Flash Reviews: Aguirre, Lord, Traviss

[calico_reaction]

So I've made a decision: for flash reviews, regardless of the order in which I read the books listed, I'll always put the Star Wars title last, if there is one. Reason being, there's a very small number of you interested in those reviews, and I got the impression last week that by leading with an SW review, many of you just skipped over the entry

Comments

[phoenixfalls]

I read Lord's book recently, reviewed it here: http://phoenixreads.livejournal.com/7307.html

Like you, I was totally swept up in it, delighted by the way it subverted a lot of traditional SF narratives, though I was ultimately a little disappointed in how conventional it was at its core (the romance). The cover was totally white-washed though, and that was DEEPLY disappointing to me.

[calico_reaction]

I'll have to read your review now that I'm caught up!

I didn't mind that it ended up being a romance. And romance, really, is the wrong word to use, because that instantly brings to mind expectations and tropes that aren't evident here. That's why I said love story. :)

And yeah, the cover... you'd think publishers would be more careful these days, especially if the author in question is a person of color. I bet the trade paperback will be fixed. :-/

[phoenixfalls]

I don't have any issues with it being a romance -- I just thought it was handled really conservatively. I *did* think there were a lot of traditional romance tropes in evidence, and I thought they weakened the book a bit overall. The fact that the only possible family structure they were considering to rebuild their society was heterosexual marriage aimed at producing children irritated me, because it erased queer sexualities and eliminated personal choice. Which would have been fine -- if Lord had *addressed* those issues. But she didn't, instead providing a very traditional happily-ever-after.

[calico_reaction]

Question, since we're mostly addressing this topic at your review: would you have preferred that Grace ended up with someone else, or do you wish that the someone she DID end up with (whose name I won't say because I can't spell it and it's a spoiler anyway) was a different gender? Or did you want Grace to experiment with differing sexualities before settling on the conventional heterosexual norm?

[tezmilleroz]

I really liked the first two Corine novels, but then series jumped the shark. Will still check out AGAVE KISS, though I'm not enthused anymore.

[calico_reaction]

You did read Devil's Punch, right? If not, you definitely need to read that first. But if you have, you may be surprised by how the series ends up, considering what happened. :)

[tezmilleroz]

I skim-read it (ie read all the dialogue).

[calico_reaction]

I was pleasantly surprised by the ending Aguirre managed. It's worth giving it a shot, just to see how Aguirre does it. :)

[temporaryworlds]

I really need to read Karen Lord's The Best of All Possible Worlds. I quite enjoyed Redemption in Indigo and this looks like a very different read from her.

Gah! Way too many books for me to read lately.

[calico_reaction]

Better start reading it! :)

[blythe025]

I love the flash reviews. It's a great way to do it.

Personally, I recommend putting the reviews in order of your rating, with your favorite at the top and your least favorite farther down the list (which seems to be how it worked out this time).

[calico_reaction]

I vaguely considered that last night. I really want to keep SW at the bottom though, regardless of rating: so few people care. And when I'm alternating new-old-SW in my reading, it makes sense, to me, to have the new buy on top, because that'll usually but not always indicate a new release. :)

[blythe025]

Ah, well that has great logic to it, too. :)

[calico_reaction]

It could change at any time... :)

And thanks for your support of the new format! People really seem to be digging it, in that I haven't gotten any complaints yet... :)

[thebluerose]

Im good with the Star Wars at the bottom as I have no interest in those at all :)

Your Aguirre review is extremely relevant to my interests right now as I have finally done a catchup on my TBR pile and read the first three, and was wondering if I should get the last two on Kindle. I find the problem with her books is there is no HEA for Corinne, every book is a big drama to be dealt with and then she has to put her life back togther from the pieces that are left. I struggled with the first couple because they left me feeling so depressed on reading them!

I think I will see if the Lord in is my library :)

[calico_reaction]

Regarding Aguirre, you'll be pleasantly surprised by time you get to the end. HEA seems impossible, but you'll be pleased by the very end, I promise. :)