Orphan's Tales, but gI totally fell prey to twitter hype -- but in a spectacularly wonderful way. I mean, I have loved Valente so hard ever since The Orphan's Tales, but given my current cash situation, I should probably have either stalked this at the library or waited for the paperback -- instead of venturing into the quicksand of a local bookstore on release day (and accidentally buying two other books) -- but the more you fight the more you sink.
I was instantly in love with this book. From the very first paragraph you can't help but be reminded of Douglas Adams -- with its dry, intergalactic side-eye at all of humanity and its so-called accomplishments. Reading on -- even though there are dozens of observations that wouldn't feel out of place in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- the differences are just as obvious. Adams tended rather to the cynical -- with depressed robots and ridiculous bureaucracies and crushing nihilism. But Valente is throwing a party -- with disco balls and fucking adorable sentient red panda aliens and glitter everywhere. That's not to say there's no room in this story for regret, self-doubt, and depressing hotel lobbies, because those are there, too. But still, somehow the book leaves you with a feeling that for all that the universe may be random and ambivalent -- it's still full of miracles and wonder.
Life is beautiful, and life is stupid.
This book is a chaotic and hilarious reminder of both. ...more
I mean, I could say that I am biased, except it's not like I love this book because I published it, I am publishing it because I love it.I mean, I could say that I am biased, except it's not like I love this book because I published it, I am publishing it because I love it....more
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