February was a tough month for a lot of people, so I didn't feel bad pushing this review until March. That being said, it's okay that you didn't get around to finishing. We all had our coping mechanisms to get through the month! I went through and started reading all the books by favorite authors I hadn't gotten around to yet!
And yes, I've got the McGuire to read, and I'm working on the Rothfuss. There's just so much GOOD out there to read right now, which makes me happy. :)
When you are able to come back to this, I hope you swing back by and let me know your thoughts!
I havent read the review yet. I am currently about 1/3 of the way through the audio book.
I kinda had to miss out on most of the feb book clubs. We moved from FL to VA. I have been very busy looking for a job and have had a hard time focusing on listening to a new book (so I have been falling back on my Discworld faves) sorry. However, I do plan to continue Fledgling when I get a chance, even if it is really really creepy and gives me the skeeves... :)
FINALLY finished the book (actually, about a week and a half ago...) I kinda liked it, again, Butler excels at creating unique very human characters in unique situations...However, I kept finding myself second guessing the world building towards the end. Like how would this *really* work in the real world, etc. I think Kindred was a much stronger and more coherent piece of writing, honestly. I still look forward to the Butler books later this year in other book clubs. :)
I've heard so many stories about FLEDGLING, like that Butler wrote it on a lark (which implies she didn't put as much effort into it) and that it was meant to be the start of a series. Who knows? At any rate, I'm glad you finished. I think you'll really enjoy Lilith's Brood!
I really liked this. It was my first Butler and it just worked all over for me. I'm delighted that I'll be trying more of her work of the Women of SF Book Club and I suspect that if I like that too, I'll be buying up all her work as soon as I can afford it
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The other is that while I understand there are people who read books and see it like a movie in their heads, I'm not one of those people. I just kind of swallow it all in concept but I don't "see" it at all. I'm not a particularly visual person.
I'm the same way!
do readers feel it related more to brain damage or her psyche protecting herself?
I think it's a fair mix of both, because her brain damage heals (or at least her head injury does), you know?
1) Is this the first Octavia E. Butler book you've read? If so, how does it compare to her other work?
Nope - my first Butler read was Wild Seed, which I LOVED SO MUCH OMG! Also read (or rather, listened on audiobook to) Kindred, which was also amazing. I have to say, I didn't like this one as much, which was a little disappointing to me.
2) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different?
This, I loved. I especially liked how her version of vampires was not evil in the sense of your typical fantasy/horror forces of darkness, but instead many members of the Ina community showed more "everyday" run-of-the-mill typically human evils - racism, hubris, etc.
3) How did the writing style work for you?I was torn. On one hand, even though first person narratives are not generally my favorite, I think it was a good choice for this story. It made Shori's discoveries about herself and her people more immediate and more effective. On the other hand, I was turned off by the massive
( ... )
I think the thing with Wayne is that by time he slept with her for the first time, she'd already bitten him and the venom had gotten into his system. Maybe he was more susceptible than most to the seducing powers of the venom?
Well, since I did a review that pretty much covers things - I'll answer the questions! =D
1.) Is this the first Octavia E. Butler book you've read? Yep!
2.) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different? I thought her take was interesting. I got the feeling that she did some vampire myth digging to get some new ideas instead of just feeding off the old myths. I don't think she tried too hard - I think she used what information she had and either mixed in some of her own ideas or took concepts from other cultures and mixed those in. It didn't feel like she tried too hard. She had to get the information across to the reader in some way because how the Ina functioned related to the rest of the story in an important way. I never felt like it was heavy-handed or anything like that.
3.) How did the writing style work for you?Worked fine for me. It was mellow, but not flat. And I don't need oodles of description or fancy prose for descriptions or other things to see them or for
( ... )
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And yes, I've got the McGuire to read, and I'm working on the Rothfuss. There's just so much GOOD out there to read right now, which makes me happy. :)
When you are able to come back to this, I hope you swing back by and let me know your thoughts!
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I am currently about 1/3 of the way through the audio book.
I kinda had to miss out on most of the feb book clubs. We moved from FL to VA. I have been very busy looking for a job and have had a hard time focusing on listening to a new book (so I have been falling back on my Discworld faves) sorry. However, I do plan to continue Fledgling when I get a chance, even if it is really really creepy and gives me the skeeves... :)
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Do come back when you finish the book and let me know your thoughts!
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I kinda liked it, again, Butler excels at creating unique very human characters in unique situations...However, I kept finding myself second guessing the world building towards the end. Like how would this *really* work in the real world, etc. I think Kindred was a much stronger and more coherent piece of writing, honestly. I still look forward to the Butler books later this year in other book clubs. :)
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I'm the same way!
do readers feel it related more to brain damage or her psyche protecting herself?
I think it's a fair mix of both, because her brain damage heals (or at least her head injury does), you know?
Reply
Nope - my first Butler read was Wild Seed, which I LOVED SO MUCH OMG! Also read (or rather, listened on audiobook to) Kindred, which was also amazing. I have to say, I didn't like this one as much, which was a little disappointing to me.
2) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different?
This, I loved. I especially liked how her version of vampires was not evil in the sense of your typical fantasy/horror forces of darkness, but instead many members of the Ina community showed more "everyday" run-of-the-mill typically human evils - racism, hubris, etc.
3) How did the writing style work for you?I was torn. On one hand, even though first person narratives are not generally my favorite, I think it was a good choice for this story. It made Shori's discoveries about herself and her people more immediate and more effective. On the other hand, I was turned off by the massive ( ... )
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I think the thing with Wayne is that by time he slept with her for the first time, she'd already bitten him and the venom had gotten into his system. Maybe he was more susceptible than most to the seducing powers of the venom?
The courtroom scenes had great tension!
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1.) Is this the first Octavia E. Butler book you've read?
Yep!
2.) How did you like Butler's take on the vampire myth? Do you think she tried too hard to be different?
I thought her take was interesting. I got the feeling that she did some vampire myth digging to get some new ideas instead of just feeding off the old myths. I don't think she tried too hard - I think she used what information she had and either mixed in some of her own ideas or took concepts from other cultures and mixed those in. It didn't feel like she tried too hard. She had to get the information across to the reader in some way because how the Ina functioned related to the rest of the story in an important way. I never felt like it was heavy-handed or anything like that.
3.) How did the writing style work for you?Worked fine for me. It was mellow, but not flat. And I don't need oodles of description or fancy prose for descriptions or other things to see them or for ( ... )
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