*waves*
Hey folks! Been a busy week for me. We had a big snowstorm last weekend that dumped over a foot of snow on (40cm) and then superstrong winds that blew it all around and made a mess. That didn't stop us from going to our work Christmas dinner though. I didn't eat alllll the things and had to work afterward, but it was a nice night. It's snowing and blowing out there again today, so I'm glad that I can stay home and cozy in my PJs today and tomorrow.
Been writing, been reading, been trying to work hard. Now it's lunch time, but here's my latest book reviews. :)
Books 6 and 7
06. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
In a world that is devastated by regular earthquakes and volcanic activity, an orogene - a class of human that can use the Earth's natural forces to quell tremors or draw upon its power to cause them - deliberately rips a crack in the Earth and precipitates a "season" of fire and ash that will last centuries.
It's quite possibly humankind's extinction event, and it occurs within the first ten pages of this gripping novel. The book then follows the story of three women during three different timelines in this world. Damaya is a young girl whose parents discover that she is an orogene. Not even recognized as human, orogenes are hated and feared; her parents call upon a 'Guardian' to take her away. She is sent to the Fulcrum, where she is trained to use her powers. At a different place in the timeline, Syenite is a young adult orogene who is forced by the Fulcrum to travel with (and conceive a child by) Alabaster, the most powerful orogene on record. While on their journey, Syenite begins to verbalize her anger at the injustices incurred by orogenes, and learns some unsettling truths about the Fulcrum. And then there's Essun, whose story begins just as the world has been ripped apart. She is traveling through the falling ash seeking her daughter.
This is truly a stunning work. Just the skill that it takes to handle not two timelines but three and maintain excellent pacing throughout kind of blew me away. Sometimes in books with multiple POVs and settings for each, there will be one character that you are simply not as interested in and whose section you are eager to get through so you can get back to the people you like the most. Ms. Jemison has managed to keep every storyline equally interesting, and ties them together in ways that certainly surprised me.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is that Essun's sections are written in 2nd person, which I found a little jarring compared to the rest of the story. Otherwise, two giant thumbs up.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 06 - Dual Timeline (actually triple, but lets not be picky)
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 04 - Book That Should Be Turned Into a Movie
512 pages.
07. A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron
Lucas is a kind-hearted soul who adopts a stray puppy. The fact that he can't have animals in his apartment is a problem, though, and they've had a run-in with an arrogant dogcatcher, so he trains Bella to "Go Home" and lay at a certain spot by the door whenever she is told to do so. But when he puts Bella briefly into a foster home, she escapes. Thus begins her two hundred mile (plus!) journey to be reunited with her human.
The story has a bit of a slow start, with the human dialogue from Bella's POV sounding a bit clunky. But once I was a few chapters in those issues smoothed out and I was again captivated by the unusual POV of a sweet, open little dog who just wanted to Go Home… but also wanted to comfort those she met on her travels. The book also touches on returned soldiers struggling to deal with PTSD, drug issues, and homelessness. One moment I also really loved was that Lucas's mom is portrayed as a strong, independent woman. She doesn't need no man - or dog! - to save her!
3.5/5 starts
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 50 - Includes a Journey
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 39 - Revolves around a puzzle or game ("Go Home" is a game to Bella)
337 pages.
Books Read: 7/80
Goodreads Book Challenges Met: 7/7
Popsugar Book Challenges Met: 7/7
Total Pages Read: 2628
Hope everyone is set for a great weekend!
.
Been writing, been reading, been trying to work hard. Now it's lunch time, but here's my latest book reviews. :)
Books 6 and 7
06. The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemison
In a world that is devastated by regular earthquakes and volcanic activity, an orogene - a class of human that can use the Earth's natural forces to quell tremors or draw upon its power to cause them - deliberately rips a crack in the Earth and precipitates a "season" of fire and ash that will last centuries.
It's quite possibly humankind's extinction event, and it occurs within the first ten pages of this gripping novel. The book then follows the story of three women during three different timelines in this world. Damaya is a young girl whose parents discover that she is an orogene. Not even recognized as human, orogenes are hated and feared; her parents call upon a 'Guardian' to take her away. She is sent to the Fulcrum, where she is trained to use her powers. At a different place in the timeline, Syenite is a young adult orogene who is forced by the Fulcrum to travel with (and conceive a child by) Alabaster, the most powerful orogene on record. While on their journey, Syenite begins to verbalize her anger at the injustices incurred by orogenes, and learns some unsettling truths about the Fulcrum. And then there's Essun, whose story begins just as the world has been ripped apart. She is traveling through the falling ash seeking her daughter.
This is truly a stunning work. Just the skill that it takes to handle not two timelines but three and maintain excellent pacing throughout kind of blew me away. Sometimes in books with multiple POVs and settings for each, there will be one character that you are simply not as interested in and whose section you are eager to get through so you can get back to the people you like the most. Ms. Jemison has managed to keep every storyline equally interesting, and ties them together in ways that certainly surprised me.
The only thing that keeps me from giving this five stars is that Essun's sections are written in 2nd person, which I found a little jarring compared to the rest of the story. Otherwise, two giant thumbs up.
4.5/5 stars
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 06 - Dual Timeline (actually triple, but lets not be picky)
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 04 - Book That Should Be Turned Into a Movie
512 pages.
07. A Dog's Way Home by W. Bruce Cameron
Lucas is a kind-hearted soul who adopts a stray puppy. The fact that he can't have animals in his apartment is a problem, though, and they've had a run-in with an arrogant dogcatcher, so he trains Bella to "Go Home" and lay at a certain spot by the door whenever she is told to do so. But when he puts Bella briefly into a foster home, she escapes. Thus begins her two hundred mile (plus!) journey to be reunited with her human.
The story has a bit of a slow start, with the human dialogue from Bella's POV sounding a bit clunky. But once I was a few chapters in those issues smoothed out and I was again captivated by the unusual POV of a sweet, open little dog who just wanted to Go Home… but also wanted to comfort those she met on her travels. The book also touches on returned soldiers struggling to deal with PTSD, drug issues, and homelessness. One moment I also really loved was that Lucas's mom is portrayed as a strong, independent woman. She doesn't need no man - or dog! - to save her!
3.5/5 starts
Meets the criteria for Goodreads Book Challenge 50 - Includes a Journey
Meets the criteria for Popsugar Book Challenge 39 - Revolves around a puzzle or game ("Go Home" is a game to Bella)
337 pages.
Books Read: 7/80
Goodreads Book Challenges Met: 7/7
Popsugar Book Challenges Met: 7/7
Total Pages Read: 2628
Hope everyone is set for a great weekend!
.