lunabee34 | (no subject)

1. I got cards from

kaleecat!

2. My mouth is bothering me still so I'm starting some antibiotics and the dentist is going to look at it tomorrow just to be sure it's okay.

3. The floor is down except for the little trim piece that goes between the base board and the floor. It looks wonderful. Going to buy a rug today. Might even spring for new curtains. :)

4. First book of the year:

After London: Or, Wild England by Richard Jefferies

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is amazing. I can't believe it's not more widely known. I would love to watch a movie/TV series based on it. It's astonishing to me how many of the hallmarks of our apocalyptic media are already present here in this 1885 text.

Part 1 of the book explains how nature retakes England after an unspecified disaster caused by industrialization several generations ago. It also affected continental Europe and presumably the entire industrialized world. Apparently the disaster happened slowly enough that the upper classes could flee (they've never been heard from again), and so all the survivors are from the poor and lower classes. All sorts of tech and knowledge have been lost, and the human civilization that has regrown in disaster's wake is fragmented, despotic, tyrannical (slavery has been reintroduced), and lost in many ways.

Parts 2-3 follow the adventures of Felix who is an interestingly flawed protagonist. He is smarter and better than the other fellows but also petulant and whiny and quick to take offense. Half the time, Felix is being an idiot and making things worse for himself, and the other half, he's being Wesley Crusher and reversing the polarity of the shield array. No, wait, a better comparison is to Ayla. Felix is constantly inventing a new trigger for a crossbow or telling seasoned warriors how to better lay seige to a city or being mistaken for divinity by shepherds on account of his skill with the bow.

His accidental foray into the heart of London, which resembles nothing so closely as the site of a nuclear disaster, is truly chilling and a prescient ecological warning.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I am crossing my fingers that my students do, too.

View all my reviews

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Oh, DAMN, that book sounds amazing!

I haven't written up my review yet, but last week I finished The Annual Migration of Clouds, a novella set a few generations into climate disaster.

Sorry about the toothache.

Despite what a pain it's been, at least you get to enjoy the lovely new flooring.

That sounds like a really interesting book!

Yay for cards!

I'm sorry your mouth is bugging you still. Hopefully, all will be well tomorrow.

Yay for a new rug and curtains! That sounds great. I'm glad you were able to get it all fixed.

I'm sorry to hear about your family being sick. I'm sending you good vibes!

Yay for the pretty new flooring! May your dentistry/teeth come right VERY VERY SOON!

Your book review reminds me a little of M.R. Carey's Koli books, which are also set far post-apocalypse. :-)

*hugs*

Yay for new bath floor! Sorry about your tooth woe!

I can talk any night but Thursday. What's good for you?

What an interesting book! I love post-apocalypse stories. Must give it a look-see!

*sends analgesic vibes*

oooh, what an amazing sounding book!

Water damage seems to be the thing this winter. I have another friend who had a minor roof leak, and was also getting new flooring this week. I hope this is the last of your home repair troubles!

I have a copy of that! ... somewhere. I know I bought it in a secondhand shop and meant to read it, and then couldn't find it. I'll have another searcg becuase it so sounds like my sort of thing.

After London sounds interesting! I'll have to add that to the wishlist.

BTW, I did not manage cards this year, so you were not left off the list or anything -- there was no list.

Yay floor! Boo mouth!

I've been having to rinse with salt water for the past few days, but I think mine (back of mouth, wisdom teeth area) is settling down. I hope yours is something quickly resolved!