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Similarly to when your favorite TV show ends, or when you finished the last Harry Potter book, or after you graduate, I sat back and sighed when I turned the last page of "Uprooted" because the moment was over.
Naomi Novik has written a well-crafted novel that manages to have both excellent writing expertise and passionate style. Its been a long time since I read for three hours straight, but that's the kind of novel "Uprooted" is. Novik's words flow, as if she wrote the whole novel in one setting. I loved Agnieszka (pronounced ag-NYESH-kah), the main character, with her dirty hems and tangled hair, and even her name itself was so jarring and messy when I tried to pronounce it. I loved the Wood and Novik's telling that a non-corporeal body can be the greatest enemy. Just like hatred and spite and malice and complacency, the Wood represents all our greatest fears turned wrong. The conflict between Agnieszka and the Wood is a timeless one, interpreted by Novik in a unique and wonderful way. With its vivid descriptions and almost cinematic visuals, its not like any other book that I've read this year.
A magical, shining adventure full of heart. Recommended if you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings, folk tale fantasy, and books that you just can't put down.
Naomi Novik has written a well-crafted novel that manages to have both excellent writing expertise and passionate style. Its been a long time since I read for three hours straight, but that's the kind of novel "Uprooted" is. Novik's words flow, as if she wrote the whole novel in one setting. I loved Agnieszka (pronounced ag-NYESH-kah), the main character, with her dirty hems and tangled hair, and even her name itself was so jarring and messy when I tried to pronounce it. I loved the Wood and Novik's telling that a non-corporeal body can be the greatest enemy. Just like hatred and spite and malice and complacency, the Wood represents all our greatest fears turned wrong. The conflict between Agnieszka and the Wood is a timeless one, interpreted by Novik in a unique and wonderful way. With its vivid descriptions and almost cinematic visuals, its not like any other book that I've read this year.
... it seemed exactly the twisted sort of thing the Wood would do, turning love into a weapon. (page 173)
I could see light shining through my own skin, making a blazing lantern of my body, and when I held up my hands, I saw to my horror faint shadows moving there beneath the service... I was shining like a sun, the thin shadows moving through me like fish swimming beneath the ice in winter. (page 110)
I should have been spent. But magic was still alive and shivering in my belly, too much of it with nowhere to go, as if I were an over-ripe tomato that wanted to burst its skin for relief, and there was an army outside our doors. (page 350)
A magical, shining adventure full of heart. Recommended if you enjoyed The Lord of the Rings, folk tale fantasy, and books that you just can't put down.
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After reading Uprooted, I had high expectations for the Temeraire series. I had enjoyed Novik's imaginative and folksy style, but His Majesty's Dragon is quite different; Novik's writing has clearly evolved. Laurence, this book's hero, is a bit stilted, pompous, and one-dimensional. He and Temeraire fawn over each other, and their relationship seemed a little too, well, fake. I know from past reviews that these things bothered readers. I viewed it as evidence of Novik's growth as a writer. Especially battle scenes, which I feel are very difficult to write with the popularity of action films, captivated my imagination. Dragons as fighting aircraft? Awesome.
Recommended if you like alternate history timelines, if you want to stretch your imagination a little, if you loved How to Train Your Dragon, and if you wish your pets could talk to you.
Recommended if you like alternate history timelines, if you want to stretch your imagination a little, if you loved How to Train Your Dragon, and if you wish your pets could talk to you.
Quote:
"I should rather have you than a heap of gold, even if it were very comfortable to sleep on." - Temeraire, page 54
Fascinating take on famous personalities and mental illnesses and issues. The author maintains a fine line between all-out speculation and facts documented through letters and biographies. Learning about these famous people and their possible mental disorders didn't turn me off at all; it was inspiring to think what they accomplished despite them.
3.5 stars.
This book was crazy. And yet.. oddly compelling, so much that I read it in one day. Its labeled a fantasy, but TLAMC won't conform to such labels. Its superhuman, twisted, end-of-the-world. Its animalistic, graphic, psychotic, and spiritual. You know when something is so disturbing, yet you can't tear your eyes away? Well if that appeals to you, read this book.
I give it 3.5 stars because the writing gets amateurish after 150 pages. Spoilers to follow.Carolyn can just call the president and make demands? Too easy. The violent and just weird sex scenes didn't add much, I didn't think. David is so fast he can spear Carolyn without her seeing? Whoa. All the knowledge of the universe is contained in a pyramidal structure in 17 dimensions? Oh boy. Yet I enjoyed the set-up, Carolyn's memories, Ervin's background, and the portraits of people who the Father perverted (those maggots, anyone? Or David's tutu and blood helmet???) The book raises some existential questions about the universe and God - not blatantly, but in the last chapters, after a final fight scene. And this is just silly, but I enjoyed Hawkins obvious love for animals, especially dogs.
Recommended if you're up for a weird, wild journey, some gory fight scenes (one with lions), some psychotic but sympathetic characters (poor Michael), and one possible explanation for the universe going crazy.
This book was crazy. And yet.. oddly compelling, so much that I read it in one day. Its labeled a fantasy, but TLAMC won't conform to such labels. Its superhuman, twisted, end-of-the-world. Its animalistic, graphic, psychotic, and spiritual. You know when something is so disturbing, yet you can't tear your eyes away? Well if that appeals to you, read this book.
I give it 3.5 stars because the writing gets amateurish after 150 pages. Spoilers to follow.
Recommended if you're up for a weird, wild journey, some gory fight scenes (one with lions), some psychotic but sympathetic characters (poor Michael), and one possible explanation for the universe going crazy.
Quotes:
"Can you think of any reason I shouldn't grab one of those kitchen knives and stab you in the f****** neck?"
Carolyn pursed her lips, considering. "You might get blood on the cinnamon rolls." (Carolyn and Steve, page 130)
Something in the tableau - he never quite settled on exactly what - put him in mind of Dresden, turning to face the pack of dogs, how every muscle of the lion's anatomy stood out in taut relief, the mute vehicles of his titanic and furious will. (Steve, page 265)
I think I first heard of Anne Helen Petersen from a podcast, Stuff Mom Never Told You, formerly hosted by Cristen and Caroline (one of the first podcasts I ever listened to). I’ve always been interested in how society views women, especially powerful women who speak up. AHP offers an interesting take on all of these women, and I enjoyed that she chose women who are very present in pop culture right now.
These are the eleven women profiled (in chapter order): Serena Williams, Melissa McCarthy, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer from Broad City, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Hillary Clinton, Caitlyn Jenner, Jennifer Weiner, and Lena Dunham.
I’d heard of all these women, watched them, read their work. I had conflicting opinions on them, and while reading, I found myself examining my own ideas about women.
In chapter one, “Too Strong,” Serena Williams is profiled as acting “like a man” while playing tennis, threatening the idea of what manliness is.
In chapter five “Too Old” on Madonna, AHP talks about the idea of age vs. physical capacity; in other words, that your ability to work should define your value, not your age. While Madonna is certainly defying her age from a traditional standpoint, and she is working just as hard as ever, she seems to be trying too hard to bring back the younger version of herself. I think that Cher has observed Madonna from the sidelines and staged her own comeback, learning from Madonna’s mistakes in this area.
In chapter 7 “Too Shrill,” I questioned my ideas about women in power - and what ideas do I really have, when the United States has never had a female president?
In chapter 10 “Too Naked” AHP brings up the idea of naked vs nudity, nudity being the ideal and naked being the ugly and uncomfortable. Nude is preferred, of course, but I do believe that we are naked in our most intimate moments, figuratively and literally. I came away with a new respect for Dunham’s comfort level to be as vulnerable as she can possibly be in front of the camera.
The book is really a canvas for women who look like themselves, who refuse to be defined by men, by gender norms, by their body type, or by anyone’s expectations. I think these women all reveal a little something about the ways society views women. They are all polarizing, and their unruly behaviors are precisely what drives conversation.
These are the eleven women profiled (in chapter order): Serena Williams, Melissa McCarthy, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer from Broad City, Nicki Minaj, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Hillary Clinton, Caitlyn Jenner, Jennifer Weiner, and Lena Dunham.
I’d heard of all these women, watched them, read their work. I had conflicting opinions on them, and while reading, I found myself examining my own ideas about women.
In chapter one, “Too Strong,” Serena Williams is profiled as acting “like a man” while playing tennis, threatening the idea of what manliness is.
In chapter five “Too Old” on Madonna, AHP talks about the idea of age vs. physical capacity; in other words, that your ability to work should define your value, not your age. While Madonna is certainly defying her age from a traditional standpoint, and she is working just as hard as ever, she seems to be trying too hard to bring back the younger version of herself. I think that Cher has observed Madonna from the sidelines and staged her own comeback, learning from Madonna’s mistakes in this area.
In chapter 7 “Too Shrill,” I questioned my ideas about women in power - and what ideas do I really have, when the United States has never had a female president?
In chapter 10 “Too Naked” AHP brings up the idea of naked vs nudity, nudity being the ideal and naked being the ugly and uncomfortable. Nude is preferred, of course, but I do believe that we are naked in our most intimate moments, figuratively and literally. I came away with a new respect for Dunham’s comfort level to be as vulnerable as she can possibly be in front of the camera.
The book is really a canvas for women who look like themselves, who refuse to be defined by men, by gender norms, by their body type, or by anyone’s expectations. I think these women all reveal a little something about the ways society views women. They are all polarizing, and their unruly behaviors are precisely what drives conversation.
