Reviews and Comments

Re-reading for book club

Let's do this again

Not a huge fan of horror, but this is excellently written. Gripping and in a very entertaining style, a page turner you will fly through.

A rare example of the genre of Cyber-Anti-Punk: Set in a dystopian corpocracy, all about a quest to preserve the status quo of lawless capitalism.

It's good Sci-Fi and a fun plot, though, if you can look past the themes.

Gut-wrenching. I think what broke me most is that even though the book already starts in a post-apocalyptic world, with societies institutions pretty much completely broken down, Lauren (the protagonist) spends the first half of the book talking about having to prepare "in case it gets bad". As another character puts it: "We haven't hit bottom yet". But as bad as it gets, the story provides at least a glimmer of hope, in teaching the merits of mutual aid.

It's too bad Butler didn't get to continue and finish the series past the first two books. She clearly put down the seeds (no pun intended) for a pretty epic, millenia-spanning story. I wish we'd get to read it.

This was the first book by Octavia Butler I read and her ability to speak in allegory is uncanny. It's an absolute page-turner, a gripping story. While also being a scathing indictment of the colonialist mindset and asking some of the most uncomfortable questions about free will and the human condition. I have rarely enjoyed being thrown into an existential crisis this much.

Just as good the second time around :)

A mind bending book. The way Segal perceived the world is a fascinating glimpse into the complexity of human consciousness.

From the description, this might turn you away from leaning too much into esoteric and meta-physics. But the actual truth is surprisingly nuanced. Segal has strong backgrounds both in spiritual movements and psychology and she doesn't shy away from using or critizising either lens. I found her descriptions mostly compatible with my own atheist world view. She doesn't seem to try to indoctrinate the reader. So I recommend approaching her story with an open mind.

This was one of the wildest books I've read this year. A great mix of novel, non-fiction essays and almost poetic chapters. It makes for an interesting read and every other chapter gave me a new inspiration to read up on a new concept I've never heard of.

It's also eco-socialist wish-fulfillment. What if we could just convince some of the most central powerful institutions to just try? To actually implement the systemic changes needed to get through the climate crisis? And do away with capitalism in the process?

I really liked it. It's not all rosy glasses, it's actually pretty brutal. But at the end of it all, it's hopeful. I think we need that right now - I certainly do.

One of those books you pick up and you can't put down again until you're done. Absolutely amazing 🤯

Riveting. I've read the short story, so I knew the plot. But I still couldn't help but cry. The premise is a stroke of genius and the execution excellent. You can't help but love the Charlie. Definite recommendation.

This is the first thing I've read from Dickens. His prose is unbearable. But the writing overall is surprisingly good. The characters are interesting, the plot is well constructed, the themes are well represented. Probably shouldn't be as surprised, given how successful he was, but yes, well deserved.