Lisa > Recent Status Updates

Still enjoying this book! The philosophy, the road trip, the mystery, BUT I want to note: sometimes the changes between philosophy and road trip are really sudden. Without any break, the author can hop from an essay on the beauty of the scientific method to "oh shit we're almost getting hit by a truck on this crappy narrow road"

I generally like the changes between the topics, but sometimes it's just too fast.

For a 50 year old book, it's still very relevant to the current day and age: "The Chautauquas [a traveling tent show] were pushed aside by faster-paced radio, movies and TV, and it seems to me that the change was not entirely an improvement. Perhaps because of these changes the stream of national consciousness moves faster now, and is broader, but it seems to run less deep."

Did someone say TikTok brain rot?

Excited to return to TJ Klune's Cerulean Sea stories! First bit of the book was a delight of nostalgia paired with the rise of in universe activism. Magical rights are human rights. The introduction of the book makes it no secret that this is a parallel for trans rights. This does change the tone of the book for me. It takes away some escapism and whimsy, but at the same time it makes the story even more vivid.

Earlier, I wasn't sure if I was gonna finish it. I still think this book is too edgy teenager for me in general-- BUT when the protagonist is not with her teacher, it's not as cringe! The action is actually pretty good. Still I'm not a big action fan. So, I'll finish this, but skip the rest of the series. It helps that this is just my audiobook in the car, so the time investment isn't too intense.

Many new names and loredrops, but the story is so on!!

I'm not sure if I'm going to finish this. On one hand, the audiobook isn't that long and it's not bad-bad. But it's not a literary masterpiece either. My expectation going in was: interesting political fantasy world about evil being necessary in a way. But the protagonist is a bit too snarky teenager energy for me. As is the writing style itself, in a way. I'll continue for now, because things are finally happening.

The Power had a bit of a rough start, but after the halfway point, it escalates. Also helps that my least-favorite narrative (Allie/Eve) is less prominent now. Slowly, the Handmaid's Tale vibes are getting in.