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Sister Mine
Nalo Hopkinson--winner of the John W. Campbell Award, the Sunburst Award, and the World Fantasy award (among others), and lauded as one of our "most inventive and brilliant writers" (New York Post)--returns with a new work. With her singular voice and characteristic sharp insight, she explores the relationship between two sisters in this richly textured and deeply moving novel . . .
SISTER MINE
We'd had to be cut free of our mother's womb. She'd never have been able to push the two-headed sport that was me and Abby out the usual way. Abby and I were fused, you see. Conjoined twins. Abby's head, torso, and left arm protruded from my chest. But here's the real kicker; Abby had the magic, I didn't. Far as the Family was concerned, Abby was one of them, though cursed, as I was, with the tragic flaw of mortality.
Now adults, Makeda and Abby still share their childhood home. The surgery to separate the two girls gave Abby a permanent limp, but left Makeda with what feels like an even worse deformity: no mojo. The daughters of a celestial demigod and a human woman, Makeda and Abby were raised by their magical father, the god of growing things--a highly unusual childhood that made them extremely close. Ever since Abby's magical talent began to develop, though, in the form of an unearthly singing voice, the sisters have become increasingly distant.
Today, Makeda has decided it's high time to move out and make her own life among the other nonmagical, claypicken humans--after all, she's one of them. In Cheerful Rest, a run-down warehouse space, Makeda finds exactly what she's been looking for: an opportunity to live apart from Abby and begin building her own independent life. There's even a resident band, led by the charismatic (and attractive) building superintendent.
But when her father goes missing, Makeda will have to discover her own talent--and reconcile with Abby--if she's to have a hope of saving him . . .
SISTER MINE
We'd had to be cut free of our mother's womb. She'd never have been able to push the two-headed sport that was me and Abby out the usual way. Abby and I were fused, you see. Conjoined twins. Abby's head, torso, and left arm protruded from my chest. But here's the real kicker; Abby had the magic, I didn't. Far as the Family was concerned, Abby was one of them, though cursed, as I was, with the tragic flaw of mortality.
Now adults, Makeda and Abby still share their childhood home. The surgery to separate the two girls gave Abby a permanent limp, but left Makeda with what feels like an even worse deformity: no mojo. The daughters of a celestial demigod and a human woman, Makeda and Abby were raised by their magical father, the god of growing things--a highly unusual childhood that made them extremely close. Ever since Abby's magical talent began to develop, though, in the form of an unearthly singing voice, the sisters have become increasingly distant.
Today, Makeda has decided it's high time to move out and make her own life among the other nonmagical, claypicken humans--after all, she's one of them. In Cheerful Rest, a run-down warehouse space, Makeda finds exactly what she's been looking for: an opportunity to live apart from Abby and begin building her own independent life. There's even a resident band, led by the charismatic (and attractive) building superintendent.
But when her father goes missing, Makeda will have to discover her own talent--and reconcile with Abby--if she's to have a hope of saving him . . .
12 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 12, 2013
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4877 people want to read
About the author
Nalo Hopkinson
143 books2,033 followersNalo Hopkinson is a Jamaican-born writer and editor who lives in Canada. Her science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories often draw on Caribbean history and language, and its traditions of oral and written storytelling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
March 18, 2013
Makeda and Abby were born conjoined twins, but that isn't the strangest part of their birth - their father is a demigod, from a family of demigods, and had reproduced with a human to the great chagrin of his family.
When they were split apart, only Abby got any mojo, making Makeda a useless, normal, human. This is their story during a family crisis.
I have been wanting to read Nalo Hopkinson ever since meeting
Tobias S. Buckell at a Shared Worlds reading. We chatted about Caribbean fantasy and science fiction authors, and he gave me the short list of the three I should read - Buckell, Lord, and Hopkinson. This is my first of Nalo's, and I'll be back. While she is living in Canada now, and this book is set near Lake Ontario, the Caribbean influence is so prevalent that each mention of Canadian setting would shake me up a bit.
Between the hoodoo and the kudzu and the Caribbean food and slang, I'd just forget. I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to more. Here is an example of the sensory writing:
"I perceived Abby as a shimmering arpeggio, lavender shot through with juniper green and scented with a bouquet of seawater and new shoe leather. I wondered how she saw me."
When they were split apart, only Abby got any mojo, making Makeda a useless, normal, human. This is their story during a family crisis.
I have been wanting to read Nalo Hopkinson ever since meeting
Tobias S. Buckell at a Shared Worlds reading. We chatted about Caribbean fantasy and science fiction authors, and he gave me the short list of the three I should read - Buckell, Lord, and Hopkinson. This is my first of Nalo's, and I'll be back. While she is living in Canada now, and this book is set near Lake Ontario, the Caribbean influence is so prevalent that each mention of Canadian setting would shake me up a bit.
Between the hoodoo and the kudzu and the Caribbean food and slang, I'd just forget. I really enjoyed reading this book, and look forward to more. Here is an example of the sensory writing:
"I perceived Abby as a shimmering arpeggio, lavender shot through with juniper green and scented with a bouquet of seawater and new shoe leather. I wondered how she saw me."
Read
November 18, 2017A spectacularly weird book, with an intensely gnarly Caribbean-echoing fantasy world coexisting with a modern Canadian city. One of those books where the author does not throw you a bone; I was struggling to keep up for a good chunk while I got my head round the world, and meanwhile a whole lot of inexplicable things went on. (One of the characters was Jimi Hendrix's guitar. This is not one of the more outstandingly odd aspects of the book.) And then you get it and everything comes together in intensely pleasing fashion. Reminds me of Diana Wynne Jones, who was a master of the irrelevant detail turning out to be a plot cornerstone. I want to read this again knowing what's going on for the pleasure of seeing it click into place.
Lyrical, lovely writing and a great depiction of life for black people in Ontario alongside the fantasy elements. Three for three from Nalo Hopkinson, what a writer.
Lyrical, lovely writing and a great depiction of life for black people in Ontario alongside the fantasy elements. Three for three from Nalo Hopkinson, what a writer.
September 25, 2015
I feel bad for not really liking this book, but I didn't really like this book.
I enjoyed having an entrée into a mythology that I was not previously acquianted with (heavy Googling of Vodoun, Hoodoo, Orishas, Yoruba, etc. was instrumental to understanding the characters in the story). The interesting characterization of all the enthralling (literally) demigods was the highlight of the book for me.
The humans, however, I could have done without. The protagonist was annoyingly juvenile for a woman in her 20s, which would make sense for a coming of age story, except I didn't feel she really developed much or grew less juvenile by the end. Her sister was also annoying and the love interest was... uninteresting. A lot of the dialogue fell flat for me.
The plot overall was kind of a hot mess. Lots of subplots that don't really go anywhere, characters thoroughly introduced then abandoned, the device driving the narrative changes every few pages. Which, I guess another more positive way to describe that would be "complexity" but instead of complexity, I experienced it as dizzyness. I gather Hopkinson doesn't tend to tie her plots up in a neat bow at the end, which I can usually live with, but I was still annoyed at the particular loose ends left flapping in the breeze in this story.
One note on some of the reviews I've seen: a number of folks seem weirded out by the casual treatment of incest in the story, but for my money it makes perfect sense in a story about gods. In many many mythological traditions, gods don't have any taboo agaisnt incest at all and have rather libertine attitudes toward sex generally, which is accurately depicted here. And if you think this feature is particular to African mythological traditions, take a look at the Greeks some time.
I enjoyed having an entrée into a mythology that I was not previously acquianted with (heavy Googling of Vodoun, Hoodoo, Orishas, Yoruba, etc. was instrumental to understanding the characters in the story). The interesting characterization of all the enthralling (literally) demigods was the highlight of the book for me.
The humans, however, I could have done without. The protagonist was annoyingly juvenile for a woman in her 20s, which would make sense for a coming of age story, except I didn't feel she really developed much or grew less juvenile by the end. Her sister was also annoying and the love interest was... uninteresting. A lot of the dialogue fell flat for me.
The plot overall was kind of a hot mess. Lots of subplots that don't really go anywhere, characters thoroughly introduced then abandoned, the device driving the narrative changes every few pages. Which, I guess another more positive way to describe that would be "complexity" but instead of complexity, I experienced it as dizzyness. I gather Hopkinson doesn't tend to tie her plots up in a neat bow at the end, which I can usually live with, but I was still annoyed at the particular loose ends left flapping in the breeze in this story.
One note on some of the reviews I've seen: a number of folks seem weirded out by the casual treatment of incest in the story, but for my money it makes perfect sense in a story about gods. In many many mythological traditions, gods don't have any taboo agaisnt incest at all and have rather libertine attitudes toward sex generally, which is accurately depicted here. And if you think this feature is particular to African mythological traditions, take a look at the Greeks some time.
Read
October 1, 2015I came out of The Library at Mount Char with a craving for contemporary demigod fantasy and missing father misadventures and, as luck would have it, I picked up a copy of Sister Mine. This is a book about gods but, moreover, it’s about dysfunctional families. First of all, I am all about family dysfunction (in fiction); secondly, I have an older sister so the tense muscle of sibling rivalry that runs through this book spoke to my childhood and the close yet snarling relationship I shared with my big sis. I mean, I never had to search for my missing mojo even as I searched for an identity apart from my sister, but still. There’s drama and fighting with sharp words and vegetation, a lively cast of characters to outshine any Greek myth, sarcasm like I never dreamed, and descriptions of food that made me want to find a local Caribbean restaurant. I had a blast reading this one. — S. Zainab Williams
from The Best Books We Read In August: http://bookriot.com/2015/08/31/riot-r...
from The Best Books We Read In August: http://bookriot.com/2015/08/31/riot-r...
April 22, 2013
Yay, an urban fantasy novel based on African/African diaspora culture, myths, and legends! This was utterly unique, a quick read, with lots of unexpected turns. I appreciated how the author did not stop the story to do an exposition dump somewhere in the first few chapters, but I did wish that I had a cast of characters, or that it was based on an easily-recognizable (to me) set of myths that I could do internet research on. Basically, I wanted to know more. However, that said, I always knew enough to follow what was going on, and discovering the various characters, their relationships, and the structure of the world they lived in as the story unfolded was part of the fun. I would definitely read a sequel, or another novel set in this world, were Hopkinson to write one. I recommend this to any fans of urban fantasy... who are over the age of 16 or so, as this was decidedly not a PG novel.
December 18, 2017
When I was telling my girlfriend about Nalo Hopkinson’s urban fantasy, Sister Mine, she said it sounded like the author was on LSD when she was writing it. I think that’s a pretty apt description, and I mean that in the best way possible. Let’s see—what really epitomizes the wonderful oddities of this book is the fact that there’s a character who used to be Jimi Hendrix’s guitar. You know, he’s an enspirited object, currently in human form. The main character’s sister is dating him. No big deal.
That guy is just one of the rich cast of characters—most of them people of colour and some sort of variation on human—in this Toronto-set novel....
See the full review on my blog: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...
That guy is just one of the rich cast of characters—most of them people of colour and some sort of variation on human—in this Toronto-set novel....
See the full review on my blog: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...
April 3, 2013
Originally posted at http://www.librarything.com/work/1322...
A totally original modern fantasy with a unique, exotic perspective. The protagonist Makeda, a twenty-three-year-old woman, was born to a family of demigods, but she doesn’t have magic of her own. Her twin sister Abby has a double share, in addition to being gifted by an unearthly musical talent. While Abby creates beautiful music and earns money for the family by performing, Makeda is trying to make sense of her directionless life.
As the action unfolds, she realizes that she has been caught from birth in the divine power struggle of her ‘celestial’ kin. They used her body as a vessel for their needs, mutilated her mind and her magic, and left her a worthless addendum to her gifted sister, a ‘donkey’ carrying someone else’s magic.
Makeda’s abiding love for her sister, mixed with her jealousy towards Abby and her anger at her divine relations’ betrayals and lies, makes for a bitter brew, totally believable under the circumstances, but Makeda is trying to break out of the vicious circle of her conflicting emotions. She is trying to take control of her life. If only her godly cousins would set her free, stop ordering her around and interfering in her every move. She might even discover her own magic at last.
Makeda is much more accepting of her twisted reality than I would have been in her place. As I read this novel, I came to hate, I mean REALLY, hate, her two-faced divinity of an uncle who pretends to care about his niece but relentlessly pursues his own agenda, regardless of its impact on Makeda’s health or happiness. “Gods don’t care” is the clear message of this book.
The novel is very powerful, with every character sharply defined, and the black people’s slang makes all the characters ethnically unmistakable. I am not sure I like this novel; it’s too intense for me, but I’ll definitely remember it for a long time.
A totally original modern fantasy with a unique, exotic perspective. The protagonist Makeda, a twenty-three-year-old woman, was born to a family of demigods, but she doesn’t have magic of her own. Her twin sister Abby has a double share, in addition to being gifted by an unearthly musical talent. While Abby creates beautiful music and earns money for the family by performing, Makeda is trying to make sense of her directionless life.
As the action unfolds, she realizes that she has been caught from birth in the divine power struggle of her ‘celestial’ kin. They used her body as a vessel for their needs, mutilated her mind and her magic, and left her a worthless addendum to her gifted sister, a ‘donkey’ carrying someone else’s magic.
Makeda’s abiding love for her sister, mixed with her jealousy towards Abby and her anger at her divine relations’ betrayals and lies, makes for a bitter brew, totally believable under the circumstances, but Makeda is trying to break out of the vicious circle of her conflicting emotions. She is trying to take control of her life. If only her godly cousins would set her free, stop ordering her around and interfering in her every move. She might even discover her own magic at last.
Makeda is much more accepting of her twisted reality than I would have been in her place. As I read this novel, I came to hate, I mean REALLY, hate, her two-faced divinity of an uncle who pretends to care about his niece but relentlessly pursues his own agenda, regardless of its impact on Makeda’s health or happiness. “Gods don’t care” is the clear message of this book.
The novel is very powerful, with every character sharply defined, and the black people’s slang makes all the characters ethnically unmistakable. I am not sure I like this novel; it’s too intense for me, but I’ll definitely remember it for a long time.
May 27, 2014
Wow. Just wow. Talk about compelling writing. I picked this up on a whim and then couldn't, and I mean couldn't, put it down. Technically, this novel is contemporary urban fantasy, but it's more than that-- it's mythological, hip, edgy, out there, vivid, and startling (there's got to be something about Canada that brings out a certain talent for creative description in authors!). It's a fast read, but complex all the same, with a rich collection of characters-- most of them not-quite-human!-- and plot twists on almost every page.
This book reminds me a little of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, and the works of Charles de Lint, Octavia E. Butler, and Spider Robinson. It manages to combine unbelievable events with down-to-earth human truths, strange worlds with everyday details. There's rhythm and music to Hopkinson's words.
There's also a casual inclusion of differences in this book that I really appreciate-- various races, cultures, languages, sexual identities, disabilities-- they all exist as plain facts of life. Her characters treat their disabilities believably-- by turns matter of fact, bitter, humorous, conflicted. This book isn't always comfortable to read, and I like that about it. And a special gold star for the first non-problematic passing reference to autism I've ever seen!
I need to read more of this author's work; that much is clear. Ladies and gentlemen, Nalo Hopkinson can STORYTELL!
This book reminds me a little of The Coyote Kings of the Space-Age Bachelor Pad, and the works of Charles de Lint, Octavia E. Butler, and Spider Robinson. It manages to combine unbelievable events with down-to-earth human truths, strange worlds with everyday details. There's rhythm and music to Hopkinson's words.
There's also a casual inclusion of differences in this book that I really appreciate-- various races, cultures, languages, sexual identities, disabilities-- they all exist as plain facts of life. Her characters treat their disabilities believably-- by turns matter of fact, bitter, humorous, conflicted. This book isn't always comfortable to read, and I like that about it. And a special gold star for the first non-problematic passing reference to autism I've ever seen!
I need to read more of this author's work; that much is clear. Ladies and gentlemen, Nalo Hopkinson can STORYTELL!
May 26, 2013
This is the first novel I've read by Nalo Hopkinson, whose work I discovered through her short stories in a couple of recent anthologies (After and Unnatural Creatures).
Sister Mine was a bit of a slow-starter for me, and I struggled at first to understand what was going on. In particular, one early change of scenery and point of view didn't make sense to me until about two chapters later in the book. However, in the second half of the book everything came together and things got really exciting until the ending, which wasn't so much shocking as it was simply abrupt. It didn't end in the middle of a sentence, but I still feel like there were things left unsaid that wanted saying.
On the other hand, I absolutely fell in love with the characters. Makeda and Abby had a convincingly dysfunctional sibling relationship, and their extended family of demi-gods was fascinating. There were moments in the novel infused with a deep and unsettling creepiness, instances of superbly written comedy, and a handful of pieces of true tragedy that all combined to create a beautiful piece of fantasy that is firmly rooted in realism.
February 22, 2015
I'm not SAYING its about a family of Orisha but... Abby and Makeda Joli were born as conjoined twins. Surgery separated them, but left Abby with a shortened leg and limo and Makeda with no mojo. Tired of being different from the rest of the Family, Makeda moves I to a building with Shine. There, she meets a motley cast of characters, gets chased by a dangerous spirit, and learns the Truth about her birth. Plot twists keep the reader guessing in this magical and moving novel. Some familiarity with African Traditional Religions might be helpful to recognize the Family members, but isn't necessary. Points off for mentions of incest (eww!), but perhaps since they are celestial/mythological beings, the rules are different for them? In any case, loved this book, and recommend it for people with a love of ATR, magical realism, non-European based fantasy, and or stories that feel like home.
July 30, 2013
The story had a lot of things going for it: a deep wealth of spirituality and myth that it was drawing from, an interesting main character (a conjoined twin), and some serious world-building. The voices were strong and compelling.
However, I felt thing was a YA book that was classified as an adult book because of some mild incest (yes, I know that sounds bizarre but in context, it's not). The POV was very juvenile and seemed to be a coming of age story at its heart. The characterization of the sisters and the family was a little thin for an adult novel. It's a quick and shallow read.
2.5 stars.
However, I felt thing was a YA book that was classified as an adult book because of some mild incest (yes, I know that sounds bizarre but in context, it's not). The POV was very juvenile and seemed to be a coming of age story at its heart. The characterization of the sisters and the family was a little thin for an adult novel. It's a quick and shallow read.
2.5 stars.
February 11, 2017
Like the other Nalo Hopkinson books that I've read, this was surreal and amazing. I didn't always understand what was happening, but I always enjoyed the ride.
As for queer content:
As for queer content:
July 5, 2013
This was pretty good--I didn't find it as compelling as Brown Girl in the Ring, Midnight Robber, or The Salt Roads, but it's pretty awesome to read a world with disabled-queer-poc central characters. Hurrah!
June 10, 2020
Great set-up for an urban fantasy. The main character is the offspring of a human mother and a member of a Santeria-style Orisha, which is to say an African god based on the Yoruban tradition. And she's a conjoined twin. And her sister, who inherited musical mojo from her divine family and is a soul-singer and a diva who is dating... get this... Jimi Hendrix's guitar transformed into a human form. And her uncle is the god of the crossroads -- birth and death -- who's a trickster.
And it's funny too. At times, I thought I was taking a literary trip through George Clinton's drug-addled mind, right after he took one of them-there mushrooms with the purple ring...
And yet for all that, the story did not hang together for me. Sad because I really wanted to like this more than I did. I was going to go four-stars for the crazy inventiveness until I realized that the characters don't change. They don't grow. They're static. Sure, they solve the mystery of a flying carpet, of where the main character's own mojo went, and corral a killer bunch of kudzu that holds the soul of a god/ orisha. But the characters themselves never blossom as humans.
What a let-down.
What's more, there's hints of icky incest thing going on that, while not graphic, are troubling. Sure it's a part of many mythological systems -- just read an anthology of Greek myths -- but when it circles back to include half-humans, with the biological implications it just sort of creeped me out.
Ergo, three-stars. Still, Hopkins has game. The book is great fun. I'll read more from her because I can sense a really good book in her.
And it's funny too. At times, I thought I was taking a literary trip through George Clinton's drug-addled mind, right after he took one of them-there mushrooms with the purple ring...
And yet for all that, the story did not hang together for me. Sad because I really wanted to like this more than I did. I was going to go four-stars for the crazy inventiveness until I realized that the characters don't change. They don't grow. They're static. Sure, they solve the mystery of a flying carpet, of where the main character's own mojo went, and corral a killer bunch of kudzu that holds the soul of a god/ orisha. But the characters themselves never blossom as humans.
What a let-down.
What's more, there's hints of icky incest thing going on that, while not graphic, are troubling. Sure it's a part of many mythological systems -- just read an anthology of Greek myths -- but when it circles back to include half-humans, with the biological implications it just sort of creeped me out.
Ergo, three-stars. Still, Hopkins has game. The book is great fun. I'll read more from her because I can sense a really good book in her.
August 22, 2016
Sister Mine is a throughly enjoyable, quirky and imaginative coming of age story!
As the blurb goes, the main storyline is Abby and Makeda are ex-conjoined twin daughters of a mortal woman and a demi god. At their separation Abby got all the mojo, where as Makeda is the family outcast with no powers. As punishment for their forbidden union, their mother is turned into a sea monster (residing in Lake Ontario!) and their father is made mortal. Now susceptible to illness, he develops Alzheimer's. The twin girls were raised by their father and their uncle who is the God of the crossroads. When their father dies his soul goes into a deadly Kudzu vine. This is just one of the many problems Makeda has to deal with in the story.
Regardless of all the supernatural elements, this novel is also about breaking out of a dysfunctional family and sibling rivalry.
My favourite characters were Lars, Abby's boyfriend who is "an instrument" who used to be Jimmy Hendrix's guitar (!?!) as well Abby and Makeda's cousins Beji and Beji, semi celestial twins who turn into cats!
The ending is somewhat confusing and does not wrap up as nicely as Brown Girl in the Ring or New Moons Arms. However it's still a spellbinding read that I recommend to everyone who likes original and imaginative contemporary fantasy infused with Caribbean folklore and mythology.
As the blurb goes, the main storyline is Abby and Makeda are ex-conjoined twin daughters of a mortal woman and a demi god. At their separation Abby got all the mojo, where as Makeda is the family outcast with no powers. As punishment for their forbidden union, their mother is turned into a sea monster (residing in Lake Ontario!) and their father is made mortal. Now susceptible to illness, he develops Alzheimer's. The twin girls were raised by their father and their uncle who is the God of the crossroads. When their father dies his soul goes into a deadly Kudzu vine. This is just one of the many problems Makeda has to deal with in the story.
Regardless of all the supernatural elements, this novel is also about breaking out of a dysfunctional family and sibling rivalry.
My favourite characters were Lars, Abby's boyfriend who is "an instrument" who used to be Jimmy Hendrix's guitar (!?!) as well Abby and Makeda's cousins Beji and Beji, semi celestial twins who turn into cats!
The ending is somewhat confusing and does not wrap up as nicely as Brown Girl in the Ring or New Moons Arms. However it's still a spellbinding read that I recommend to everyone who likes original and imaginative contemporary fantasy infused with Caribbean folklore and mythology.
January 12, 2017
Charming, lyrical, enchanting! The bond between sisters and especially twins is exceedingly strong. Conjoined twins, having shared even more than the womb, might have an even closer bond but still disaster can strike. Add to that mixed parentage (human and demigod), missing mojo, and a whole slew of magical, musical happenings and you've got a marvelous tale that moves right along. I enjoyed these characters so much that I hope there might be another look into their lives in a future book. I'm also looking forward to reading more of Nalo Hopkinson.
November 3, 2023
4 ⭐ CW: Violence, sexual content, incest
Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson is an sff standalone centering Caribbean storytelling. It's kind of like Trinidadian version of Percy Jackson with the demigods, but instead we get mojo and celestials. This was a weird book to say the least, but it was very different and quite enjoyable.
We follow Makeda and her sister Abby, who were born as conjoined twins and separated at birth. Makeda and Abby are both half human and half celestial (demigod), but only Abby has any mojo. Abby's mojo gives her a singing ability. Makeda has always been told she was born without mojo. Makeda is trying to live an independent life away from her twin, and accept that she is basically claypickin (a non-magical human), even though her life is far from normal.
When Makeda and Abby's dad goes missing, Makeda learns that she's been lied to all her life about her mojo (or lack of mojo). She also finds out the haint creature that has been after her is more than it seems as well. We meet Jimi Hendrix's enspirited guitar, which was pretty cool. The different celestial demigods were interesting to learn about. I loved the Bejis, who are twin gods that seem to be genderfluid.
I felt like a lot happened and some stuff didn't get resolved. Like how did Brie end up with mojo when he's a claypickin. I also desperately wish there were more books to give us more from the celestials and to see the aftermath of this book. Definitely fascinating, if a bit weird.
Sister Mine by Nalo Hopkinson is an sff standalone centering Caribbean storytelling. It's kind of like Trinidadian version of Percy Jackson with the demigods, but instead we get mojo and celestials. This was a weird book to say the least, but it was very different and quite enjoyable.
We follow Makeda and her sister Abby, who were born as conjoined twins and separated at birth. Makeda and Abby are both half human and half celestial (demigod), but only Abby has any mojo. Abby's mojo gives her a singing ability. Makeda has always been told she was born without mojo. Makeda is trying to live an independent life away from her twin, and accept that she is basically claypickin (a non-magical human), even though her life is far from normal.
When Makeda and Abby's dad goes missing, Makeda learns that she's been lied to all her life about her mojo (or lack of mojo). She also finds out the haint creature that has been after her is more than it seems as well. We meet Jimi Hendrix's enspirited guitar, which was pretty cool. The different celestial demigods were interesting to learn about. I loved the Bejis, who are twin gods that seem to be genderfluid.
I felt like a lot happened and some stuff didn't get resolved. Like how did Brie end up with mojo when he's a claypickin. I also desperately wish there were more books to give us more from the celestials and to see the aftermath of this book. Definitely fascinating, if a bit weird.
June 27, 2013
Part of the fun of reading Sister Mine is digging deeper and deeper into Makeda and Abigail's story to find out what truly happened when they were born, how their mother disappeared, and where there daddy is.
Not to mention who their daddy is. And who their uncle is. Because Makeda and Abigail were born into a family where some of the members usher humans into life and death. They are Shiny, in Makeda's words, and what Makeda wants more than anything else in the world is to find her own mojo; just like her sister Abigail.
She starts out looking just for independence from her Shiny sister in a battered old loft in a converted industrial building. But her new digs house a band, and a boy, who are more than they seem. Now if only Makeda can escape the haint following her around, find enough money to make rent, and somehow deal with daddy's wandering....
This is an urban fantasy, and the tight-but-rich writing weaves a first layer of Toronto over Makeda's Orisha family, and as you discover more about Uncle Flash, Grandma Ocean and the others and more of their secrets, the more you dig deeply into human fears and foibles.
These are gods and demi-gods we are reading about, and while some of their antics are not ones modern society approves of, they are based in the deepest parts of human history and psyche. This is a story to bathe yourself in, not to enjoy for intricate plots or clever action.
This Book's Snack Rating: Kiss Trinidad Fruit Cake for the rich, delicious characters containing sweet nuggets of universal human truth
Not to mention who their daddy is. And who their uncle is. Because Makeda and Abigail were born into a family where some of the members usher humans into life and death. They are Shiny, in Makeda's words, and what Makeda wants more than anything else in the world is to find her own mojo; just like her sister Abigail.
She starts out looking just for independence from her Shiny sister in a battered old loft in a converted industrial building. But her new digs house a band, and a boy, who are more than they seem. Now if only Makeda can escape the haint following her around, find enough money to make rent, and somehow deal with daddy's wandering....
This is an urban fantasy, and the tight-but-rich writing weaves a first layer of Toronto over Makeda's Orisha family, and as you discover more about Uncle Flash, Grandma Ocean and the others and more of their secrets, the more you dig deeply into human fears and foibles.
These are gods and demi-gods we are reading about, and while some of their antics are not ones modern society approves of, they are based in the deepest parts of human history and psyche. This is a story to bathe yourself in, not to enjoy for intricate plots or clever action.
This Book's Snack Rating: Kiss Trinidad Fruit Cake for the rich, delicious characters containing sweet nuggets of universal human truth
August 19, 2013
Beguiling blend of urban fantasy and magic realism that is quite irresistible to read. Not much plot in this simple tale of sibling rivalry, but the sisters Makeda and Abby quickly endear themselves to the reader.
And the simple story is spiced up by the fact that the sisters' family is the local pantheon. Yes, it is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman, but Nalo Hopkinson adds a unique flavour to the proceedings, in particular a running riff on racial stereotyping (Aunt Suze's diatribe on 'Obamanegroes' is very, very funny).
Hopkinson's concept of 'inspirited' objects leads to perhaps one of the greatest lines in recent fantasy: "I used to be his guitar," he said in his soft voice, "Jimi's, I mean."
And there are cats. Magical cats.
And the simple story is spiced up by the fact that the sisters' family is the local pantheon. Yes, it is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman, but Nalo Hopkinson adds a unique flavour to the proceedings, in particular a running riff on racial stereotyping (Aunt Suze's diatribe on 'Obamanegroes' is very, very funny).
Hopkinson's concept of 'inspirited' objects leads to perhaps one of the greatest lines in recent fantasy: "I used to be his guitar," he said in his soft voice, "Jimi's, I mean."
And there are cats. Magical cats.
February 27, 2015
Abby and Makeda (am I the only one who wanted her name to be Makeba?) are twins in their early twenties, they were born conjoined twins. Abby walks with a limp, one of her legs is shorter than the other. But Makeda is the one who really feels different: she has no magic in a family of demigods in Toronto. Also, she has seizures.
Meanwhile, she’s moving into an apartment, trying to establish boundaries with her sister. But then life happens. This is a delightful book! I’m very glad I read it.
Bought for $15 from the Book House on 3/21/14.
Meanwhile, she’s moving into an apartment, trying to establish boundaries with her sister. But then life happens. This is a delightful book! I’m very glad I read it.
Bought for $15 from the Book House on 3/21/14.
August 2, 2016
I absolutely loved this book. It was my first time reading Nalo Hopkinson books I think it was a very interesting the relationship between Makeda and Abby. Makeda being born with out powers basically wrote off as the outcast of the family. While Abby is talented with her music and singing voice. Her Makeda throughout the story seems to want to be apart of the human and moves out and finds her own way. Makeda learns alot about herself and how her parents made sacrifice for her to live. I cannot say how much I loved this book and give it 5 stars
April 24, 2013
An amazing story. Myths, fantasies and legends will never cease to multiply with writers like Nalo Hopkinson among us.
Makeda and Abby are sisters, twin sisters bound closer than by only sharing a womb. But Abby has a huge talent and Makeda has no talent, no affinity linking her to the world, no individuality. Then when Makeda tries to launch out on her own to live her own life, however simple and dull that may be, the girls learn that talent may be more than they know of.
Makeda and Abby are sisters, twin sisters bound closer than by only sharing a womb. But Abby has a huge talent and Makeda has no talent, no affinity linking her to the world, no individuality. Then when Makeda tries to launch out on her own to live her own life, however simple and dull that may be, the girls learn that talent may be more than they know of.
August 24, 2018
This read is ok. Hopkinson is a great writer and her reads are full of culture & mythology but unfortunately I was a little disappointed and the read kinda lost Mi🤷🏽♀️
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May 3, 2023I'm a sucker for a sibling story.
January 14, 2024
I’m so glad Adrienne Marie Brown mentioned this author in her intro in Afterglow. I picked the book at random after looking up the author and scanning all the books they’ve written. I truly did not know what to expect.
I’m gonna be thinking about this for a while. The complicated and eternal bond of sisterhood. The chaos, harm, misunderstanding and yet belonging found in Family. The way she writes about sex, attraction and intimacy!!! The way she weaves the magic and power of music through the story. The way she depicts life and death as brothers and the complexity of their relationship! The imagination throughout… just like… wtf did I just read and how did it so quickly and deeply impact my worldview and my understanding of life, death and the spirit world. Like damn. Nalo did not come to play around! This was so fun to read yet packed full of some heavy shit!!! I looooove it when authors take me to this place. This. Whatever this is (Black Futurism?). This is my favorite genre. Feels similar to Octavia Butler and NK Jemisin yet completely different at the same time. I will definitely be reading more from Nalo! 🙇🏻♀️
I’m gonna be thinking about this for a while. The complicated and eternal bond of sisterhood. The chaos, harm, misunderstanding and yet belonging found in Family. The way she writes about sex, attraction and intimacy!!! The way she weaves the magic and power of music through the story. The way she depicts life and death as brothers and the complexity of their relationship! The imagination throughout… just like… wtf did I just read and how did it so quickly and deeply impact my worldview and my understanding of life, death and the spirit world. Like damn. Nalo did not come to play around! This was so fun to read yet packed full of some heavy shit!!! I looooove it when authors take me to this place. This. Whatever this is (Black Futurism?). This is my favorite genre. Feels similar to Octavia Butler and NK Jemisin yet completely different at the same time. I will definitely be reading more from Nalo! 🙇🏻♀️
July 2, 2017
I enjoyed this story - enough that, now that it's done, I keep thinking about Makeda and her mojo.
The first three-quarters of this book are simply excellent. Hopkinson has a rich world here, and the characters are lovely and rich and complicated and not always likable. Many times I was irritated by how Makeda and Abby responded to things - but not, interestingly, irritated by the book itself. I think that this is one mark of great writing - I was fully along for the ride of what Hopkinson was delivering.
The last quarter of the book got a little rushed, though, and things seemed less magical - even though magic/godliness/supernatural stuff was all over the place. Hopkinson doesn't explain everything fully (which is generally just fine for me - I like my writing with a little Mystery left in), and here it yielded a resolution that seemed a little... wishful? Not sure how to explain it.
Like good luck reigned.
Maybe that's part of Makeda's mojo? I'll have to ponder that awhile.
This is my first Hopkinson novel. Will not be my last.
The first three-quarters of this book are simply excellent. Hopkinson has a rich world here, and the characters are lovely and rich and complicated and not always likable. Many times I was irritated by how Makeda and Abby responded to things - but not, interestingly, irritated by the book itself. I think that this is one mark of great writing - I was fully along for the ride of what Hopkinson was delivering.
The last quarter of the book got a little rushed, though, and things seemed less magical - even though magic/godliness/supernatural stuff was all over the place. Hopkinson doesn't explain everything fully (which is generally just fine for me - I like my writing with a little Mystery left in), and here it yielded a resolution that seemed a little... wishful? Not sure how to explain it.
Like good luck reigned.
Maybe that's part of Makeda's mojo? I'll have to ponder that awhile.
This is my first Hopkinson novel. Will not be my last.
November 6, 2017
I do like nalo hopkinson a lot - she does things no one else is doing and her writing is always exiting and toronto! - and I did like this novel (though I would have liked her to explore the vessel/personhood/disability angle more) but I find her commitment to queering things - weird shit like an incestuous poly pan god family - kind of annoying and after reading an interview where she talks about queer sexualities being so much deeper more exciting etc than thinking in terms of gay/straight/bi rep, I just think hmmm when she writes these weird ass relationships. also hmmm when you break it down and see despite everyone being pan, the main romantic relationships are still between men and women. not as cutting edge queer as intended maybe lol. just my irrelevant two cents.
February 12, 2020
This is urban fantasy, similar to The Rivers of London or Dresden Files, set in Toronto against a background of Caribbean and Canadian culture and some additional themes and information about cojoined twins.
I found the characters and writing very good at the small and medium scales. The plot lacked the propulsion to make the novel compelling for me, and the ever-increasing incest references were hard to take as casually as the narrator doled them out, so I abandoned it about 60% of the way through.
I found the characters and writing very good at the small and medium scales. The plot lacked the propulsion to make the novel compelling for me, and the ever-increasing incest references were hard to take as casually as the narrator doled them out, so I abandoned it about 60% of the way through.
January 18, 2024
I have read this and Salt Roads and Skin Folk, and I have learned that Nalo Hopkinson's books are weird as fuck in a psychosexual way, often. This one is my fave thus far. The ending doesn't really match the tone of the rest of the book for me, but it's fine. Probably a 4.5 book for me for all the times it made me laugh out loud at absurdities, and the spot-on inner monologue of the main narrator. There's a sequence about knitting that is absolute perfection in character writing, imo.
Might come back and give this 5 in retrospect, we shall see.
Might come back and give this 5 in retrospect, we shall see.
June 12, 2018
There is so much to love about this book: unpredictable and surprising characters, especially the sisters...and Dolly...and Lars (who wouldn’t love Jimi’s guitar?)...and Butter and Yoplait and well, many of the characters; the Toronto setting; the language (so much to revel in); the mythology; the music; the story, yeah, that. This was my first book by Nalo Hopkinson and what a treat it is.
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