Recent reading

[lunabee34]

Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this. Although I do wish I had a better understanding of some of the aspects of the novel's world building, I really appreciate that the novel just drops a reader into the world without explaining exactly what's going on, letting the reader figure out most of the action through context.

I really enjoy the protagonist, Cheris, who is thrust into a fish-out-water situation. I also enjoy Jedao, the protagonist/antagonist, whose horrific actions hundreds of years ago are a mystery that Cheris needs to solve. I get shades of Ian Tregillis in the servitors, a sentient robot class that is largely overlooked by humans and that sticks with humans for its own as yet unstated agenda. I love the beautiful descriptions; gorgeous language abounds.

And Yoon Ha Lee sticks the ending. Wow. Very much ready to see what happens next.




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Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Well, at least that only took an hour and twenty minutes to read.




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The Medea of Euripides by Gilbert Murray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is not the edition I read, but I did read the translation by Murray with his excellent notes on the text.

I gave this three stars, not because of the quality of the play, but because I can't find any enjoyment in a story about a mother murdering her children. I wouldn't have read the play at all if I didn't have to teach it this semester.

I find Medea sympathetic up to a point. I think Jason treats her poorly, and I think her anger at him is justified. However, I can't sympathize with her murdering her own children, and I also have to wonder about all the horrific deeds she committed in the past. She intimates that she didn't really want to commit them, that she recoiled "in agony" from killing Pelias and her brother, that her extreme love for Jason compelled her to do so. But IDK. Meethinks that when your first recourse to getting out of trouble and redressing wrongs is always violent murder that maybe you are the problem.



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Comments

[zulu]

Violent murder: the cause of, and solution to, all life's problems!

[lunabee34]

Indeed! LOL

[mercybuckets]

I finally read the sequel to Ninefox Gambit, Raven Strategem about a month ago after being on the library waitlist for what felt like forever and it totally lived up to my very high expectations.

[lunabee34]

I'm so glad to hear that! Sometimes it can be hard for an author to keep up the momentum of a first book, so I'm glad it lives up to expectations.

[rydra_wong]

Just here to second the Yoon Ha Lee love. As well as Raven Strategem, he's also got a short story collection out, and kills at that length too.

[lunabee34]

Ha! I was just over in your journal reccing Ninefox Gambit. LOL

I love short stories; I will definitely be checking that out.

[independence1776]

I saw Ninefox Gambit at the library yesterday and decided to wait. Guess I should have picked it up instead.

[lunabee34]

I really liked it.

If the Goodsreads reviews are any indications, I think it's one of those you hate it or love it kinda books. Some people really appreciate being dumped into the world and not given much exposition to explain it, and other people really hate that and feel confused.