Lord, Karen: Redemption in Indigo

[calico_reaction]

Comments

[phoenixfalls]

Alas, I didn't get to finish my review yet either! (I guess even a Leap Year February is just too short a month

[calico_reaction]

February IS way too short a month. I actually felt really anxious to get to this book on time, so interrupted my reading of Ascendant Sun just to read this, even though we were only in the middle of the month at the time!

but I must admit that I put the book down right before the introduction of the Indigo Lord for like three weeks, so it is entirely possible that I was just in a different mental place and imagining the abrupt tone shift.

That is a possibility. It's amazing what a difference our frame of mind can make while reading. Do you think you might try to re-read this in the future?

Holler when your review is up! I'll likely catch it, but just in case...

[ext_463379]

I loved this one, though I read it first last fall.
(My review: http://tethyanbooks.blogspot.com/2011/09/review-redemption-in-indigo-by-karen.html)

I was charmed by the oral-storyteller narrator's voice, and the general folkloric feel of the story. I also loved the humor (such as in the folktale section with Ansige), and the way the djombi were incorporated into the world. I also agree that the Trickster and the Indigo Lord were reincarnated into Paama's twins.

[calico_reaction]

The humor at the beginning with Ansige was fantastic. Sad in its own way, but fantastic.

Review added!

[calico_reaction]

And now that I'm reading the review (apologies for responding here, but I don't get notices when you respond at your blog, and would forget to check back, sadly):

She's writing an SF novel? To be published in 2013? You just made my day!

You definitely looked more into this story than I did. I had no idea that it borrowed from a "Senegalese folk tale." Is that something you recognized right away, or did you look it up?

[ext_463379]

That's the latest I've heard, at least! I saw on her blog (http://merumsal.wordpress.com/) that Del Rey is releasing "The Best of All Possible Worlds" in the US. I have no idea what it's about, but I'm looking forward to it.

I just thought the story seemed like a folktale (most specifically the part with Paama and Ansige in the beginning), so I looked up more information about it after I finished reading it. I did read a lot of those sorts of tales as a kid, but not that particular one!

[celestialgldfsh]

I enjoyed the book and found it very refreshing, but it's not a keeper for me.

http://www.librarything.com/work/9242495/reviews/82305649

[calico_reaction]

Even if it's not a keeper, I'm glad you gave the book a shot. Something different is always refreshing! Do you think you might try something else by the author in the future?

EDIT: review added!

[celestialgldfsh]

Yes, I'd read more by the author. I loved the voice throughout the novel. It was so... pleasant.

[calico_reaction]

And now that I've read the review... I never made the connection to Gaiman's Anansi Boys, so good catch! I feel like I missed the obvious now. :)

[stfg]

I have a really low tolerance for reading about characters in embarrassing situations, so it took me about three weeks to get through the beginning part with Ansige. I kept reading for five minutes and then getting to a point where I could not keep going and putting the book down.

I did like it very much though. I'd be interested in seeing what else she does. I liked Paama and liked how things worked out with Ansige at the end. I liked the nuns. The indigo lord himself was somehow not as interesting to me.

[calico_reaction]

Oh, yeah, I can see how the beginning would be really tough to swallow!

[starmetal_oak]

I came back! Here's my review: http://starmetal-oak.livejournal.com/36403.html

I liked so many things about this book, but it just didn't light any sort of fire for me.

[calico_reaction]

Thanks for the link! I'll add it to my list. I've been meaning to read your review for a while, but I've been distracted. :)