I never learned how to write a proper book review but I made a blog to do exactly that anyway. This is a side blog, so I'm sorry if I don't follow you!
Yes, I finally finished the second book of the Jericho series, after a long hiatus from reading. I definitely don't regret picking this book up to kickstart my back-to-reading journey. It's a good series.
The first book in this series, Jericho, was kind of like a feel-good almost too good to be true story. It was just a beautiful little slice of life bit, if your life is about getting a divorce, moving to a small community, and falling in love with the beautiful local doctor.
With Aftermath, Ann McMan introduced the harder parts of life, the challenges and the problems and the complications. But it was still funny and sweet. The thing I love about it is everything just works out in the end, and that's that about that. With the way things are going in real life, I thought that this kind of happy ending is just a breath of fresh air, you know? Besides, I'm not a big fan of sad endings. So this book was a good choice.
I'm already about a tenth into the third book, and I'm loving it so far. I also just found out that Ann McMan released a fourth book earlier this year! Love that for me.
“The truth was I was tired way underneath my skin. I was tired where even I couldn’t see. I do not know how that happened. How I ended up like that. It all happened so fast.”
— Rebecca Wells, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Only You Can Save Mankind (Johnny Maxwell, #1) by Terry Pratchett
Rating: 8/10.
I read this book as a re-introduction to reading, because I haven't read anything in ages and I was afraid if I read something heavy I'd just give up and never read ever again (nah, I love reading too much to quit).
It's pretty nice. It's got that Pratchett humor and Pratchett charm (like, weird interesting things--fun interesting things). It's a quick read, since it's meant for kids, but it's got some useful lessons too. Still applicable to this day, I'm sure. Would recommend this to children ages 8-14.
He wondered what kind of life it would be, having to keep swimming all the time to stay exactly in the same place. Pretty similar to his own, he decided.
Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)
A friend recommended this book to me and, honestly, I’m glad they did. I’m pretty sure this is the first lesbian novel I’ve ever read (didn’t know where to find them when I was younger) and it. is. so. good!
Reading this book made me feel all giddy like I was watching one of my favorite lesbian TV shows. There’s humor in it, too, so you can be sure to laugh at least once. It’s a feel-good story for the gays (there are conflicts and stuff but overall I think it’s still a feel-good story).
I missed the characters the moment I finished the book, so you can probably imagine how happy I was to know this wasn’t a one-off. Looking forward to read the next one!
Lord of Chaos (Wheel of Time, #6) by Robert Jordan
Warning: This “review” contains major spoilers and major rant. If you’re queer, feel free to read on, I want to know what you think. If you’re straight, read at your own risk.
Rating: 8.9/10
I have way too many things to say. But let’s start off with
Nynaeve and Elayne
I mean, is there anything else to say other than they’re fucking awesome? I loved these two in the previous book, with Tanchico and Moghedien, with Birgitte and Logain. I loved every part of it.
And now, with Elayne having figured out how to make an a’dam and sul’dam, and Nynaeve having Healed Suian and Leane, I love them even more. Nynaeve remains to be my favorite character in this series so far. She's unbelievably strong but she's also stupidly stubborn and she acts so childish all the time. She's so afraid of everything. There's so many things I want to change about her and yet it feels proper that she stays exactly the way she is (at least for now). I can’t wait for her to finally get rid of her block (if ever).
And yes, I headcanon her as queer, because who gets flustered around women like that all the time? Queer women, that’s who. (Also because I just think Birgitte and Nynaeve have great chemistry, especially after Birgitte decided she’d tease Nynaeve every chance she gets after the events from the last book.)
I think the only reason I don’t like Elayne as well as I do Nynaeve is because she thinks about Rand all the time. I mean, I know Nynaeve thinks about Lan, too, but I could make more sense of that because they did spend some time together, from the Two Rivers all the way to Tar Valon. But with Elayne and Rand, it’s a bit more frustrating because I really don’t remember any moment between the two that coded as romantic. Rand and Aviendha made more sense, and after reading this book, Rand and Min as well.
Anyway, I also see Elayne as queer, mainly because of Aviendha (and sometimes Birgitte, but I acknowledge that it was mentioned in the book that Elayne is like a little sister to Birgitte; it sucks, thank you very much).
Elayne and Nynaeve is my favorite duo.
Alanna and Rand
I’m not gonna lie, I chortled a little when I got to the moment where Alanna bonded Rand. But now that I know that that was considered rape (and it does make sense for it to be considered rape), I feel sort of bad. I guess rape really is a power thing more than a sex thing.
I actually kind of want to see an apology from Alanna now, even though I don’t really sympathize with Rand at all about anything ever. And while my first reaction to the bonding was well Alanna’s going to die soon I guess, towards the end I was more like I hope Alanna apologizes and maybe Rand can be her Warder for a long time. But then I guess Elayne wants Rand as her Warder still.
Morgase
I had high expectations for Morgase in the previous book, so I guess I was kind of disappointed to see how it went with her plan. It would be interesting to see how things go from here.
That’s really all I have to say about her, but I still gave her a special section to indicate that I really, really expected more from this story line. I’m looking forward to see Morgase’s queen qualities.
Egwene
I’m so proud of Egwene for some reason. She really came out of that Wise Ones training stronger and braver than ever. I guess her progress wasn’t as noticeable until she was actually around non-Aiel people again.
I was kind of worried about Egwene being Amyrlin, because I thought she’d be used more like a puppet more than anything, but I underestimated her. I mean, I guess Suian could still use her as a puppet, seeing as Suian still wants some power but she’s currently a lot weaker than she was before being stilled, but I’m just... so, so proud of Egwene.
(As I was reading this book, I actually thought Nynaeve would be Amyrlin someday. I could honestly see Nynaeve as a younger, less mature version of Suian. They both have bad temper, and Suian can be really stubborn as well.)
But also, can we talk about that Amyrlin Seat ritual? Like with the Aes Sedai showing their boobs as proof that they’re women? I mean, sounds pretty transphobic to me, but then I guess trans people do not exist in this book (I thought Aran’gar/Halima could be trans, but it’s equally as likely that Aran’gar is really just a man using saidin to disguise as a woman). The whole ordeal still seems pretty yikes though. I did not like it one bit. I hope they don’t put that on the show. They honestly could do without it.
Perrin and Faile
Perrin was my first favorite character from this book. I just think it’s cool that he can talk to wolves. And the whole Two Rivers against Trollocs thing was awesome too. He did fall flat in this book though. He’s almost always talking about Faile, which I get, because I also love women, but it’s super tiring after a while.
As for Faile, I didn’t expect her to be so... Perrin-crazy. When she was first introduced in the story, I kind of expected her to be this awesome warrior lady who will fight alongside men in battle, and I guess to some extent she is that, albeit a little toned down. It’s perfectly okay for her to be all about Perrin and their marriage, I have nothing against that, but also I just wish she was more than that, you know? (Also, Maidens teaching Faile handtalk? Interesting.)
Min
Similar to Faile, I also expected Min to be this badass warrior lady (yes, I am obsessed with badass ladies who can wield swords or knives or spears). And, again, it’s perfectly okay that she is not, but I want more than that, okay?
Min’s sole role in this book was to get to Rand and show him she loves him and tell him three women will love him and that the three women will be okay with it (and each other) eventually. And also help him through her visions, of course. Min was a little underwhelming in this book (but I admit she’s never actually been a person of interest in this story, I just thought that she would be. I guess I will be expecting less from here on out).
What I’m interested to see, however, is Min’s little relationship between Aiel Wise Ones. They seem to have taken a liking to her.
Others
Yeah, all the others are not getting a special section. Mat was alright, still stubborn as ever. The whole ‘Elayne goading Mat so he could allow her to study his little amulet’ was funny. Thom and Juilin, not very present throughout the book. Thom and Elayne’s relationship is still weird, very un-Elayne-like.
Maidens are still awesome (like I said, women with spears).
I guess that’s all? The ending was overwhelming, for sure. The first nine Aes Sedai to kneel to Rand al’Thor. This ‘Daughter of the Nine Moons’ thing. Aran’gar letting Moghedien go. Egwene letting Logain escape. A Darkfriend (or one of Moghedien’s little followers) in Ebou Dar following Elayne and Nynaeve around?
Rating: 8.6/10
This book was so much fun to read. I'm glad I finally picked it up after years of telling myself, "Hey, I wanna read Discworld after I read this or that." Terry Pratchett's sense of humor is unique (to me, anyway) and he has a brilliant way of telling satire. The first book I've ever read of Pratchett was actually Good Omens, which he wrote with Neil Gaiman, and now I see where a huge chunk of what I enjoyed in Good Omens came from. (After some thinking, some parts of Discworld actually feels a little like Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series. I guess they’re a pretty good match as writers.)
I would describe this book somewhat as Dungeons and Dragons on steroids, but I'm sure this series was more planned out than I think it to be. But the point stands: anything can happen in this world, and that's where all the fun is. This book makes me want to be a kid again.
He wondered what kind of life it would be, having to keep swimming all the time to stay exactly in the same place. Pretty similar to his own, he decided.
Terry Pratchett, The Colour of Magic (Discworld, #1)
The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, #3) by N.K. Jemisin
Rating: 9.2/10
I don't know how to express in words how much I loved this series. It kinda feels like my heart is bursting with all the emotions this book managed to evoke from me. This journey was a doozy from start to finish.
This third book, like the first two, is so very emotional—in more ways than one. It's so human, and so raw, and sad and beautiful and powerful all at the same time. I kinda wished it told me more of what happened after, but I have to accept that stories end (but I know they don't necessarily end).
Anyway, this was a great read. I love it. It's worth it.
The Obelisk Gate (The Broken Earth, #2) by N.K. Jemisin
Hey, a word of warning: this will definitely contain some spoilers.
Rating: 9.2/10
I’m not even calling this a review anymore, this is more like a general reaction slash re-cap of the book (so yes, a lot of spoilers). Anyway, I started reading The Obelisk Gate around July 2019, and then I got caught up in a lot of university stuff so I stopped reading for a while. In the last week of December 2019, I finally picked it up again and yesterday, on the 2nd day of January 2020, I finally finished the book.
In this second book, N.K. Jemisin changed up the way she tells the story. It’s not until much later on in the book that I realize who the narrator is. It’s pretty cool. Anyway, we see more of what really happened the day Uche died. The first chapter of this book is probably one of the most heartbreaking chapters in this series so far. It’s probably because we see more of what Jija is like, because in the last book I’ve always just referred to him as that heartless bitch.
We also see more of Nassun, and how brilliantly amazing this kid is. She might be rivaling Nynaeve (from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time) as my favorite fictional character of all time (for now, at least; I haven’t read the whole WoT series yet). Nassun is smart as hell. She knew she was travelling with someone who could murder her in a heartbeat and she played him--and it was well-played indeed. And she seemed to have figured a lot of things by herself, through the mere process of feeling them out.
This book is both sad and beautiful (so beautiful), the (distant) aftermath of a horrible, horrible event that happened in the first book. I think I had mentioned in my account of the first book in this series that the story is really interesting; well, now, it’s even more interesting. Pieces of the puzzle start to come together and we start learning more and more about each character.
I have a lot more to say that isn’t really all that relevant, so here goes. I really, really wanted for some reason for Ykka and Hjarka to end up together? I mean, I don’t know. But then Hjarka started courting Tonkee and so I was happy about that because I actually like Tonkee. They cute.
Also, I kinda expected that Schaffa-Nassun father-daughter relationship but I was too afraid to accept it. Schaffa is still evil in my eyes. And I think Nassun could do better, or do better alone. But I get that she’s still a kid and needs somebody to love her like a parent should love a child. I get it.
Lastly, I know I’m missing so much of the point of this book with regards to what’s happening in the real world, with real people, with real struggles within real communities but I feel as though I am not a person qualified to talk about the point (or several points) of this book. So I will leave that to people who want to talk about that, or to people who are more qualified to talk about that.
In my previous book review of Michael Crichton’s The Andromeda Strain, I had mentioned that I’m very interested in the sciences. What I really meant was I’m interested in some sciences.
This book wasn’t bad--it actually told the story well and it really felt like I was reading a history book that isn’t boring (finally). I might just be not that interested in geography because I’m bad with maps and places. Although it did feel that Dava Sobel was explaining everything as simply as they could possibly be explained, I was still lost on some things. It doesn’t matter. I still got to know John Harrison and the story of the chronometer.
Even when the bulbs of the hourglass shatter, when darkness withholds the shadow from the sundial, when the mainspring winds down so far that the clock hands hold still as death, time itself keeps on.
Dava Sobel, Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
Time is to clock as mind is to brain. The clock or watch somehow contains the time. And yet time refuses to be bottled up like a genie stuffed in a lamp.
Dava Sobel, Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time
