David Bremner rated The Salt Roads: 5 stars
The Salt Roads by Nalo Hopkinson
- The Salt Roads was published in Warner hardcover (0-446-53302-5) in 11/03 and received rave reviews.
- Nalo Hopkinson made her debut …
Another @jdnicoll@wandering.shop review
Reviews and Comments
computer scientist, mathematician, photographer, human. Debian Developer, Notmuch Maintainer, scuba diver
Much of my "reading" these days is actually audiobooks while walking.
FediMain: bremner@mathstodon.xyz
bremner@bookwyrm.social is also me. Trying a smaller instance to see if the delays are less maddening.
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David Bremner wants to read The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das
Ru is a boy from nowhere. Though he lives somewhere—the city of Calcutta—his classmates in …
David Bremner wants to read Shorefall by Robert Jackson Bennett
As a magical revolution remakes a city, an ancient evil is awakened in a brilliant …
Based on a review of the sequel by @jdnicoll@wandering.shop
David Bremner commented on The found and the lost by Ursula K. Le Guin
[This book] represents the first time that all of Le Guin novellas have been collected …
Content warning Mild spoiler about ending of one novella
Just finished "Fisherman of the Inland Sea". Why Ursula you old softie, I did not expect romantic redemption from you. Usually when UKLG characters make selfish / shortsighted decisions, that's it, deal with it.
David Bremner commented on The found and the lost by Ursula K. Le Guin
[This book] represents the first time that all of Le Guin novellas have been collected …
The novella "Hernes" is enough to make this collection worthwhile. Also the voice acting by Alyssa Bresnahan is excellent in this audiobook version.
David Bremner wants to read Light in Gaza by Jehad Abusalim
Imagining the future of Gaza beyond the cruelties of occupation and Apartheid, Light in Gaza …
Currently free to download from Haymarket books.
David Bremner reviewed Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Philip Gabriel
Seven students find unusual common ground in this warm, puzzle-like Japanese bestseller laced with gentle …
Comforting relatable fable about growing up
5 stars
There is a lot of the setting which is specific to Japan. The epilogue mentions some disturbing statistics about the mental health of Japanese middle school children, but there is also the tourist's pleasure of glimpsing bits of Japanese culture and geography half remembered from a previous visit.
The characters on the other hand are somehow universal underneath an exotic (to an outsider) interest in forms of address. The author does a great job of capturing the anxieties and traumas of not just the extreme cases, but the everyday challenges of growing up as the anxious and unpopular kid.
The plot is immanently spoilable, so I won't say much, except that there is a definite puzzle book here as well.
The book should probably come with a full suite of content warnings for (sensitive treatment of) child sexual assault, child death, and family member death. So although I can believe …
There is a lot of the setting which is specific to Japan. The epilogue mentions some disturbing statistics about the mental health of Japanese middle school children, but there is also the tourist's pleasure of glimpsing bits of Japanese culture and geography half remembered from a previous visit.
The characters on the other hand are somehow universal underneath an exotic (to an outsider) interest in forms of address. The author does a great job of capturing the anxieties and traumas of not just the extreme cases, but the everyday challenges of growing up as the anxious and unpopular kid.
The plot is immanently spoilable, so I won't say much, except that there is a definite puzzle book here as well.
The book should probably come with a full suite of content warnings for (sensitive treatment of) child sexual assault, child death, and family member death. So although I can believe the claim that people find the book healing (it is ultimately very hopeful), the reader should know they are in for things and stuff before that healing arrives.
David Bremner wants to read The Book of Disappearance by Sinan Antoon
David Bremner commented on Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Philip Gabriel
Seven students find unusual common ground in this warm, puzzle-like Japanese bestseller laced with gentle …
Socially anxious kids, represent!
David Bremner wants to read Whispers from the cotton tree root by Nalo Hopkinson
Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root: Caribbean Fabulist Fiction is an anthology of speculative fiction …
recommended by @nadinestorying@zirk.us
David Bremner wants to read The Martian in the Wood by Stephen Baxter
In the aftermath of the First Martian War, in the interim between it and what …
Not sure about the longer book, but maybe this would help me decide.
David Bremner commented on Master of Samar by Melissa Scott
Long form review, which I have not read yet: locusmag.com/2023/09/liz-bourke-reviews-the-master-of-samar-by-melissa-scott
EDIT: read the review, and it sounds intriguing, although the "mystery" aspect doesn't come through as strongly as my previous impression: more political intrigue than police procedural.
David Bremner wants to read Warped State by Jo Miles
Warped State (2023, Jo Miles)
David Bremner reviewed Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
A god will return When the earth and sky converge Under the black sun
In …
interesting worldbuilding, narrative structure, but definitely 1/3
4 stars
The Mesoamerican (?) world is interesting, and the explicit use of timestamps on each chapter (including foreshadowing, jumping back and forth) is somewhat unique, but the book definitely leaves the reader with that "Ooops I started a trilogy" feeling.
David Bremner commented on The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
A magical island. A dangerous task. A burning secret.
Linus Baker leads a quiet, solitary …
On sale for CAD3.00 DRM Free various places (including ebooks.com and amazon)