Cecile > Recent Status Updates

Some find this book too filled with characters and world building.

I agree and yet I love it. There’s a lot going on. A LOT.

Strange names and terms and ranks and processes involving augmenting the body in frankly bizarre ways that serve a complex community.

And then there’s the sea monsters.

I dared to read some 1 star reviews to measure my own reactions. Some felt the book is doing too much. That may be the case, but I’m eating it up. Some feel detached from the detectives. I’m okay with them, although I’m waiting for a shoe to drop about Kol and his exam which earned him his role. So, while I agree with some of the 1 star reviews, I’m quite enjoying the book.

A book for white people to learn the richness of my people’s resilience, creativity and intelligence. To learn even more about their people’s casual savagery, theft and exploitation of others. Still going on, to include the attempt to erase our history.

Amazingly intriguing. You’ve got characters with names such as Anath Topirak, Nusis and Miljin. You’ve got hierarchy of engineers, apotheks and engravers with titles such as Conzulate and Immunis. And, towns named Talagray and Oypat on some mythical peninsula or island. Homes are built of fern paper. Then you read the occasional “fuck,” “shit.” They speak English!! Or that is the translation, right?

Skimming, skimming so I can finish this GD series. I’m so tired of it, but I want to get to the last page of the last book. So no audio for me. Just skim.

I’m enjoying the writing style. The world-building is fascinating. The motive for murder is, to be expected with humans, political/greed?

I have to admit that as a black person, I don’t generally enjoy these bios. That’s because the savagery of whites is always is part of the story. Been there, done that. The casual brutality of whites, even against each other, has filled me to the gills. I want no more but I’ll keep on as this is a book club read.

The story moves along nicely. The reader has a pleasant, smooth voice, changing it to reflect different characters, but gently so.
Lots of depictions of nuanced behaviors, and an intriguing tale.
I’ve always been fascinated by abandoned buildings, and this tale has one. And the detectives go inside it.

Tongue in cheek and dark at the same time. No overarching theme I can detect yet except a spy-related mystery. I could put it down but will continue. The first one had more humanity and the pursuit of basic justice.

I will say the reader is amazing.

What a miserable lot from all of the classes depicted.

Just starting this book. It jumps right into tension.

Dnf
Interesting how there are no written reviews. Although I enjoyed the first two, I don’t care what happens in this one. It feels repetitive, so I am putting it down.

I’m hanging in there—I wasn’t sure where this was all going. I must say, I’m surprised with the reveal. At least one of the reveals. Another one is coming.

Anyway, I was doubled over after the sheep Mopple ate a whole bag of grass,thinking it was regular grass. Too funny. A nice respite in a somber story.

There are some laugh out loud bits.

The narrator is perfect. Keeps me going on with the tale. I have to admit to liking the sheep. Not sure I’m keeping up with the story, however. Anyway, it’s rather quaint. And one has to continue suspending belief as the sheep understand some things and not others. I don’t mind that as it keeps the story going.

Not sure what to make of this tale. So many characters, both sheep and human. Sometimes I think I’m following and sometimes I’m not so sure. I will keep on, intrigued.

I’m skimming. Looking for the initial consummation of their relationship: Alison and the cyborg. Then I’ll read the last part.

So incredibly bleak. Not sure I’ll finish it. However, I’m curious. Hope it’s more than a rant on draconian corporate powers and have/have not commentary. I believe in social justice, yet evil corporation tropes aren’t entertaining.

Certainly quirky with moments where I chuckled. Some parts I had to read again. You can’t let your mind drift here. I didn’t always follow. There’s a clue with a sheep’s point of view describing it, but I haven’t figured out what it is yet. I’m curious to see the art direction for this one in the film.

DNF

Hmm. Not enjoying this book at all. First the burglary, then the pstd, then her poor boyfriend. I don’t think I’ll finish this.

Already feeling pummeled by this story. Bad dreams, a break in, and alcohol abuse. This is my book club’s choice, so I will read it sips at a time. Maybe I’ll finish it.

Not especially enjoying this tale. I keep reading because I want to know how it all ends.
There’s so many obstacles—deadly ones—that come like waves. And they always come out unscathed.
So, I find myself skimming through the skirmishes to get to the rest spot.

Love the characters in the team. KFC is excellently drawn as an asshole.
What I don’t like is something in every one of these stories: “something pricked as his subconscious out of reach.” And it seems to be the last clue to pull everything together.

Skimming over the skirmishes. So many—in space, on the ground. Reading for the thread of the story.

Not going to finish it. Not interested in a dull love affair. Love that this woman now has a story many can read about; learning about her contribution to the Harlem Renaissance. But I think I’d prefer a straightforward bio.

Hmm. One serious problem after another. Unrelenting, like the waves of a storm at sea. They always seem to come out okay, but I don’t know if I can take the whole book. I just skipped a whole chapter where pirates have kidnapped two of the people. I’ll skim until they’re saved and wonder what’s the next problem.

It’s okay. One problem after another. Overdrawn toxic macho shit. A bit on the cartoonish side. Nevertheless, I will continue.

A good read but I’m a bit weary of the “just out of his reach” regarding memories or unconscious connections used to pop up towards the end of the book to solve the crime.

The story is keeping me occupied enough, as I write postcards to voters, drive, and do chores. The humor has me occasionally laughing out loud. The comic relief is helpful as my mood not only needs escape but something to laugh with. These tales hit the spot. I like the team and not one of them has the serious flaw trope. Imagine—a police procedural without the alcohol or deep trauma trope.