A quick, great read. I really enjoy crime dramas and this one is a delicious mix of sci-fi and crime. I love North No. 2 OKAY. I'm anxious to get my hands on the next volumes.

This is an enjoyable read. Now, being a novel written in 1920-30s, there are aspects and outdated descriptions that you wouldn’t find written today. Glaring was the anti-Semitic treatment of the lawyer right at the start of the book. 

The characters are complex and flawed, which I always appreciate. Lafala is loving, angry, at times greedy, at others generous. Aslima is hopeful, strong-willed, and smart. Kenyon Farrow (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxl-oWckgwQ) described it really well in his video. This book is light and easy to digest without being fluff. It's funny at times, heartbreaking at others. I appreciate stories with an ensemble of characters and this book delivers! The narrative voice as well allows for exploration of the various characters and not just Lafala. 

There is a real sense of community with the laborers in Marseille. That isn’t to say everyone gets along. Titin hates Lafala. La Fleur is ready to fight Aslima. But these arise from Lafala’s promised fortune. You could read this focusing on the effect promised money has on everyone and how they treat others, as I did. Lafala at first is greedy as heck with his promised money, refusing to share. To see if he changes his way, you'll have to read it. 🙊

Excerpts from some pages I dog-eared: “But all were worshippers, subject creatures, making  sacrifices to it: budding flower of childhood, fruit of adolescence, honey of maturity, wine of experience, vinegar of disillusion, bitter broth of cynicism, lamentation of blasted hopes.” (page 62)

“Aslima could never escape from her record as a prostitute. If she had a song it would be a whoreson. Wherever she wen and whatever she did she was in the clutch of the social law, the police record that would trace her down to the third and fourth generation.” (page 90)
"Never was [Lafala] so happy in sweet loving. It was as if Aslima has all the time reserved a secret cell in her being and had unlocked it now for him alone to enter. And how like a rare tropical garden it was where every fruit was delicious to taste." (page 125)

If you’re looking for: Black classics, queer (side) characters, study of community

I read through book 1 and about halfway through book 2 before putting this series down. It was much too slow-paced for me. Murakami will repeat himself over and over explaining plot points or having characters discuss exposition that has already been established. I like Aomame. She's one of the only characters that kept me reading, but eventually the other characters just weigh the story down. Also Tengo and Fuka Eri... No thanks. Murakami, you can keep that.

The book's premise is interesting and unique. I will probably look up a summary because I would like to know how this all ends. Do Aomame and Tengo reunite? Is 1Q84 the permanent new reality? Questions I don't have answers to but that I don't want to keep reading to find out, unfortunately.

This book kind of reminds me of a long-running TV show where plot points are reviewed every (or every few) episode(s) in case you missed one. And where some episodes drag on, possibly as filler. But I can't have missed an episode because this is a book. And what's the purpose of filler?????? Tell me the story please. 
SPOILERS: My favorite scene in the books was Aomame discussing with the Sakigake leader about the Little People and killing him. Their conversation was fascinatingly packed with new world-building information, but that scene couldn't keep me going. That scene almost is like a peek into how the story could have been but isn't.

This book is approachable and full of important information. Oluo has written a great introduction to anti-racism work. As a White Latinx, this is essential reading and I appreciate all that I learned from this book. I find myself at times apprehensive about books that I may, for whatever reason, think I’m late to. Like, “I should have already read this book.” Instead of motivating me to read the book, I put off reading it and continue the cycle. As if there was a deadline for learning 🤷🏽‍♀️ 

Oluo is honest and uses stories from her own life to humanize the discussion and explain each topic. I read most of this in eBook form before finishing with audio while driving up to Michigan. The audiobook was really fantastic as well. I want a physical copy of this book so that I can revisit it and mark it up with notes. (This is also an argument toward getting a better eReader that can do that but soon.)

There are sections within the book that are in bulleted form, listing key ideas. These were helpful to me in organizing the information in my head. It could feel like a textbook, but that is part of the reason I’m approaching this book, to learn new information. If that makes any sense. 

if you’re looking for: introduction to anti-racism, race, strong audiobook

Por fin, leí el libro de Molano Vargas que primero me interesó. ¡Y me gustó mucho! Es buen escrito. Todo es un monólogo de Felipe. No creo que haya tenido que traducir mucho. Algunas palabras o frases. Aun así, tengo que leerlo otra para entender todo. 

Este libro refleja la vida de Molano Vargas, o quizá mejor una esperanza de lo que podría haber sido la vida de él. Escribió sobre Diego, su amor de vida. Hermosa la historia, de verdad. Los chico se enamoran y, como Molano Vargas hubiera querido, están contentos juntos a pesar de todos que los quieren separar. 

Ya quiero leer más libros queer de Colombia y las Américas latinas. Conozco Fernando Molano Vargas y solo hay que leer el tercer, Vista de una acera. Empecé con este escritor porque es colombiano. Busco historias que me pueden enseñar algo de Colombia, de la experiencia queer de las Américas latinas.

Para si quieres: historias queer, en español, amor, adolescencia, historias latinas

I loved this book! The writing in this book is beautiful. I actually had to restart the book halfway through because I couldn’t follow exactly what was happening, but with a more careful reading the second time, I was able to finish and enjoy it all. I would enjoy reading this book again. The characters are dynamic and interesting. The story is tragic and Mala, the character the story revolves around, deserved better from everyone in her life. By the end, I was crying for her.

I wish there was just a bit more on Tyler. His narration is fun and engaging, but we don’t learn too much about him. This is intentional since it’s said almost exactly in the book that the story is about Mala and not Tyler. That Tyler is only here to tell her story. Tyler, though, is interesting in his own right. Queer, male nurse with a possible love interest, like, I gotta know more.

But really, Shani Mootoo said, “Fuck it. They’re all queer.” From what I’ve heard of her work, this is not uncommon for Shani. I’m excited to read more from her. 

recommended for: multi-generational family saga, mystery, LGBTQ+ characters