Comment on 1. The Rose Field by # PhilipPullman . Disappointing conclusion to an u
ottsatwork@mas.to 1 month ago 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. 🤌🏽
Social_Recluse2@mastodon.social 1 month ago @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!
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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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13. Echo of Worlds by #MRCarey.
Picks right up from the first book. Not as good though, but just by a little. This happens with a lot of great writers and stories: super interesting set-up, world-building, characters, etc. But where to take them and how to end is harder to pull off.
The characters from Book 1 are brought to our Earth by an AI to stop a multiversal war between the Pandominion and the Machine Hegemony. Something subtle is lost with this larger story and bigger stakes. Still, an enjoyable duology that I’d recommend. There’s a third book in this world, different time and characters, that’s in my pile now. I’m still invested.
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