#more perfect

[smokefalls]

I’d imagine that my mind was conjured up by the universe simply to look at itself in gladness and awe.

Temi Oh, More Perfect

[ckingsbury1967]

Plot Line - Cheryl/Lore

(starter for @more--perfect )

Cheryl was relieved to finally stumble upon a building after what seemed like hours wandering through the forest.  She wasn’t sure where the portal behind her house had taken her this time, only that it was unfamiliar to her.  Thank goodness she’d finally found this small cabin, which seemed to have lights on inside.

She tapped nervously at the door.  Once, then twice.  Then, desperate, she turned the knob and, finding it unlocked, stepped inside.

[podcastrec]

Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Here's a quick recommendation for podcast episodes about Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

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Podcast: More Perfect

Episode: Sex Appeal

This episode is a good intro to RBG and her work for women's equality. If I reccommend only one episode it's this one. It really highlights how clever and thoughtful she was.

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Podcast: NPR Politics Podcast

Episode: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Progressive Icon, Dead at 87

This episode is the first one I've listened to that was recorded after RBGs death. Short and sweet at 19 min, goes over her most notable career moments. The last 8 minutes or so talk about what may happen to fill her vacant seat. The last 60-30 seconds includes the president's statement on her passing. Personally, I recommend only the first 11 minutes.

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Podcast: Amicus

Episode: Notorious RBG

This episode was recorded leading up to the 2016 election and talks about how RBG became a cultural icon. It's alright but doesn't really get into her early work, just her recent trend toward being more outspoken and why.

Episode: The Class of RBG part one and two

These are better! Very cool, interviews some of the other 8 women in the same class as RBG about that time and after. Listen to these ones instead of the ep listed above.

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Podcast: The Ginsburg Tapes

This series is a deep dive into cases Ginsburg argued and ones she heard. It's more geared towards people interested in the law (I think the host is a law student who put together the podcast as a passion project). As a non law student or law person I still really like it though. I've only listened to one but I'll be listening to the rest.

I may add more later.

May her memory be a blessing.

[smokefalls]

It could be a mistake. But you can’t tiptoe through life never making mistakes. I’m going to take this love, take all the love where I can find it and pray that it lasts.

Temi Oh, More Perfect

[smokefalls]

Title: More Perfect Author: Temi Oh Publication Year: 2023 Publisher: Saga Press Genre: fiction, dystopian, science fiction

I love the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, so I had high hopes for More Perfect, which sounded like a fascinating reimagining of the Greek myth. I think the themes and concepts that Oh had in mind were absolutely great, as she gets the reader to think about technological innovations in relation to surveillance, the (over)reliance on technology, and this constant questioning of what is “good” as opposed to “evil” when it comes to technology and social media. And, while the novel is marketed as science fiction, I felt that it was light on the science compared to other novels of this genre, though you could tell from the author’s descriptions that she had a neuroscience background. Ultimately, it seemed to me that she was more interested in telling a story about characters’ relationships with technology.

Unfortunately, I felt that the overall execution was a bit weak and resulted in a too-long novel with uneven pacing. I found myself frustrated that questions I had during my reading were never fully answered (e.g., how certain technologies worked, why certain characters and places held particular significance, etc.). I also feel that it’s slightly misleading to call this novel a retelling of the myth, mostly because the two were very loosely connected. It wasn’t really until the end that you really see how Oh put her own spin on the myth. I also felt that some parts of the book were a bit repetitive and could have been removed altogether to tighten the writing and address the pacing issues.

Content Warning: death; forced institutionalization; grief; addiction; self harm; abandonment; murder; violence; child abuse; police brutality; references to racism and suicide attempts

[haveyoureadthisscifibook]

have you read More Perfect, by Temi Oh (2023)?

yes

no

Voting ended onMay 4, 2024

vote yes if you have finished the entire book.

vote no if you have not finished the entire book.

(faq · submit a book)

[nevinslibrary]

Weird & Wonderful Wednesday

I mean, it’s required that I read all the books and stories where someone allows a ‘small implant’ to be put in their head. In this case it’s the Pulse brain implant, put there so that they can better connect to the Panopticon network. But, not surprisingly, the government has oversight of it, and, well… it goes where you think it would go. Let’s just say that it goes more the way of dystopia than hearts and puppies and openness.

What have I learned from reading Science Fiction for *mumble mumble* years? Two things, don’t don’t don’t ever let anyone put ‘just a small implant’ in your head or your body or do something that in anyway it can’t be taken off, stepped in, thrown away, etc. Oh, and, also, keep a second or third pair of glasses in case you step on one.

In all seriousness though, this was an interesting take on what I like to think of as ‘implant fiction’, as well as a really really fun take on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth. As a lifelong fan of all Greek myth, that is what pulled me in, and I really liked how it was interwoven throughout the story. It was a fun read. Just… no implants, more than one pair of prescription glasses.

You may like this book If you Liked: The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monae, The Devil's Dictionary by Steven Kotler, or Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

More Perfect by Temi Oh