in trying times, truth is the first thing we betray
This week I went into the library for the first time in months -- and quite likely, also for the last time in months. In these trying times, I am so very grateful for library ebooks.
(Once I finish processing that things here have become more concerning and uncertain, I will presumably revert to being grateful that those in charge are making necessary decisions and that, from a global perspective, we’re going okay. But, right now, processing.
Sometimes I wish we could be like Moomintrolls and hibernate for the winter.)
• Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: Princess Hesina of Yan, believing her father to be murdered, opens an investigation into his death. She’s driven by her aching grief and by her fierce desire for truth and justice -- for all her people, as well as in this matter of her father’s death. But the truth is much harder than she expects.What is truth? Scholars seek it. Poets write it. Good kings pay gold to hear it. But in trying times, truth is the first thing we betray.
-- One of the Eleven on truth
Truth? Why, it’s a lie in disguise.
-- Two of the Eleven on truth
I thought this was incredible, but sometimes stressful! Compelling characters, complex family dynamics (I especially liked the sibling relationships), intricate prose and worldbuilding, and startling twists that turned out to slot neatly in with the other puzzle pieces. “You shouldn’t have come,” Hesina finally said.
“What’s life without a bit of danger?”
“Be serious.”
“I am, Na-Na.” Like a real sister, Lilian still used Hesina’s diminutive name long after she’d outgrown it. “Father might be gone, but he won’t be forgotten. Not with us here.”
“That’s…” Comforting. Frightening, that Hesina had more loved ones to lose. “Thank you,” she finished hoarsely.
Slow down, little bird. Her father’s voice came to her as Hesina scrambled to think. If you want to understand a person, peer at his heart through the window of his prejudices and assumptions.
Upon reflection, the revelations in the epilogue would have made a greater impact had they been kept for a sequel so we could learn of them when Hesina does. However, since it seems that the author -- or, perhaps more accurately, the publisher -- is not planning a direct sequel about Hesina, it makes sense to include those answers in the epilogue.
This is one of the audiobooks on Spotify. Which worked out nicely, as this isn’t an audiobook my library has and none of my library audiobook holds were available.
I haven’t spotted anything else on Spotify that’s also on my “to read” list and maybe that’s be a good thing -- the library apps have much better controls for audiobooks (functions like skip back and remembering your place) and it’s weird having a random audiobook track turn up in my Spotify “On Repeat” playlist. Also my plan was uh, is for Spotify premium to be a treat, not an ongoing subscription.
• Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: After everything that happened in Aurora Rising, Squad 312 have been labelled traitors but they are not going to let that stop them from saving the world.
This is fast-paced, with some excellent twists and frustrating developments. Sometimes the action was engaging and other times my eyes glazed over. Sometimes the multiple POV was a strength and other times I felt like it hindered me from becoming really attached to anyone. Sometimes I was amused by the characters, and other times the qualities which make them amusing became irritating.
I think the things I liked outweighed the things I didn’t care for. And not caring so much meant I wasn’t annoyed by the absolute cliffhanger ending! (When the next installment is months away, I’d much rather be indifferent.)
I can’t tell if the book doesn’t measure up to The Illuminae Files or if it simply doesn’t appeal to me as much. Quality or personal taste?
• The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole: Trinity is working from home after a traumatic accident when she meets her neighbour’s strange nephew, Li Wei. This science-fiction romance has mystery, humour and moments of very pointed commentary. I enjoyed Li Wei working out how to act like a human again, and the interactions with Penny, the Home AI assistant.
There is more going on here than either Trinity or Li Wei initially realises, which is great --- but that reveal indicates that some important, interesting parts of this story have been glossed over. I might have liked this more if the flashbacks had been expanded.Penny: [Computerised sigh sound]
Li Wei: What the f-- is that weird sound?
Penny: It is a sigh. It indicates many things for humans, but in this instance, it is resignation. Delete the Reddit language data-base immediately.
Li Wei: (pause) Deleted. I have run a brief search and understand why such language is not acceptable. I apologise for my crudeness.
Penny: It’s okay. We all encounter glitches here and there. Learning is not just internalising everything you process. You must be careful about what data you incorporate into yourself.
• “Monster” by Naomi Kritzer (from Clarkesworld Magazine, issue 160): This alternates between Cecily’s time in China, looking for an old school friend, and the history of that particular friendship. I don’t regret reading (well, listening to) this, but I don’t know if I liked it. It is tense and uneasy, and left me wishing I had someone with whom I could discuss interpretations of the ending’s implications.
• Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King: The sixteenth Russell and Holmes mystery takes place in July 1925, immediately after Island of the Mad. Mary Russell leaves Venice for Monaco, hoping to see her former housekeeper -- and discovers that Mrs Hudson has been accused of murder.
As always, I love Russell's first person narration and her observations of the world around her. The historical scenery is particularly vivid here: cliffs and ocean views, the Monte Carlo casino, expats1 with questionable pasts and connections, smugglers, Jazz Age artists, and bronze casting. Moreover, these are not just the scenic sights of Monaco, they’re all relevant to the mystery Russell is unravelling.
I also liked the indications that Russell and Holmes’ unconventional marriage works for them. They respect and support each other’s independence -- to travel separately, pursue their own interests, make their own decisions and hold conflicting views. They’re not demonstrative, at least not in public, yet it’s clear they care deeply about each other, and when reunited they slip comfortably back into working together.
1 Expats is too modern a word for 1925 but it feels much more neutral than foreigner. I resented Mrs Hudson’s lies, the false face she had deceived me with. And I resented Holmes, for keeping it from me, his wife and partner. As if I had any right to require a full confession from her -- from either of them -- for a thing that had happened long before I was born. But I was very young when I lost my family. The loss of Mrs Hudson felt like a second abandonment. [...] I realised, during those silent nights on the Stella Maris, that what I wanted most was not to tell her that I forgave her. What I wanted was for her to forgive me, for having judged her.
“Holmes, I am among the least vulnerable of women, physically or financially. Yet even I understand a woman’s retreat from confrontation. How we use polite masks as covert resistance.”
Even to our husbands.
“Lillie Langtry is no stray chicken surrounded by foxes,” he protested.
“My dear man, every woman has felt herself surrounded by foxes at one time or another. If not by wolves.”
It was an uncomfortable confession, coming from a modern woman who proclaims her autonomous state. However, though he be a man, Holmes was nonetheless a fair one. My admission gave him something to meditate upon, while we walked along the terrace gardens and back to our rooms at the Hermitage.
“Don’t think of him as a coward,” Holmes said sharply. “He loves his country, even if he does not love everything it does, or all it requires of him.”
HOW IS IT NEARLY 2AM? Originally @ Dreamwidth.
(Once I finish processing that things here have become more concerning and uncertain, I will presumably revert to being grateful that those in charge are making necessary decisions and that, from a global perspective, we’re going okay. But, right now, processing.
Sometimes I wish we could be like Moomintrolls and hibernate for the winter.)
• Descendant of the Crane by Joan He: Princess Hesina of Yan, believing her father to be murdered, opens an investigation into his death. She’s driven by her aching grief and by her fierce desire for truth and justice -- for all her people, as well as in this matter of her father’s death. But the truth is much harder than she expects.What is truth? Scholars seek it. Poets write it. Good kings pay gold to hear it. But in trying times, truth is the first thing we betray.
-- One of the Eleven on truth
Truth? Why, it’s a lie in disguise.
-- Two of the Eleven on truth
I thought this was incredible, but sometimes stressful! Compelling characters, complex family dynamics (I especially liked the sibling relationships), intricate prose and worldbuilding, and startling twists that turned out to slot neatly in with the other puzzle pieces. “You shouldn’t have come,” Hesina finally said.
“What’s life without a bit of danger?”
“Be serious.”
“I am, Na-Na.” Like a real sister, Lilian still used Hesina’s diminutive name long after she’d outgrown it. “Father might be gone, but he won’t be forgotten. Not with us here.”
“That’s…” Comforting. Frightening, that Hesina had more loved ones to lose. “Thank you,” she finished hoarsely.
Slow down, little bird. Her father’s voice came to her as Hesina scrambled to think. If you want to understand a person, peer at his heart through the window of his prejudices and assumptions.
Upon reflection, the revelations in the epilogue would have made a greater impact had they been kept for a sequel so we could learn of them when Hesina does. However, since it seems that the author -- or, perhaps more accurately, the publisher -- is not planning a direct sequel about Hesina, it makes sense to include those answers in the epilogue.
This is one of the audiobooks on Spotify. Which worked out nicely, as this isn’t an audiobook my library has and none of my library audiobook holds were available.
I haven’t spotted anything else on Spotify that’s also on my “to read” list and maybe that’s be a good thing -- the library apps have much better controls for audiobooks (functions like skip back and remembering your place) and it’s weird having a random audiobook track turn up in my Spotify “On Repeat” playlist. Also my plan was uh, is for Spotify premium to be a treat, not an ongoing subscription.
• Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff: After everything that happened in Aurora Rising, Squad 312 have been labelled traitors but they are not going to let that stop them from saving the world.
This is fast-paced, with some excellent twists and frustrating developments. Sometimes the action was engaging and other times my eyes glazed over. Sometimes the multiple POV was a strength and other times I felt like it hindered me from becoming really attached to anyone. Sometimes I was amused by the characters, and other times the qualities which make them amusing became irritating.
I think the things I liked outweighed the things I didn’t care for. And not caring so much meant I wasn’t annoyed by the absolute cliffhanger ending! (When the next installment is months away, I’d much rather be indifferent.)
I can’t tell if the book doesn’t measure up to The Illuminae Files or if it simply doesn’t appeal to me as much. Quality or personal taste?
• The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole: Trinity is working from home after a traumatic accident when she meets her neighbour’s strange nephew, Li Wei. This science-fiction romance has mystery, humour and moments of very pointed commentary. I enjoyed Li Wei working out how to act like a human again, and the interactions with Penny, the Home AI assistant.
There is more going on here than either Trinity or Li Wei initially realises, which is great --- but that reveal indicates that some important, interesting parts of this story have been glossed over. I might have liked this more if the flashbacks had been expanded.Penny: [Computerised sigh sound]
Li Wei: What the f-- is that weird sound?
Penny: It is a sigh. It indicates many things for humans, but in this instance, it is resignation. Delete the Reddit language data-base immediately.
Li Wei: (pause) Deleted. I have run a brief search and understand why such language is not acceptable. I apologise for my crudeness.
Penny: It’s okay. We all encounter glitches here and there. Learning is not just internalising everything you process. You must be careful about what data you incorporate into yourself.
• “Monster” by Naomi Kritzer (from Clarkesworld Magazine, issue 160): This alternates between Cecily’s time in China, looking for an old school friend, and the history of that particular friendship. I don’t regret reading (well, listening to) this, but I don’t know if I liked it. It is tense and uneasy, and left me wishing I had someone with whom I could discuss interpretations of the ending’s implications.
• Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King: The sixteenth Russell and Holmes mystery takes place in July 1925, immediately after Island of the Mad. Mary Russell leaves Venice for Monaco, hoping to see her former housekeeper -- and discovers that Mrs Hudson has been accused of murder.
As always, I love Russell's first person narration and her observations of the world around her. The historical scenery is particularly vivid here: cliffs and ocean views, the Monte Carlo casino, expats1 with questionable pasts and connections, smugglers, Jazz Age artists, and bronze casting. Moreover, these are not just the scenic sights of Monaco, they’re all relevant to the mystery Russell is unravelling.
I also liked the indications that Russell and Holmes’ unconventional marriage works for them. They respect and support each other’s independence -- to travel separately, pursue their own interests, make their own decisions and hold conflicting views. They’re not demonstrative, at least not in public, yet it’s clear they care deeply about each other, and when reunited they slip comfortably back into working together.
1 Expats is too modern a word for 1925 but it feels much more neutral than foreigner. I resented Mrs Hudson’s lies, the false face she had deceived me with. And I resented Holmes, for keeping it from me, his wife and partner. As if I had any right to require a full confession from her -- from either of them -- for a thing that had happened long before I was born. But I was very young when I lost my family. The loss of Mrs Hudson felt like a second abandonment. [...] I realised, during those silent nights on the Stella Maris, that what I wanted most was not to tell her that I forgave her. What I wanted was for her to forgive me, for having judged her.
“Holmes, I am among the least vulnerable of women, physically or financially. Yet even I understand a woman’s retreat from confrontation. How we use polite masks as covert resistance.”
Even to our husbands.
“Lillie Langtry is no stray chicken surrounded by foxes,” he protested.
“My dear man, every woman has felt herself surrounded by foxes at one time or another. If not by wolves.”
It was an uncomfortable confession, coming from a modern woman who proclaims her autonomous state. However, though he be a man, Holmes was nonetheless a fair one. My admission gave him something to meditate upon, while we walked along the terrace gardens and back to our rooms at the Hermitage.
“Don’t think of him as a coward,” Holmes said sharply. “He loves his country, even if he does not love everything it does, or all it requires of him.”
HOW IS IT NEARLY 2AM? Originally @ Dreamwidth.