This was listed as the founding novel of the “dark academia” genre so it’s been on my list for a while. The writing is gorgeous, the kind of lush gothic creepiness that I associate with du Maurier; the content is also delightfully nerdy, full of references to literature and the classics. The narrator comes from a lower-class background, which allows him to view his high society classmates through a critical lens, even as he idolizes them and aspires to join their ranks. Meanwhile said classmates, who have no obvious grasp of how things work in the real world, drag the narrator into their obsession with the ancient Greeks, as well as their complicated interpersonal dynamics. The characters are a little too odd and unlikeable to be truly sympathetic, but the beautiful writing and the tense plot will carry you through.
Month: August 2022
Dandelion, by Jamie Chai Yun Liew
Lily is the child of two ethnic Chinese who immigrated to Canada from Brunei. Her father, who was stateless (without citizenship) in Brunei, wholeheartedly embraces his Canadian citizenship and identity; in contrast, her mother cannot (or will not) adapt to the colder, drier climate and longs to return. This conflict culminates in the mother’s abrupt departure, which haunts Lily until she becomes a mother herself. Seeking closure, she sets out to find out what happened to her mother. The writing style is simple and sometimes a bit awkward, but the novel is touching, with themes of culture clash, mental illness, citizenship, belonging, and how family ties can support and stifle in equal measure.
Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy’s Guide to the Constitution, by Elie Mystal
Mystal’s take on the Constitution of the United States is essentially this: it was written by white male supremacists interested in codifying white male supremacy, and then interpreted and enforced by further white male supremacists interested in retaining said supremacy; this has continued right up through to the current day, with only occasional hard-fought moments of relief. He backs this up with quotations, facts from the historical record, and examples from current events. Mystal does not spare liberals either, excoriating them for working within a system designed to promote inequality, instead of fixing the racist foundations. His tone is educated, snarky, occasionally profane, and incredibly readable; the only reason I couldn’t devour this in one go is because there is only so much rage I can handle (and corroborating examples from the news) before I need to give my brain a break.
The Old Woman With the Knife, by Gu Byeong-mo, trans. Chi-Young Kim
One would think that a book whose main character is a contract assassin would be fast-moving and violent, but instead this book takes its time. Hornclaw, an unassuming woman in her sixties, uses her age as a visual shield: no one suspects the grandma. Yet her shield of uncaring and unattachment, built over decades, begins to crack just as a very personal threat looms. I thought the pacing of the plot was a little uneven – seemed like over half the book was taken up in a detailed portrait of Hornclaw’s circumstances before all the plot points started to rain hurriedly in – but I liked the flow of the prose and the social commentary on the role of the elderly.
Null Set, by S.L. Huang
Sequel to Zero Sum Game, which saw mathematical (anti) heroine Cas Russell claim victory, but possibly at the cost of her own sanity. She spends most of this book dealing with the fallout from that and (over)reacting in ways that make both friends and enemies nervous. Her motives are pure but her tactics are extremely questionable, and she gradually works herself into a corner from which not even she can plot a possible escape vector. Loved how the title was used in the plot; definitely wondering what will come next.
A Hero Born, by Jin Yong, trans. Anna Holmwood
No one watches a wuxia movie for the clever plot and detailed characterization; similarly, no one should read A Hero Born (Legend of the Condor Heroes, #1) expecting anything approaching a coherent storyline. It’s all about the action. The bones of a story are there: two fathers die, two baby sons live to carry on their legacies, they are separated but fated to meet… but it all gets drowned beneath the crazy martial arts nonsense, and boy do they get into depth with that. It’s kind of like watching an entire season of Dragon Ball Z – not deep, nor exactly logical, but undeniably entertaining.
The Nameless City trilogy, by Faith Erin Hicks
The Nameless City trilogy consists of three books: The Nameless City, The Stone Heart, and The Divided Earth. The city in question has been conquered so many times that its name has been lost; its inhabitants merely put their heads down and just try to get by. Kaidu, an extremely unwarlike scion of the current occupiers, slowly gains the trust of a native girl who calls herself Rat, and soon the two find themselves at the center of a conflict that could destroy the city. The main characters were adorable and even the villains were deftly handled; the art style was simple and clean with great details, especially when it comes to illustrating the city itself. It’s theoretically for kids, but the complex character motivations and the themes of identity and belonging make it good reading material for adults as well.
Book collage, July 2022
It’s been a busy month; only nine books to talk about, and one was a novella and one a short story. I also hit “deliver later” on a bunch of library books that came off the hold list; hopefully I’ll have time to get to them next month (there are quite an intimidating number of them!).
In the meantime, very much enjoying visiting with family and friends. Really can’t complain.
The Thief, by Megan Whalen Turner
How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, by Clint Smith
The Serpent Sea, by Martha Wells
The Queen of Attolia, by Megan Whalen Turner
Home: Habitat, Range, Niche, Territory, by Martha Wells
Point of Knives, by Melissa Scott
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers
Scorpica, by G.R. Macallister
In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson