#books

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reviewed Eat My Shadow by Linda Cockburn

Linda Cockburn: Eat My Shadow (Paperback, 2022, Together Press)

20 years ago the world went quiet. Father is suspended between the living world and …

Climate collapse close to home

Post-climate apocalypse in #HuonValley & #Hobart. Mostly believable (ex-PM was a caricature, and questionable lack of planning for expedition) with survivors being both humane & loving, but also merciless when called for. Unnerving to see local area in this light.

Reading time 7 days, 47 pages/day

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reviewed The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang (The Poppy War, #1)

R. F. Kuang: The Poppy War (Hardcover, 2018, Harper Voyager)

A brilliantly imaginative talent makes her exciting debut with this epic historical military fantasy, inspired …

Turns disturbingly dark without warning

A reimagining of China & Japan, with shamans & gods for interest, and war crimes & genocide for a horrifying reality check. Misleadingly begins with standard 'orphan goes to hero school' trope, but turns disturbingly dark without warning.

Reading time 6 days, 88 pages/day

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reviewed Two brothers by Ben Elton

Ben Elton: Two brothers (2012, Bantam Press)

Berlin 1920 Two babies are born. Two brothers. United and indivisible, sharing everything. Twins in …

Flat as a brick wall.

Brothers in a Jewish family strive to protect their loved ones from the increasing horrors of Nazi Germany. Boringly one-dimensional portrayal of Nazis - they're evil brutes, I get it. Distinct lack of emotional connection considering intensity of subject matter. Flat as a brick wall.

Reading time 7 days, 89 pages/day

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reviewed Cosmos by Carl Sagan

Carl Sagan: Cosmos (1980, Random House)

This book is about science in its broadest human context, how science and civilization grew …

reviewed A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine (Teixcalaan, #2)

Arkady Martine: A Desolation Called Peace (Hardcover, 2021, Tor Books)

An alien armada lurks on the edges of Teixcalaanli space. No one can communicate with …

Unclear motivations & prose

Disappointing sequel despite potential. Some dubious premises (surely a galactic empire would have first contact specialists?). Unclear motivations & prose: I rarely understood why particular choices were being made. Also an annoying inconsistency: internally, characters were flailing haplessly, but in actuality they were exceedingly competent.

Reading time 6 days, 80 pages/day

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reviewed Permanent Record by Edward Snowden

Edward Snowden: Permanent Record (Paperback, 2020, Picador)

Edward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass …

Serious gumption

I also grew up in a government town in the early days of home computers & the internet. Perhaps if I had stumbled across hacking I'd have ended up in a similar role to him, though I doubt I'd have his gumption to expose the gross overreach of the security services. Their capability was (and remains) alarming.

Reading time 9 days, 37 pages/day

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reviewed The Value of Everything by Mariana Mazzucato

Mariana Mazzucato: The Value of Everything (Paperback, 2020, PublicAffairs)

Growth should be purposeful & hopeful!

Argues that governments are co-creators of wealth and essential for a dynamic & innovative economy (duh? But neoliberals ...). Finance is a rent-seeking leech. Growth should be purposeful & hopeful! Full of sense but not engaging.

Reading time 13 days, 22 pages/day

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