This book was amazing. I love that the author writes books that she wishes she would've had available while she was growing up. It brings me profound joy to see somebody who escaped the confines of evangelicalism, and even better when that person's success yields books that are as delightful as this one.
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Rainer reviewed One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston
From the New York Times bestselling author of Red, White & Royal Blue comes a …
Loved It
5 stars
Content warning Spoilers ahead
Rainer reviewed Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when …
Such an original and captivating storyline
5 stars
What a book. I was drawn in by the horrifying scenario that Dana found herself trapped in, but the examination of how slavery was so normalized, and how evil the institution of chattel slavery was.
I happened to have been in the middle of this book when a conspiracy theorist, racist member of my extended family brought up how whites are unfairly blamed for slavery. It made me realize that while the practice of owning people as slaves is gone, the same anti-black philosophy is still thriving among white men.
The idea that my family member or his ilk would tacitly endorse the return of slavery is slim, but, in finding themselves in Kevin's shoes might think similarly that "Hey, this isn't as bad as I thought it would be..."
Rainer reviewed A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
Won the 2020 Hugo for Best Novel. Ambassador Mahit Dzmare is posted far from her …
Empire and poetry
4 stars
This was a very unique and original story. The author did some really cool things with language that I really appreciated.
I love books that are critical of empire, and this book certainly falls into that camp.
I think perhaps the reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I'm an empathic reader and tend to absorb the mindset of the main characters of the book...Mahit (aka the main character in this book) spends a significant majority of this book feeling stranded, confused, and totally in the dark about what's actually going on. I think that was reflected also in my experience of the book. Perhaps that should be counted as a positive for the book rather than a negative, but...
Rainer reviewed Firekeeper's Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Debut author Angeline Boulley crafts a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must …
Tense and unpredictable, great character development
5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I appreciated its representation of indigenous themes, characters, and settings. Readers should be aware though that there are scenes of murder/death and sexual violence in this book and one of the main themes is the destructive power of drug addiction. If you are able to handle that, then I think you will really enjoy this book.
Rainer reviewed Parenting Forward by Cindy Wang Brandt
A progressive Christian parenting book with a social-justice orientation
How do we build a better …
Don't Be a Shitty and Abusive Evangelical Parent
5 stars
As a Christian, I have so much trouble finding cultural artifacts that are instructive in any way. Most "Christian" books are just cultural tools and propaganda for Team Fash in the culture wars.
This book was really helpful in clarifying ways to be a parent in a way that respects children and raises them to love social justice and mercy.
Reading this book was very encouraging and instructive.
Rainer reviewed A Half-Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys
On a warm March night in 2083, Judy Wallach-Stevens wakes to a warning of unknown …
Really wonderful speculative fiction
5 stars
Wow this story blew me away. The future that the author paints and the way that the dandelion networks operate is really a true work of art. I loved the characters, the themes, and the perspective of this book. It gave me a spike in my already-elevated levels of climate anxiety right in time for the Inflation Reduction Act to get passed, so it coincidentally made that win much sweeter (even though that bill isn't perfect).
Giving the book 4.5 stars instead ofb5 because I felt a bit of a disconnect between my reading style and the authors writing style that made it difficult to comprehend some sentences on a first read. Nothing too difficult, just a bit of a disconnect where I had to read sentences a few times and it knocked me out of the reading flow.
This book is really beautiful because it does what we need …
Wow this story blew me away. The future that the author paints and the way that the dandelion networks operate is really a true work of art. I loved the characters, the themes, and the perspective of this book. It gave me a spike in my already-elevated levels of climate anxiety right in time for the Inflation Reduction Act to get passed, so it coincidentally made that win much sweeter (even though that bill isn't perfect).
Giving the book 4.5 stars instead ofb5 because I felt a bit of a disconnect between my reading style and the authors writing style that made it difficult to comprehend some sentences on a first read. Nothing too difficult, just a bit of a disconnect where I had to read sentences a few times and it knocked me out of the reading flow.
This book is really beautiful because it does what we need speculative cli-fi to do - it imagines a future world in ways that inspire hope and action. Particularly as an IT person who works with a conservation science org, this book shifted the way I see both digital networks and also conservation work.
Very well worth reading.
Rainer reviewed A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
It's been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; …
Another masterpiece from Becky Chambers
5 stars
My god, this was a delightful book. The only bad thing about this book is that now I really want to be a tea monk who travels around on a tiny home ebike. Everything else was splendid and fantastic.
Rainer reviewed A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
Once, Lovelace had eyes and ears everywhere. She was a ship's artificial intelligence system - …
This is how I expect all sci-fi to be written now
5 stars
Becky Chambers' approach to sci-fi has ruined me. No longer will I accept grungy and dystopian worlds that don't have redeeming character arcs filled with friendship, love, and care. This book is just so good.