Takes everything I hate about the superhero genre and turns it inside-out without being dull or preachy. Fun yet satisfying, with excellent sensory deTakes everything I hate about the superhero genre and turns it inside-out without being dull or preachy. Fun yet satisfying, with excellent sensory descriptions!...more
This feels like exactly the book for 2020—like, what if Hogwarts except SUPER EVIL?? There are unpleasant surprises hiding everywhere, and horrible grThis feels like exactly the book for 2020—like, what if Hogwarts except SUPER EVIL?? There are unpleasant surprises hiding everywhere, and horrible gross monsters waiting to kill you around every corner. Oh and let’s look at class and privilege a little more closely. But also it’s funny and human and full of enjoyable magical details! It hasn’t even been published yet and I’m already mad that I can’t read the sequel till next year....more
I listened to this audiobook like it was my JOB. I generally don’t like novels with agendas but this had so much fun with its agenda that I didn’t eveI listened to this audiobook like it was my JOB. I generally don’t like novels with agendas but this had so much fun with its agenda that I didn’t even mind. Full of Neal Stephenson-style digressions and crunchy techy details, but also characters that feel like actual humans! Not to mention that several of the main characters are middle-aged women who are fucking awesome at their jobs. Need I say more. ...more
hahaha wow this is such a weird story! But also just the kind of thing I like. I mean who wouldn't want to set up a little house in an old boxcar in thahaha wow this is such a weird story! But also just the kind of thing I like. I mean who wouldn't want to set up a little house in an old boxcar in the woods and eat delicious food and play in the creek. In closing, I have two words: CHERRY. DUMPLINGS....more
Oh man, this series is just, it has everything I like! Like lots of little fiddly details about how you do magic, and people working together to solveOh man, this series is just, it has everything I like! Like lots of little fiddly details about how you do magic, and people working together to solve a problem, and taking something that's almost completely destroyed and putting it back together, and lots of things. Plus a heist. And the bit about the whales. On the other hand,the ending...well, I'm not exactly sure what I wanted the ending to be, but that wasn't quite it....more
So very enjoyable. Like imagine if Game of Thrones was written by Agatha Christie. Sort of. Plus elves? I think if I'd read this when I was younger I So very enjoyable. Like imagine if Game of Thrones was written by Agatha Christie. Sort of. Plus elves? I think if I'd read this when I was younger I would have read it over and over again, but these days the knowledge of my own mortality keeps me from doing that quite so much.
Anyway, I would love to have lots of sequels where Maia goes along having small triumphs and reforming things and making new friends. Perhaps he would discover a favorite pastry, or reorganize a factory, or have an affair with his bodyguard (completely with his arranged-marriage wife's permission of course).
Also, if you are sort of turned off by the whole goblin/elf thing (I was) --don't worry, it's not a big deal at all, just a few mentions of ears here and there....more
So, one of my favorite scenes in a movie, ever, is in Apollo 13 where the NASA guys are like, "okay boys, we have to make this air filter thing fit inSo, one of my favorite scenes in a movie, ever, is in Apollo 13 where the NASA guys are like, "okay boys, we have to make this air filter thing fit into that other air filter thing, using only this stuff here". This is basically an entire book of that. Maybe the writing could be a little more artful, or the characters a little (or a lot) more fleshed out, but it was AWESOME. ...more
This is still such a fun book, but the audio version is a little harder to love. For one thing, the reader is kiiind of annoying, although probably anThis is still such a fun book, but the audio version is a little harder to love. For one thing, the reader is kiiind of annoying, although probably anyone would be annoying after 34 hours of them talking to you in funny voices. Also, there's no way to skim through the dull parts, so 3 entire discs of The World's Longest Quantum Theory Dinner Party...well, that happened.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed getting deeper into all the made-up language stuff. I know a lot of people really find that irritating in this book, but I think Stephenson is only approx. 45% serious about it. It's kind of cute....more
Never liked the movie all that much but this book is fab. It's so enjoyable being in Rose's head as she discovers the joy of finding something she's gNever liked the movie all that much but this book is fab. It's so enjoyable being in Rose's head as she discovers the joy of finding something she's good at. It almost makes me want to go whitewater rafting. Sort of. Aaaand, what about that ending?! It certainly was an ending, all right. Sort of. ...more
So much good here!! Total pageturner, with awesome characters (Jahns!) and lots of my favorite things like Post-Apocalypse and People Trapped TogetherSo much good here!! Total pageturner, with awesome characters (Jahns!) and lots of my favorite things like Post-Apocalypse and People Trapped Together and People who Fix Things and so much more!
The writing's a little...bald...but you can ignore that because the story is pulling you along like a charging rhinoceros on a leash....more
So, here's the premise: a chef gets kidnapped by a lady pirate. If you haven't already opened a new tab to request this book from the library, we areSo, here's the premise: a chef gets kidnapped by a lady pirate. If you haven't already opened a new tab to request this book from the library, we are very different people.
In a way, this was the sort of book I hoped Delicious! would be--lots of rapturous descriptions of food (but not in a gross way), enjoyably cliche stock characters, over-the-top plot twists, and a little bit of romance to tie everything together. Just somehow in this one, it all worked....more
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