Review: Cibola Burn (The Expanse #4)

2 stars. Wow. This really didn’t do it for me. Here’s why:

1. The female characters (again - just like the other books). Elvi starts out with so much promise - a kickass, brilliant female scientist? I’m in. And what does she do, immediately? She falls in love with Holden. GAG. She does play her part, in the end, but her trajectory smelled weird to me.

2. Holden. I really can’t stand the golden hero boy. Every time another character makes fun of him it’s an attempt for the authors to act self-aware but it all falls flat. Holden is who he is: who (many) male readers want to be.

3. The entire plot consists of things going wrong. I loved the constant disasters in the first three books because it kept the pages turning and gave us some heart pounding, high stakes action sequences. But here it gets EXHAUSTING. Give us a win! Quit pushing these characters to outlandish limits! When things go THAT wrong, it just feels lucky when they go right again. I personally enjoy reading about problem solving, not luck.

4. Murtry. The Expanse series features some truly great antagonists, often complicated ones (love), but this one just has a cartoon villain. Murtry’s entire character felt FORCED. It’s like they wrote him into the story, realized he didn’t come across as bad enough, and subsequently made the other characters think “I hate that guy” a lot to fix it. FORCED. I don’t have sympathy for him or anything - he was super psychopathic - but I’m so confused about why he had to be Evil with an uppercase e. Why did he go after Holden? He just felt ... unneeded. Bland. There to give Amos someone to crack his knuckles at.

5. Same old themes. Humans are stupid, bonk me on the head with it why don’t ya?

Alas, because the weather’s nice and I’m feeling generous, I will point out a few things I loved:

1. MILLER. My fave. My adorable, confused, cryptic alien babe.

2. Death slugs.

I will absolutely continue with this series because I swore to myself and my husband that I would, but I’m a little burned out. Don't worry, I'll get there. 

Cibola Burn on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Abaddon's Gate (The Expanse #3)

4 stars. Yeesh, I made it through another one. I don't know why these books - these fast-paced, cinematic, deeply entertaining books - take me so long. I enjoy them so much, and I love the way the series unfolds in this one, but reading them just ... takes me awhile. They're tiring. And this one explores a lot of religious and moral themes that I couldn't wrap my head around, as much as I wanted to.

Otherwise, it's excellent space stuff. We still have Holden (gag me) and his crew, plus a few new characters: a young woman bent on revenge, a Russian preacher committed to helping humanity through the crisis of encountering alien life, and a hardened OPA officer trying to keep humans from shooting each other. Each character is distinct and charming as always. And the action is so extra - in a good way.

Whereas the last book threw alien life into a largely political arena, this one is more philosophical. Concepts like revenge, morality, forgiveness and love are all central themes; strangely juxtaposed with the protomolecule and its actions. The characters are squeezed and pushed to their limits and forced to show their true colors. I like this kind of writing, writing that doubles down on the complexities of what it means to be human. I respect the way these authors write about PTSD and traumatic identity fractures. 

I still have issues with the female characters and the weird way everyone quickly devolved into "good" or "bad" when the time came, but like I've said in previous reviews: this is golden science fiction. I'm looking forward to what's next, even if it takes me fifty years. (It might. Just saying.)

Abaddon’s Gate on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Caliban's War (The Expanse #2)

4 stars. PHEW. I did it. Another one. These books are frankly a bit exhausting. I've never actually read an absolute pageturner that made my eyes glaze over so much. That's not a criticism, just an observation, really. But still: my commitment to my vague 2020 reading challenge remains strong. I WILL FINISH WHAT I START. 

Caliban's War brings back the crew of the Rocinante to fight another day, or should I say, another form of the protomolecule that plagued the solar system in Leviathan Wakes. This time, though, we get fun new characters. Instead of alternating between Holden and Miller, we are introduced to: a scientist desperate to find his missing daughter, who is apparently at the heart of an evil corporate scheme (another one lol … or the same one?), a large Martian soldier named Bobbie, who spends the book trying to find her place in politics, and a high-up UN government official whose hardass insane personality is actually really charming.

I missed grumpy old Miller, but I LOVED Avasarala. 

I mentioned a lot of worldbuilding detail in my review of the first book, and I want to either reassure or warn future readers that the attention level needed here remains pretty high. At least, it did for me. I love space battles and stars and alien science, and the authors do a great job of dumbing things down when absolutely necessary, but I had a very hard time grasping certain things like the mechanics of the ships. I am reading this with an English Literature degree, after all.

That being said, the world expands (ahem) here quite nicely. I did enjoy the juxtaposition of petty human political infighting ("the game") with the very serious, mysterious apocalyptic threat spewing monsters at civilization. I also appreciated the fact that, unlike in many books, characters who go through traumatic events get totally traumatized. It was refreshing to read about these folks struggling to process or recover from haunting events. 

I still hate Holden and Naomi. In fact, I think I kind of just hate Holden...? 

Anyway, these books are must-reads for sci-fi fans and I would call them an excellent escape if the political infighting wasn't so damn FRUSTRATINGLY FAMILIAR. These are strange times.

Caliban’s War on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1)

4 stars. OMFG I finished a book. 2020 has already been the weirdest year ever, and partly because it took me this fucking long to finish a book?! Due to a combination of: the post-holiday blues, post-holiday chores, leaving my Kindle in a hotel room in Delaware, and a spontaneous decision to pursue a semi-remodel of our condo, I haven't had much time or energy to read. And I think that's also because...

I decided to re-read The Expanse series. My husband has been begging me to so we can watch the TV show together, but I've been dragging my heels knowing what a commitment it would be. But one of my (very personal, very intangible, very low-pressure) reading goals for this year is going to be FINISH WHAT YOU START, which means series. So here we are. Leviathan Wakes.

Considering what the series becomes, this book is laughably simple in premise. We have two narrators: Captain Jim Holden, a man from Earth leading a small crew through a variety of weird, unlucky space misfortunes on a universally political scale, and Detective Miller, a Belter (born and raised in the outer planets of the solar system) assigned to investigate a missing girl. Chapters alternate in perspective and we get a front seat as these two characters orbit (lol) around each other until .... VOMIT ZOMBIES!!

I'm awake now! But before you think this is Resident Evil in space (someone needs to write that immediately), I should highlight the intense complexity of the world-building here. Sure, there are entertaining chapters full of space battles and terrifying alien monsters, but there is also a ton of detail. Get ready to pay attention: you essentially have to learn a new vocabulary and receive a crash course in space science to reap the full benefits of this series.

Fine by me. What I DID mind? The women. Not just the female characters - the interactions they have with the men. I don't know why they bothered me so, so deeply, but they did. I really, really hate Holden and Naomi. I really, really hate that Miller "falls in love" with Julie. I can't even explain why I cringe so hard I literally clench my stomach during anything that remotely touches romance or relationships. It's not because the female characters aren't realistic. I think it might actually be because ... the male characters aren't.

But anyway, sometimes after a hard few months and a lot of family drama and political chaos and impending warfare, I just want to read about aliens. This is golden sci-fi right here. 

Leviathan Wakes on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Ready Player One

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 11 / 12

Ah fine, 5 stars it is. I'm in a good mood, and it's the holidays. What the hell, why not? 'Tis the season. But don't get me wrong - I have complaints! But this is a GREAT read. I loved it. 

Look, this was FUN. It was entertaining. It was well-written, RELEVANT, amusing, adventurous, and delightful. Ready Player One is The Westing Game + Warcross + Willy Wonka. It takes place in the future (normally I would use the word dystopian but I think it may just be the expected reality now), when the world is decaying and humans spend most of their time in a VR program called Oasis. Oasis's creator dies and leaves a "hunt" as his legacy - an Easter egg contest with his fortune as the prize. Obviously this inspires millions to study up on the creator's obsessions in the hopes of finding clues to the egg. 

One of these hunters, Wade, stumbles across the first clue and suddenly the game is afoot. We get to witness him form alliances and enemies as he races against corporate drones (intent on winning the contest to monetize the Oasis platform - boo hiss so evil!!), solves puzzles and plays games for the ultimate prize. It's an addicting read full of its own Easter eggs - thousands of references to 80s pop culture. Which of course I loved.

I know I mentioned complaints. I guess my heart is still a few sizes too small. Here they are: first, it's a teensy weensy ittle bittle tryhard. I didn't find the adolescent voices entirely convincing. Second, I'm not sure if it was actually a bit preachy in places. I completely stand by the book's messaging, I just found the delivery a tad hamfisted and dry. It is eerily and accurately bleak when it comes to the future of the human race, but some of that exposition came across as info dumpy. And pompous. 

I actually found myself complaining to my husband about this mid-read, while simultaneously trying to convince him to read it. It's just too much FUN. Many of my favorite movies, books, TV shows, etc. aren't PERFECT. I enjoy them to such a degree that they are affecting, and offer proper escape. This is a wonderful pageturner for readers of all ages and I'm excited to view the adaptation. 

Ready Player One on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: 1984

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 10 / 12

4 stars. Obviously it's insane that it took a challenge for me to finally read this. I absolutely loved it, and yes, it's absolutely devastating. Imperfect as it is, this novel really is relevant in terrifying ways. I have so many questions - I want to pick up even the most minor components and examine them closely.

I think we all know the premise (honestly, why am I even writing this review?), so I'll focus on a few things I noticed: first, the writing is strong. It's concise and accessible and clever. I know that some readers find the characters bland, but I didn’t at all. Regardless, I think they are tools - they don't have to be interesting to help make Orwell's point.

Second, I, like so many readers, found certain elements of the Party's methods incredibly familiar and scary. As I write this, my country's President continues to deny facts about his own past, and people believe him - or they adhere to the version of truth that suits them. Here's a quote: "If the Party could thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that event - it never happened - that, surely was more terrifying than mere torture and death."

The questions Orwell asks about surveillance, language, collective memory, propaganda and brainwashing are all eerily similar to the questions we ask ourselves today regarding social media, technology, and the media. I don't need to expand - I think we all know. We've seen it and heard it and felt it.

That being said, Orwell made the Party intelligent. He made Big Brother smart - smarter than, well, everyone else. In 1984, those in power have the means to stay in power, easily. The Party is diabolical and also totally triumphant. I don't know if, realistically, human leaders would ever be capable of exhibiting such self-awareness as O'Brien and achieve such long-term, widespread success. They're too busy tripping over their own egos.

Well, I guess we’ll see about that.

Third, I would like to read more about the character of Julia. She's so rarely mentioned in reviews and criticism (or is she? am I looking in the right places?) and she's interesting. I wonder if Orwell treats her fairly. I wonder if she's an echo of outdated views on feminism. I want more about Julia.

Undeniably this is a must-read classic (again, I don't know why I'm writing this review, or why it took me so long to get here; this is like, one of the most widely-read books ever, and I even took a class on Dystopian Literature if you can believe it). I thought it would be depressing, but it was sort of ... electrifying. It's remarkable Orwell wrote this in the 40s.

1984 on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: Station Eleven

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

5 stars. Whenever I think about this book, it gives me this ... warm, chocolatey feeling. It's rich and deep and full of little insights that compliment the sweeping themes. Highly recommend. It depicts the life and death of a famous Hollywood actor and how those who knew him - who connected with him in some way - survive (not just survive, live) after a virus kills most of humanity.

It's certainly not a traditional apocalypse novel, but how exactly is an apocalypse supposed to go?

Among the many lessons in this book, I think my favorite is this: we are ultimately in charge of our own actions and choices, but it's okay to make mistakes, because wonderful, brilliant, artistic things exist in the world, like Shakespeare and comic books and concertos.

Yes, this book is definitely a testament to the fine arts. It claims that even in a world in which humans must prioritize survival over everything else, they will still create and appreciate creativity.

It's full of extremes: the extreme darkness and extreme insanity one would expect in the midst of an apocalypse, but there is also extreme love. I had no idea where it was headed - tragedy? Romance? Tragic romance? But (just like many of Shakespeare's plays, for example), it transcended genre and offered many deep insights without leaning on cliches.

Definitely one of my favorite reads last year.

Station Eleven on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

4 stars. Off-the-cuff and unfiltered review for this, FYI: Cute. Clever. Visually stunning. Too much snark, a little too much romance, and too long - reading this felt really tedious at times. Also, unexpectedly and unnecessarily BRUTAL. Like, super deep and super savage and wow there is so much to unpack about the universe and technology and scary situations in space. Also, why can’t anybody I know write a realistic, believable teenage boy? Just curious. But it was entertaining and unique and I really, really love epistolary novels.

Let’s go deeper. Favorite character? AIDAN, by far. I wonder what that says about the living, breathing characters. I guess I would put forth that humor doesn’t necessarily give a character soul, you know? I really enjoyed the gender dynamics, and Kady is a badass heroine, but I just didn’t feel - hmm. Genuinely invested, if that makes sense. There’s also a really strange juxtaposition of hard-hitting science fiction stuff and insanely superficial melodrama. Maybe it’s a personal thing, but I just can’t go from the most intense moral quandary in the history of the universe straight to romantic miracles.

I don’t want to get carried away. I really admire the care with which this book was put together. It’s beautiful, absolutely gorgeous. It’s creative and action-packed and I will likely continue to read this story. It was an enjoyable reading experience overall and I can’t bring myself to give something that obviously took so much effort less than 4 stars. Despite my quibbles, that feels like the right rating.

Illuminae on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Jurassic Park

2019 CHALLENGE: 1 YOU HAVEN'T READ THAT YET?! PER MONTH 03 / 12

4 stars. This was so awesome. My heart is still pounding! 

I can't believe I haven't read this before, which makes it perfect for my 2019 challenge. Jurassic Park is one of my favorite movies of all time (I say that like it's weird - is there anyone who doesn't love Jurassic Park?!), but I didn't expect that reading this would lend so much interesting context and perspective to the A+ premise.

I'm not even sure what I can say about this, other than holy shit, dinosaurs are so cool. Even after personally witnessing how scary and terrible they can be, I can't promise that if I had the ability to clone/create them/bring them back from extinction, I wouldn't. I totally perceive the dangers of hubris and greed but COME ON! DINOSAURS! <- I will be the downfall of the human race.

Docking a star for some outdated stuff, including sexism, mild racism and fat-shaming, plus the preachy speeches from Dr. Malcolm (he wasn't wrong, but he was super annoying). The movie essentially corrects all of this and improves on some of the superfluous plot points. Otherwise, this is a suspenseful, scientific masterpiece. I will read this aloud to my kids. 

Jurassic Park on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: Annihilation (Southern Reach #1)

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

4 stars. Absolutely brilliant. The instant this started I didn’t want it to end. It’s so beautiful in its simplicity, in the subtle characterizations and casual unfurling of the plot. It really appealed to the part of my brain that craves a scientific way of thinking. It was also super entertaining, like an episode of The X-Files or Black Mirror or something. I loved the distance you feel from the action, which mirrors the narrator’s. I loved the way things started to feel a little … off. Yes, it’s a little slow, maybe, but I really enjoyed it.

Looking at this through a blatantly subjective lens, I think I also really appreciated Annihilation because of the narrator’s personality. At the risk of getting really personal: like this book’s protagonist, I am incredibly, severely introverted. Not only do I actively avoid interaction with others, I often … do not even see the point. I despise small talk especially - I despise any interaction without a specific purpose or direction. It stresses me out, it’s exhausting to act “in the moment” all the time, and I feel better when I can take a methodical approach to things. Like the biologist, I prefer solitude and I prefer to keep personal details to myself (except on rambling Goodreads reviews, apparently). I’m also baffled by anything overly sentimental; there’s a line in this where the narrator states that she hates the word “love.” Same, same.

Seriously. I’m lucky, I have a partner who understands and accommodates my need for independence and “separate time,” but the struggles exhibited by the main character and her husband were … extremely familiar to me.

So, as I said, from a personal perspective, the writing resonated and I was almost grateful to read about someone so like me, no matter how off-putting or unlikeable she is. Because in the end, she wins.

Yes - she learns, she accepts, she adapts. She is confronted with the impossible and almost appreciates it. It’s admirable and refreshing and her cold-blooded nature felt right. I'm not saying we should all be like her, but she is on top of her shit and maybe we could all learn from her.

This book is so creepy and interesting and different; a truly penetrating form of horror. There's a lot to be said about the other messages - the political, the environmental, the scientific, etc. I'll leave those observations to to others. The movie is sure to be very different and I look forward to the interpretation, but I can tell this book is always going to be something intimately special, to me.

Annihilation (Southern Reach #1) on: Amazon | Goodreads