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brusboks's reviews
369 reviews
The Dragon Republic by R.F. Kuang
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Woodcutters by Thomas Bernhard
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Becky Chambers has the same ability to view humankind and our contemporary world from the outside looking in as Terry Pratchett had. she also, like him, has the ability to write these observations into a fictional world inhabited by more people than just humans. However, they differ in their voice and style.
Thankfully!
We do not need Pratchett-lookalike, but we need the same way of viewing the world.
This is an excellent novel, a joyful read, at times incredibly funny. And it makes you think.
There is one small caveat, and that is an unfortunate lack of meta-view on sex and gender as different species are introduced. All the different species of the universe are presented as being dual: female and male, with clear cut differences. (Exception: chef who changes sex based on age). It seem a bit oversimplified and strange that a biological difference between only two sexes is present in every single species and also a deciding factor. I am looking forward to reading on and seeing if this continous as a trend.
Thankfully!
We do not need Pratchett-lookalike, but we need the same way of viewing the world.
This is an excellent novel, a joyful read, at times incredibly funny. And it makes you think.
There is one small caveat, and that is an unfortunate lack of meta-view on sex and gender as different species are introduced. All the different species of the universe are presented as being dual: female and male, with clear cut differences. (Exception: chef who changes sex based on age). It seem a bit oversimplified and strange that a biological difference between only two sexes is present in every single species and also a deciding factor. I am looking forward to reading on and seeing if this continous as a trend.
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Social realism, but make it 2020s moral. Family Is a burden, but friends can save you.
It is a nice change, but it still lingers on the details, all the grusome details. It is not enough to be poor. One is also raped, alcoholic, treated as scum, bad at mothering, and on and on.
It is very easy to compare this book with Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. While set in a different time, it is still a story of a family, and the fact that whatever happens to them is negative. Or if it is positive, it will come to an end. While McCourt's novel succeeds in ending the novel with an open-ish end (since it is based on the life of the author, we as reader's can also use that information to piece together that life is not naturalistic, even if it can feel and be that way for a loooong long time.), Shuggie Bain's ending feels a bit odd, and while it is meant to be open it also leaves you with a weird impression. An impression of "why did i need all these gory details about the life of some ill-off-in-every-way people", only for it not to mean anything in the end.
It feels like I have been a voyeur, now left with all the images, but not really needing them. All this for nothing? It makes you wonder if a good grasp of literary language can justify more-than-human portraits of working class family at the lowest end of the working class. It almost feels like humanity is taken away from the characters, and that humanity is only gained if you can escape.
However, as a depiction of how hard it can be to be gay on a part of society where macho culture is so strong and also the only thing allowed, the good use of written language is fulfilled.
It is a nice change, but it still lingers on the details, all the grusome details. It is not enough to be poor. One is also raped, alcoholic, treated as scum, bad at mothering, and on and on.
It is very easy to compare this book with Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes. While set in a different time, it is still a story of a family, and the fact that whatever happens to them is negative. Or if it is positive, it will come to an end. While McCourt's novel succeeds in ending the novel with an open-ish end (since it is based on the life of the author, we as reader's can also use that information to piece together that life is not naturalistic, even if it can feel and be that way for a loooong long time.), Shuggie Bain's ending feels a bit odd, and while it is meant to be open it also leaves you with a weird impression. An impression of "why did i need all these gory details about the life of some ill-off-in-every-way people", only for it not to mean anything in the end.
It feels like I have been a voyeur, now left with all the images, but not really needing them. All this for nothing? It makes you wonder if a good grasp of literary language can justify more-than-human portraits of working class family at the lowest end of the working class. It almost feels like humanity is taken away from the characters, and that humanity is only gained if you can escape.
However, as a depiction of how hard it can be to be gay on a part of society where macho culture is so strong and also the only thing allowed, the good use of written language is fulfilled.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is another book in the long line of stories that are seperated but connected.
While both engaging and giving insights in to different struggles by different women, the end of the book, tying many of the stories together, is awkward and almost like a Hallmark closing. Maybe you need endings like those, yes, but it felt out of touch with the rest of the book.
Also, almost 2 months after reading this now, not that much sticks.
While both engaging and giving insights in to different struggles by different women, the end of the book, tying many of the stories together, is awkward and almost like a Hallmark closing. Maybe you need endings like those, yes, but it felt out of touch with the rest of the book.
Also, almost 2 months after reading this now, not that much sticks.
I'm an Old Commie! by Dan Lungu
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It can be really hard to understand how a different political system can be seen as good by someone living in it. Especially without calling people brainwashed for thinking so.
This novel does a good job of showing how it is possible and how it depends on who and where you are in the system (even if you are just an unimportant worker) as well as how you can be worse of in the new system deemed as "better".
Even if the novel is good at showing the atrocities of the soviet system, it still shows how some regular people could also have a good life, and those lives were changed for the worse following the collapse of the Soviet union.
It never tries to "both sides" it, but it does succeed in getting you to understand why some people even today miss their lives in the soviet union, and also we're fae away from the atrocities we know happened.
Also, a lot of funny jokes about the Romanian leader.
This novel does a good job of showing how it is possible and how it depends on who and where you are in the system (even if you are just an unimportant worker) as well as how you can be worse of in the new system deemed as "better".
Even if the novel is good at showing the atrocities of the soviet system, it still shows how some regular people could also have a good life, and those lives were changed for the worse following the collapse of the Soviet union.
It never tries to "both sides" it, but it does succeed in getting you to understand why some people even today miss their lives in the soviet union, and also we're fae away from the atrocities we know happened.
Also, a lot of funny jokes about the Romanian leader.
Moon of the Crusted Snow by Waubgeshig Rice
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This is an interesting book. It sets an interesting premise and as a reader you are given little information about what has actually happened, also supported by the choice of narrators narrowing the information available even more. This is both positive and negative
Positive: the relations between the community and the surrounding world (and indigenous people and the ruling state) becomes an engine for the story and adds to the vibe.
Negative: while this works to create a story (and world) for the characters,there are also som unresolved issues, certain issues that arise that seem to not have been thought through during the world building. The information should be available considering the specific characters that appear in the novel and their background, but it is left unresolved leading to some dents in the world-building.
Positive: the relations between the community and the surrounding world (and indigenous people and the ruling state) becomes an engine for the story and adds to the vibe.
Negative: while this works to create a story (and world) for the characters,there are also som unresolved issues, certain issues that arise that seem to not have been thought through during the world building. The information should be available considering the specific characters that appear in the novel and their background, but it is left unresolved leading to some dents in the world-building.
The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe
dark
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I started this collection of short stories with great excitement, but spent a long time finishing it.
The longest story, of Jane, Neer, and the rest of the people at Pynk, could for instance be longer. People are not developed properly, instead being cardboard characters. For instance, while I appreciate having a transphobe as the villain, the villain fell flat as a character. There are multiple other villains in stories where their misguided beliefs turn to evil, showing the depths of evil. This was missing here.
The world building was also missing, and even if it is perhaps to be a relational work of a bigger transmedial work (cue song lyrics and music videos), the music videos show much greater craftsmanship at world-building. And at times it feels like this collection of short stories are descriptions of music videos.
But making a work of stories set in a world that mixes sci-fi and magical realism is not that easy to write, because worlds so easily crash and as a writer you have to make sure the worlds are merged.
The book does end on a high note, and the last short story is what saves the collection in many ways. Perhaps that is what makes it the most memorable.
The longest story, of Jane, Neer, and the rest of the people at Pynk, could for instance be longer. People are not developed properly, instead being cardboard characters. For instance, while I appreciate having a transphobe as the villain, the villain fell flat as a character. There are multiple other villains in stories where their misguided beliefs turn to evil, showing the depths of evil. This was missing here.
The world building was also missing, and even if it is perhaps to be a relational work of a bigger transmedial work (cue song lyrics and music videos), the music videos show much greater craftsmanship at world-building. And at times it feels like this collection of short stories are descriptions of music videos.
But making a work of stories set in a world that mixes sci-fi and magical realism is not that easy to write, because worlds so easily crash and as a writer you have to make sure the worlds are merged.
The book does end on a high note, and the last short story is what saves the collection in many ways. Perhaps that is what makes it the most memorable.
Et helt vanlig liv by Kiné Kaborg, Anne Kolbjørnsdatter Skaare, Silje Viken Skarlund, Monica Egeberg, Karine Dybvik, Ellisiv Stifoss-Hanssen, Kathrine Lindsay
relaxing
fast-paced
1.0
Det blir for dårlig.
Altså, dette er et eksempel på å ha det viktigste på plass: kunnskap om hva man skriver om, men allikevel mangle fagbrev i bruk av språk som medium. Det gjør dessverre at historie på historie i denne boka faller flatt.
Veldig mange av novellene har gode ideer, men selve utførelsen mangler.
Kan denne novellesamlingen få en do-over? Pls?
Altså, dette er et eksempel på å ha det viktigste på plass: kunnskap om hva man skriver om, men allikevel mangle fagbrev i bruk av språk som medium. Det gjør dessverre at historie på historie i denne boka faller flatt.
Veldig mange av novellene har gode ideer, men selve utførelsen mangler.
Kan denne novellesamlingen få en do-over? Pls?
Selveiersanger by Marianne Marthinsen
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Jeg vet ikke, jeg. Men det er liksom så mye sosiologisering ut og går blandt middelklassen. Og det betyr at nettopp bøker skrevet av middelklassen om klasseforskjeller og opplevelser i dagens samfunn er gjennomsyret av dette. Og man gjør problemer som det å ikke føle at man passer inn eller vet hvem man er til noe _kun_ drevet av klasse til tider, eksemplifisert i boka i smaksforskjeller
Jo, og så er fremstillingen av hvordan det er å ta doktorgrad helt urealistisk og gir ikke mening i det hele tatt. Hilsen tar doktorgrad.
PLUSS:
hovedpersonens forsøk på å forstå livet sitt gjennom å bruke naturvitenskapelige metoder på seg selv kommer alltid til kort, det er ikke før hun begynner å vie kunsten og kulturen i livet sitt mer oppmerksomhet, å se seg selv gjennom musikken, å forstå verden bedre gjennom estetiske opplevelser, at hun begynner å skjønne seg selv. Dette undertema er en fin tråd å holde i når alt rundt blir litt for kjett. Således en del som burde tatt mer plass i boka, da det nettopp peker på det universelle med mennesker; det er i kunsten vi finner oss selv. Uansett om det er ei gammal pop-sviske av ei låt man gauler høyt til i bilen.
Jo, og så er fremstillingen av hvordan det er å ta doktorgrad helt urealistisk og gir ikke mening i det hele tatt. Hilsen tar doktorgrad.
PLUSS:
hovedpersonens forsøk på å forstå livet sitt gjennom å bruke naturvitenskapelige metoder på seg selv kommer alltid til kort, det er ikke før hun begynner å vie kunsten og kulturen i livet sitt mer oppmerksomhet, å se seg selv gjennom musikken, å forstå verden bedre gjennom estetiske opplevelser, at hun begynner å skjønne seg selv. Dette undertema er en fin tråd å holde i når alt rundt blir litt for kjett. Således en del som burde tatt mer plass i boka, da det nettopp peker på det universelle med mennesker; det er i kunsten vi finner oss selv. Uansett om det er ei gammal pop-sviske av ei låt man gauler høyt til i bilen.