Book #02 - All the Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
All the Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders
Patricia is a witch who can talk to animals. Laurence is a technology genius. Both of them are deeply unhappy growing up and form a friendship that will accompany them through their whole lives.
This story had some really bad, harrowing chapters in the beginning. There's bullying and scary parents and siblings and teachers and classmates, and I almost stopped reading twice. I'm glad I got through it, because the book is amazing and fantastical and worth it - but the angst in the beginning was a little too much for me.
I also love the lyrical style - there are lots of descriptions that touched me, just because of the unusual way they're written. They feel almost like slice-of-life sometimes, visceral and personal, and then they're quirky and funny again, but they always made me care deeply for the protagonists.
Oh, and there's an AI. I love AIs.
* I like both Laurence and Patricia. I like both nerds and witches, so that worked out fine.
* I love how different the characters are, how differently they interact with the world, and how differently they think. That's quite a feat to write such distinctive characters, but I didn't think they were too clichéd.
* Oh man, everyone is making their lives miserable. I especially hated Patricia's sister - but I love how her view on that changed throughout the book. Her sister remains a sadist, but the parents' hand in it becomes clearer the older she gets. The same - if not quite as violently - happens with Laurence's family history, and I like that, too.
* I definitely liked how the evolution of Laurence's AI was described. At first, it was pure science, but then Patricia's magic caused its jump to sentience, and... yes!! That makes so much sense! At first I thought she was just talking to it, and that seemed a little illogical, but with added magic, I wanted to (and could) believe it.
* I knew early on that the AI had moved into the caddies, but I could believe that Laurence didn't figure it out sooner. What I didn't figure out is what it did and why, until it revealed it in the end. (But I loved it!)
* When the assassin teacher first showed up, it was almost too much for me. He's a huge threat to both of them, and they don't even realize how he's manipulating them.
* In fact, everyone's manipulating everyone in this book. The AI manipulates its users, the businessman/scientist boss manipulates his minions, the magic society manipulates its members. Most of the time even maliciously, or at least it can be read that way. That made me uncomfortable. It's a tough world.
* When the Unraveling starts, it's turning a little too dystopian for me. I mean, madrigal choirs roaming the streets, whut? Everyone dying, countries falling apart all over the world, that's harsh. (But I actually found it easier to deal with than the terrible childhoods. Hm.)
* I also didn't quite get all the birds. The only conclusion I can draw is that birds are stupid. Sucks if that's the way you're introduced to the world of magic. :) Although some of the other witches/wizards have it worse - much worse in fact. Magic is dangerous in this world, and I like that. It nicely balances out the extreme power they wield.
* Finally, the ending: I love was that the whole book was centered around love and companionship, even the AI wanted to feel less alone. I didn't expect that, but it's *exactly my thing*, and I have never seen a book acknowledge that romantic part of myself in this way before. So that was overwhelming and awesome. I pretty much loved everything about the ending. Also, the sex was good.
4 stars - Very unusual book, perfectly woven plot, would have given it 5 stars if the dystopian atmosphere wasn't quite as oppressive
1 - * stars - private novel draft
2 - 4 stars - All the Birds In The Sky by Charlie Jane Anders [DW link & LJ link]
x-posted from dw (comments:
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