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If you are looking for a good quick read that dishes out unique and funny insights, then I would absolutely have to recommend Chidera Eggerue’s [b:What a Time to Be Alone: The Slumflower's Guide to Why You Are Already Enough|38744579|What a Time to Be Alone The Slumflower's Guide to Why You Are Already Enough|Chidera Eggerue|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1525441515l/38744579._SY75_.jpg|60333776].
Admittedly, I ended up picking this book out when I heard about how Florence Given had plagiarized this material with her own book [b:Women Don't Owe You Pretty|52252715|Women Don't Owe You Pretty|Florence Given|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589047386l/52252715._SY75_.jpg|73539314], which incidentally is an actual line from What a Time to Be Alone. Everything from the content to the layout look like outright copies. Given had admitted publicly that she was “inspired” by Eggerue’s work, but having delved into the details it would seem that it was more than mere inspiration. I think we all know what it’s like to have someone unfairly take credit for your own hard work, so to see it done to someone so young and early on in their career is truly unacceptable.
So, on the content of the book itself, it was surprisingly entertaining and insightful. I’ll admit, given the editorial layout I would have assumed this was a breezy coffee table read, but Eggerue interweaves her own hard-earned life lessons with Nigerian anecdotes from her family. I myself am second generation American, so this blending of two traditions just rang as so true, and refreshing coming from her place of biting humor. It read like the kind of thing me and my friends would dish over drinks back when we were in our 20s, so strangely enough it also invoked all kinds of nostalgia for me (I suspect I may be in the minority here).
So overall, I quite enjoyed this book. It’s a great read, and I highly recommend it.
Admittedly, I ended up picking this book out when I heard about how Florence Given had plagiarized this material with her own book [b:Women Don't Owe You Pretty|52252715|Women Don't Owe You Pretty|Florence Given|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1589047386l/52252715._SY75_.jpg|73539314], which incidentally is an actual line from What a Time to Be Alone. Everything from the content to the layout look like outright copies. Given had admitted publicly that she was “inspired” by Eggerue’s work, but having delved into the details it would seem that it was more than mere inspiration. I think we all know what it’s like to have someone unfairly take credit for your own hard work, so to see it done to someone so young and early on in their career is truly unacceptable.
So, on the content of the book itself, it was surprisingly entertaining and insightful. I’ll admit, given the editorial layout I would have assumed this was a breezy coffee table read, but Eggerue interweaves her own hard-earned life lessons with Nigerian anecdotes from her family. I myself am second generation American, so this blending of two traditions just rang as so true, and refreshing coming from her place of biting humor. It read like the kind of thing me and my friends would dish over drinks back when we were in our 20s, so strangely enough it also invoked all kinds of nostalgia for me (I suspect I may be in the minority here).
So overall, I quite enjoyed this book. It’s a great read, and I highly recommend it.
So, I have been a fan of Helen Oyeyemi for a while. Her talent for taking fairytale ideas and giving them a unique modern spin is actually one of the reasons why I started to read more contemporary fiction. With [b:White is for Witching|6277227|White is for Witching|Helen Oyeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328020246l/6277227._SY75_.jpg|6460728], the end result is a bit of a mixed bag with a number of highs and lows, but otherwise it is a solid read.
The strongest element of this novel is easily its characters and use of the haunted house as antagonist. Focusing on the Silver family, we largely see events through the eyes of Miranda Silver, whose mother dies when she is young, and suffers from a pica eating disorder. Her father and twin brother Eliot do their best to support her, but trauma is hard enough when your house isn’t also trying to kill you. Miranda is a really interesting protagonist; she is fading away, but won’t fail to draw people in before doing so.
“Don’t turn to look at me. I am only tangible when you don’t look.”
As events unfold, I can say I enjoyed the style and prose, but I think I may have found a few too many loose ends to really enjoy the good as much as I would have liked. That, and tonally, this story is exceptionally bleak, perhaps too much even for my tastes. I think Oyeyemi was going for a vibe similar to [b:The Icarus Girl|139724|The Icarus Girl|Helen Oyeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320554010l/139724._SY75_.jpg|1010571], but this plot of White is for Witching simply is not as polished as this earlier work. This is also not to mention some unfortunate stereotyped tropes that take root by the novel’s end, but there is no way for me to gripe about that without getting into spoiler territory, so I will leave it at that.
Overall, there were things I liked, and others I disliked—give it a read and decide for yourself.
The strongest element of this novel is easily its characters and use of the haunted house as antagonist. Focusing on the Silver family, we largely see events through the eyes of Miranda Silver, whose mother dies when she is young, and suffers from a pica eating disorder. Her father and twin brother Eliot do their best to support her, but trauma is hard enough when your house isn’t also trying to kill you. Miranda is a really interesting protagonist; she is fading away, but won’t fail to draw people in before doing so.
“Don’t turn to look at me. I am only tangible when you don’t look.”
As events unfold, I can say I enjoyed the style and prose, but I think I may have found a few too many loose ends to really enjoy the good as much as I would have liked. That, and tonally, this story is exceptionally bleak, perhaps too much even for my tastes. I think Oyeyemi was going for a vibe similar to [b:The Icarus Girl|139724|The Icarus Girl|Helen Oyeyemi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320554010l/139724._SY75_.jpg|1010571], but this plot of White is for Witching simply is not as polished as this earlier work. This is also not to mention some unfortunate stereotyped tropes that take root by the novel’s end, but there is no way for me to gripe about that without getting into spoiler territory, so I will leave it at that.
Overall, there were things I liked, and others I disliked—give it a read and decide for yourself.
I don’t often read books from the 1600s, so Margaret Cavendish’s proto-sci-fi works collected in [b:The Blazing World and Other Writings|354620|The Blazing World and Other Writings|Margaret Cavendish|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328042370l/354620._SY75_.jpg|51879212] was a unique experience. Seeing past visions of distant futures never fails to fascinate me, for they are typically more telling of the time period in which they are written, more so than anything else.
The titular The Blazing World centers on a woman who slips into an alternate world filled with anthropomorphized animals who occupy this new utopia. All are ruled under the Empress, and with her total rule all are able to live in true harmony. This was purposely written as a hopeful future, which is quite different from most other early sci-fi authors who tended to spin more bleak fears and concerns into twisted tales.
While it is kind of cool to see a female protagonist delve into an envisioned future ruled by a matriarch, Cavendish’s love of absolute sovereign rule is more than a bit heavy-handed and in-your-face (and this is present throughout the entire body of work). After all, it is only a utopia because everyone is falling in line and following orders from someone who inherited their role. Given my own present-day, democratically-minded perspective, this story felt a more so like a bucolic horror, though I doubt that was the author’s intention.
Overall, it was definitely a unique reading experience, so if material like this sounds appealing then feel free to pick up a copy.
The titular The Blazing World centers on a woman who slips into an alternate world filled with anthropomorphized animals who occupy this new utopia. All are ruled under the Empress, and with her total rule all are able to live in true harmony. This was purposely written as a hopeful future, which is quite different from most other early sci-fi authors who tended to spin more bleak fears and concerns into twisted tales.
While it is kind of cool to see a female protagonist delve into an envisioned future ruled by a matriarch, Cavendish’s love of absolute sovereign rule is more than a bit heavy-handed and in-your-face (and this is present throughout the entire body of work). After all, it is only a utopia because everyone is falling in line and following orders from someone who inherited their role. Given my own present-day, democratically-minded perspective, this story felt a more so like a bucolic horror, though I doubt that was the author’s intention.
Overall, it was definitely a unique reading experience, so if material like this sounds appealing then feel free to pick up a copy.
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Continuing with adventures in Narnia, [b:The Horse and His Boy|84119|The Horse and His Boy (Chronicles of Narnia, #5)|C.S. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388210968l/84119._SX50_.jpg|3294501] explores the adventures of Shasta, a young boy who escapes enslavement with a talking Narnian horse named Bree. Taking place during the reign of the four Pevensies, I was at first excited to read about what else was going in the land beyond Narnia. Now, Shasta is an interesting character and I really liked his early adventures with Bree, especially after they meet Aravis. However, this promising coming-of-age tale takes some awkward hard turns as the story unravels.
The first issue would be the glaringly incorrect assumptions made about slavery, especially when it comes to depicting enslaved individuals as totally hopeless and without agency. The second, and more pronounced issue, was with the depiction of the Calormen as unfortunate Middle Eastern caricatures. Given their role as antagonists, these elements are really amped for full villainy that mostly made for lazy writing. Most damaging are how this depictions just lowered the stakes all around. Given this aspect, I cannot say I enjoyed this one much.
The first issue would be the glaringly incorrect assumptions made about slavery, especially when it comes to depicting enslaved individuals as totally hopeless and without agency. The second, and more pronounced issue, was with the depiction of the Calormen as unfortunate Middle Eastern caricatures. Given their role as antagonists, these elements are really amped for full villainy that mostly made for lazy writing. Most damaging are how this depictions just lowered the stakes all around. Given this aspect, I cannot say I enjoyed this one much.
Normally, I try to read series in order, but when I first picked up the extraordinary [b:The Left Hand of Darkness|18423|The Left Hand of Darkness (Hainish Cycle, #4)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1488213612l/18423._SY75_.jpg|817527] I did not realize that it was the fourth entry to the Hainish Cycle. So, with that in mind, I have begun to set out to finish the series, starting with the first book [b:Rocannon's World|92610|Rocannon's World (Hainish Cycle, #1)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1300039756l/92610._SY75_.jpg|1357368].
The opening prologue is likely the strongest part of this work, Semley’s Necklace, which follows a young woman’s journey to a museum on a distant planet to take back a family heirloom to her husband. The use of museum as a colonizing agent was a surprisingly nuanced touch, but the real twist is when Semley returns, she finds that space travel has meant she’s been gone “longer” from her planet than she has experienced. Now a common space trope, this early iteration was super fun and interesting.
The rest of the novel is still strong, if a bit less original in contrast. It follows an ethnologist Rocannon, who had previously met Semley, who would later travel to her planet for study. Many early space explorations read like early-stage ethnographies, but this direct approach was intriguing, and helped to frame otherwise sensational ideas in a very matter-of-fact fashion that allowed for the plot to move at a quicker pace. It is through this adventure that the concept of Mindspeech is introduced which allows for a type of telepathic communication, which makes for some interesting drama.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.
Rating: 3.5 stars
The opening prologue is likely the strongest part of this work, Semley’s Necklace, which follows a young woman’s journey to a museum on a distant planet to take back a family heirloom to her husband. The use of museum as a colonizing agent was a surprisingly nuanced touch, but the real twist is when Semley returns, she finds that space travel has meant she’s been gone “longer” from her planet than she has experienced. Now a common space trope, this early iteration was super fun and interesting.
The rest of the novel is still strong, if a bit less original in contrast. It follows an ethnologist Rocannon, who had previously met Semley, who would later travel to her planet for study. Many early space explorations read like early-stage ethnographies, but this direct approach was intriguing, and helped to frame otherwise sensational ideas in a very matter-of-fact fashion that allowed for the plot to move at a quicker pace. It is through this adventure that the concept of Mindspeech is introduced which allows for a type of telepathic communication, which makes for some interesting drama.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.
Rating: 3.5 stars
So, if you are looking for a book with a lot of detailed multiverse building, then [b:The Magician's Nephew|65605|The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6)|C.S. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1308814770l/65605._SY75_.jpg|1031537] is what does it for the The Chronicles of Narnia. The most interesting part of this one is the expansion of the character Jadis (the White Witch gets a name!), because she is a really winning villain in the greater fantasy lore as far as I am concerned. This novel is also interesting in that the Christian messaging becomes significantly stronger, especially by way of Genesis, so if that is something you would find entertaining, than I do recommend this book. And maybe an apple.
Written as an “anti-history” history book that was adapted from Ibram X. Kendi’s original [b:Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America|25898216|Stamped from the Beginning The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America|Ibram X. Kendi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440457523l/25898216._SY75_.jpg|45781103] as a more accessible account for a younger audience, Jason Reynolds does a tremendous job exploring the history of racism in the United States with [b:Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You|52220686|Stamped Racism, Antiracism, and You|Jason Reynolds|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1568739320l/52220686._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73010857].
A solid work of advocacy that touches upon a number of key points in ways not unsimilar to Howard Zinn’s [b:A People's History of the United States|2767|A People's History of the United States|Howard Zinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494279423l/2767._SY75_.jpg|2185591] or Prof. Nell Irvin Painter’s [b:The History of White People|6919721|The History of White People|Nell Irvin Painter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349005576l/6919721._SY75_.jpg|7147568], albeit this one is much shorter and more accessible. This is the kind of book I wish I could have read when I was in high school, but I am glad that it is now available to help fill in what standard history textbooks typically leave out.
“Your body goes, but your ideas don’t. Your impact lingers on, even when it’s poisonous. Some bodies get into the ground and daisies bloom. Others encourage the sprouting of weeds, weeds that work to strangle whatever’s living and growing around them.”
The concept of racism started with solidifying control of black bodies to financially fuel the most pernicious and exploitative economic system ever created—slavery. Following historic events, the book then details how control continued with Jim Crow, Reconstruction, and beyond. What makes this work so great though, is that each period includes the prominent written and artistic works of different black activists. Agency and authenticity are both at the root of these historic explorations, and are ultimately what makes it so great.
Ultimately, this was a great book and I highly recommend it if you want a quick history read that will give it to you straight.
A solid work of advocacy that touches upon a number of key points in ways not unsimilar to Howard Zinn’s [b:A People's History of the United States|2767|A People's History of the United States|Howard Zinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494279423l/2767._SY75_.jpg|2185591] or Prof. Nell Irvin Painter’s [b:The History of White People|6919721|The History of White People|Nell Irvin Painter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349005576l/6919721._SY75_.jpg|7147568], albeit this one is much shorter and more accessible. This is the kind of book I wish I could have read when I was in high school, but I am glad that it is now available to help fill in what standard history textbooks typically leave out.
“Your body goes, but your ideas don’t. Your impact lingers on, even when it’s poisonous. Some bodies get into the ground and daisies bloom. Others encourage the sprouting of weeds, weeds that work to strangle whatever’s living and growing around them.”
The concept of racism started with solidifying control of black bodies to financially fuel the most pernicious and exploitative economic system ever created—slavery. Following historic events, the book then details how control continued with Jim Crow, Reconstruction, and beyond. What makes this work so great though, is that each period includes the prominent written and artistic works of different black activists. Agency and authenticity are both at the root of these historic explorations, and are ultimately what makes it so great.
Ultimately, this was a great book and I highly recommend it if you want a quick history read that will give it to you straight.
I make no secret of the fact that I low-key love The View and all of its infamous pandemonium; I also like the concept of people with different viewpoints dissecting the headlines at one table. Considering how polarizing politics can be, I really enjoy this setup; even if I do not always agree with the direction or outcomes of conversations, I can generally appreciate that they at least happen.
And in this mix, we have my absolute favorite co-host, Sunny Hostin, a former-prosecutor turned ABC legal correspondent. She is typically the one voice of reason who will always fact-check the others and keep the conversations intellectually honest; she is essentially the legitimizing presence of the crew now that Barbara Walters is retired. She also has pet chickens, which considering everything else is just brilliant. When she came out with her book, [b:I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds|49629805|I Am These Truths A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds|Sunny Hostin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597105415l/49629805._SY75_.jpg|68659540], I couldn't not pick up a copy.
Her life growing up in different parts of Manhattan and the Bronx were incredibly relatable, especially as my own friends and family are from some of these areas. More so, her experiences growing up as a bi-racial Puerto Rican African American are incredibly relatable for anyone with hyphenated heritage. People never quite know how to categorize her, and society’s tendency to box people in as one thing is a very real nuisance.
There was one account that I found the most relatable. This was when Sunny went out for some innocent day-drinking (aka: “lunch”) with the journalist Don Lemon, The View’s executive producer Candi, and her fellow co-host Ana Navarro. Candi, a black woman, admits that she struggled to accept Sunny as a fellow black woman, and Ana, a Latina, also admits that she struggled to see Sunny as a fellow Latina. And Sunny is just sitting there trying to take it all in, but mostly just drink in peace, and it’s as hilarious as it is depressing. Only the gay and black Don Lemmon seems to be able to understand her discomfort of existing between two worlds.
Now this struck a cord, because similar incident has happened to me (and I suspect most biracial folks). Once, when I was at an English-speaking pub in Japan, my perceived racial identity actually caused a similar awkward argument. Me and a group of friends were talking about social politics, and the topic of my ethnicity somehow came up. I am a Peruvian-Italian-American and racially identify as a Latina (or a mestiza) because I simply was not treated like a “white” person, or even knew that was an identity option for me until I got to college. I would never deny my white or light skinned privilege, but I was especially determined to have my identity respected because I had just flown to Peru a couple months prior for my abuelo’s funeral (which is not a fun trip from Japan; those 48 hours of travel were the most brutal of my entire life).
Now unlike Sunny, my one friend of color kept insisting I was Latina, and my white friends kept insisting I was white. A part of me wanted to be flattered that at least they were each somewhat trying to include me in their own perceived racial in-groups, but mostly I just remember being so annoyed no one would actually listen to me. It was so ridiculous; I left to get a drink at the bar, came back to our table ten minutes later, and they were still arguing about "what" I was. So, when Sunny vents about her frustration about this type of absurdity, and never really feeling like she belongs, I cannot help but shout, “Amen!” In her own words:
“Still, when I encounter such sentiments from blacks and Latinos alike, even from friends, I feel odd. I believe people with mixed ancestry are the embodiment of the American dream, reflecting the tapestry that has enriched this country. My mingled bloodlines should make boundaries and borders disappear. But too often my very existence makes people uncomfortable… What do you do when your authentic self is dissected and debated by others who want to deny the dualities that have always made up this country?”
Sunny also does not shy away from how her lighter skin has allotted her privileges that she would not have had otherwise. Colorism is an interesting exploration, especially from her perspective. She is ever aware of social boundaries and power structures, so even though I would not characterize her as a “leftist” as the media likes to think, Sunny’s legal analyses are always rooted in this fundamental life outlook, and as a result, on The View panel she offers some truly nuanced, occasionally progressive, views.
One of my favorite segments she covered on The View was on the college admission bribery scandal that hit in 2019. Wealthy parents had paid thousands to have their children admitted to prestigious universities, and people were understandably pissed off. Sunny famously asked, “How mediocre do you have to be to game a system that is already disproportionately in your favor?” That really annoyed the conservative panelists with famous fathers, but rang so true to so many from working class backgrounds.
Overall, my only complaint about this book would be that each of her accounts do feel a bit overly curated at times, but I still feel a genuine openness shines through. There is a lot that was interesting about her time working in the media, and plenty of “tea” for anyone interested in that sort of material. Overall, this was a fun read, and I definitely recommend it if you are a fan.
And in this mix, we have my absolute favorite co-host, Sunny Hostin, a former-prosecutor turned ABC legal correspondent. She is typically the one voice of reason who will always fact-check the others and keep the conversations intellectually honest; she is essentially the legitimizing presence of the crew now that Barbara Walters is retired. She also has pet chickens, which considering everything else is just brilliant. When she came out with her book, [b:I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds|49629805|I Am These Truths A Memoir of Identity, Justice, and Living Between Worlds|Sunny Hostin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597105415l/49629805._SY75_.jpg|68659540], I couldn't not pick up a copy.
Her life growing up in different parts of Manhattan and the Bronx were incredibly relatable, especially as my own friends and family are from some of these areas. More so, her experiences growing up as a bi-racial Puerto Rican African American are incredibly relatable for anyone with hyphenated heritage. People never quite know how to categorize her, and society’s tendency to box people in as one thing is a very real nuisance.
There was one account that I found the most relatable. This was when Sunny went out for some innocent day-drinking (aka: “lunch”) with the journalist Don Lemon, The View’s executive producer Candi, and her fellow co-host Ana Navarro. Candi, a black woman, admits that she struggled to accept Sunny as a fellow black woman, and Ana, a Latina, also admits that she struggled to see Sunny as a fellow Latina. And Sunny is just sitting there trying to take it all in, but mostly just drink in peace, and it’s as hilarious as it is depressing. Only the gay and black Don Lemmon seems to be able to understand her discomfort of existing between two worlds.
Now this struck a cord, because similar incident has happened to me (and I suspect most biracial folks). Once, when I was at an English-speaking pub in Japan, my perceived racial identity actually caused a similar awkward argument. Me and a group of friends were talking about social politics, and the topic of my ethnicity somehow came up. I am a Peruvian-Italian-American and racially identify as a Latina (or a mestiza) because I simply was not treated like a “white” person, or even knew that was an identity option for me until I got to college. I would never deny my white or light skinned privilege, but I was especially determined to have my identity respected because I had just flown to Peru a couple months prior for my abuelo’s funeral (which is not a fun trip from Japan; those 48 hours of travel were the most brutal of my entire life).
Now unlike Sunny, my one friend of color kept insisting I was Latina, and my white friends kept insisting I was white. A part of me wanted to be flattered that at least they were each somewhat trying to include me in their own perceived racial in-groups, but mostly I just remember being so annoyed no one would actually listen to me. It was so ridiculous; I left to get a drink at the bar, came back to our table ten minutes later, and they were still arguing about "what" I was. So, when Sunny vents about her frustration about this type of absurdity, and never really feeling like she belongs, I cannot help but shout, “Amen!” In her own words:
“Still, when I encounter such sentiments from blacks and Latinos alike, even from friends, I feel odd. I believe people with mixed ancestry are the embodiment of the American dream, reflecting the tapestry that has enriched this country. My mingled bloodlines should make boundaries and borders disappear. But too often my very existence makes people uncomfortable… What do you do when your authentic self is dissected and debated by others who want to deny the dualities that have always made up this country?”
Sunny also does not shy away from how her lighter skin has allotted her privileges that she would not have had otherwise. Colorism is an interesting exploration, especially from her perspective. She is ever aware of social boundaries and power structures, so even though I would not characterize her as a “leftist” as the media likes to think, Sunny’s legal analyses are always rooted in this fundamental life outlook, and as a result, on The View panel she offers some truly nuanced, occasionally progressive, views.
One of my favorite segments she covered on The View was on the college admission bribery scandal that hit in 2019. Wealthy parents had paid thousands to have their children admitted to prestigious universities, and people were understandably pissed off. Sunny famously asked, “How mediocre do you have to be to game a system that is already disproportionately in your favor?” That really annoyed the conservative panelists with famous fathers, but rang so true to so many from working class backgrounds.
Overall, my only complaint about this book would be that each of her accounts do feel a bit overly curated at times, but I still feel a genuine openness shines through. There is a lot that was interesting about her time working in the media, and plenty of “tea” for anyone interested in that sort of material. Overall, this was a fun read, and I definitely recommend it if you are a fan.
Compared to Le Guin’s other work, include other volumes within the Hannish Cycle, I found [b:Planet of Exile|201882|Planet of Exile (Hainish Cycle, #2)|Ursula K. Le Guin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1334148719l/201882._SY75_.jpg|1642607] to be a bit underwhelming. One of the most fascinating prospects of future space travel, is that the human species could potentially diverge in evolution, depending on where we traveled and settled. New environments give shape to new species when you look at deep history, after all. While this premise should make for interesting drama, I just felt like this story never really took off. There were components of Le Guin’s ethnographic style that were good, but otherwise I know she can do way better.
Rating: 2.5 stars
Rating: 2.5 stars
The final entry to The Chronicles of Narnia, [b:The Last Battle|84369|The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7)|C.S. Lewis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1308814830l/84369._SY75_.jpg|1059917] is a fairly satisfying ending that brings back a number of the essential key characters. I feel with each successive novel in this series, C.S. Lewis makes it increasingly obvious that this series is a Biblical allegory, and he really does go all out with this one. I found this premise interesting as it informed meaning-making throughout the series, and while I am not religious, I could not help but be intrigued. Overall, this one is super good fun, and I can now more-or-less recommend the entire series as solid fantasy escapism.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Rating: 3.5 stars