Comment on 1. The Rose Field by # PhilipPullman . Disappointing conclusion to an u
ottsatwork@mas.to 2 weeks ago 8. The Immortal King Rao by #VauhiniVara.
A first novel from a WSJ tech reporter that’s reminiscent of themes in Ray Nayler’s work: algorithmic governance, a climate-ravaged world, transferred sentience. Three stories/timeframes intertwine: King growing up as a Dalit on a coconut plantation in India, igniting the Coconut computer revolution in Seattle, and later on Bainbridge Island with his daughter living among anarchists.
You may prefer certain timelines over the others, but I liked them all. Though I was most confused with the present on Bainbridge, which unfortunately, was where most of the meaning is made. Vara tells a good story but the ending feels like she didn’t know how to wrap it all up. Still, Athena’s eventual understanding of her father is complex and real.
9. Heated Rivalry by #RachelReid.
Watched the TV show first and it’s remarkable how much of the dialogue and scenes are taken directly from the book with little to mostly no change. Of course, we get more interiority with both characters: their confusion, excitement, and separate resolutions that it has to stop.
I’ve watched/read an embarrassing number of interviews and deconstructions of the TV show and it’s a credit to both Reid and Jacob Tierney that they were able to craft something so satisfying in their respective mediums. “I’m coming to the cottage!”
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10. Infinity Gate by #MRCarey.
Fascinating premise of a multiverse that’s limited to planet Earth: endless variations overlaid in the same space. Some are rich in resources, others dead, and on and on. Instead of apes, other species attain dominance on other Earths: rabbits, hedgehogs, cats. But this is all background to a compelling story of three main characters from three different worlds and the key roles they play in a multiversal war: Hadiz Tambuwal, a Nigerian physicist; Essien Nkanika, a sex worker (among other things); and Paz, a rabbit girl.
Carey does an excellent job of telling a complex sci-fi story that’s easy to grasp and follow. Part one of a duology, I really enjoyed this.
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11. “Game Changer” by #RachelReid.
Well, Miss Reid got me. I’m reading the rest of these damn books, up until The Long Game (Book Six) when Season 2 of “Heated Rivalry” picks up Shane and Ilya’s story again.
This went on too long. Maybe the TV show compressing it down to one episode biased me. And Reid’s formula/limitations as a straight woman writing gay, male dynamics can be traced from the very beginning here all throughout this series.
But I can’t fault it for setting up Shane and Ilya’s big moment in Book 2/S1E5. 🤌🏽
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12. Gaysians by #MikeCurato.
Set in Seattle, with lots of recognizable bars, clubs, and landmarks, around the time I moved here. The new arrival in this ensemble is also Filipino (as is Curato). So, the weight of sisterhood, shame, judginess, and gratitude was strong for me. Nothing like community to hold you AND hold you back (IYKYK).
The self-styled Boy Luck Club friend group is comprised of Filipino, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean characters. A little bit too Captain Planet for me, but OK! I have been part of groups like this (see what I mean about being judgy?).
Things happen that are both uncomfortably close to home (racism in the gay community) and more didactic: “This is what it’s like to be multiply marginalized.” For what audience? The non-Asian ones that I worry about feed my judginess, but I really do feel this is for us. The weight of representation. A complicated read for me but I’m glad it exists.
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@ottsatwork @bookstodon this was also her “debut” novel and I reviewed an ARC back then. It did give her practice for HR, which I 5 starred along with book 3 . 4 and 5 didn’t quite live up to my expectations but were overall good. Happy reading!