Title:
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Palimpsest
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Author:
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Catherynne M. Valente
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Genre:
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Fiction
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Synopsis:
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Individuals find gateways to another world that they visit in their dreams, that marks their skin and makes demands of their flesh. As these visitors chase meaning and contact with their new reality, the history of the city they’re visiting slowly unfurls.
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Verdict:
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Beautiful imagery and stories woven together to look at the lives and motivations of different people and explore certain ideas. A nice read.
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Pages:
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367
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Read:
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April – May 2011
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30 April 2011
#117. Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente
#116. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi
Title: | The Windup Girl |
Author: | Paolo Bacigalupi |
Genre: | Science Fiction/Semi Post-Apocalyptic |
Synopsis: | In a future Thailand, after the world’s crops have been ravaged by uncontainable contaminations, a corporation man tries to find ways to exploit the stability the Thai people have fought to achieve. Meanwhile in the slums of the city an abandoned genetically modified concubine finds herself both at the mercy of and the cause of society shaking events. |
Verdict: | Very scary view of how resources, trade and society would be fundamentally threatened and altered by diseases and corruptions that cannot be eradicated by chemicals. A very honest view that doesn’t pull any punches but still lets each character be human rather than an easily pigeonholed caricature. |
Pages: | 505 |
Read: | April 2011 |
#115. Packing For Mars by Mary Roach
Title: | Packing For Mars |
Author: | Mary Roach |
Genre: | Humorous Research |
Synopsis: | Exploring the psychological, social, personal and logical challenges and requirements of space travel, especially with regards to travelling to Mars. |
Verdict: | A fantastic, informative and enjoyable read. It confirmed that space travel is awesome but very definitely not for me, it made me feel too claustrophobic. |
Pages: | 275 |
Read: | April 2011 |
#114. Plucker by Brom
Title: | Plucker |
Author: | Brom |
Genre: | Supernatural |
Synopsis: | A spirit doll containing a malevolent spirit is brought into an unsuspecting home and a child’s toys must protect their owner. |
Verdict: | Brom does creepy and touching very well and his illustrations are amazing. Loved it. |
Pages: | 143 |
Read: | April 2011 |
#113. The Stone-Cutter by Camilla Läckberg
Title: | The Stone-Cutter |
Author: | Camilla Läckberg |
Genre: | Crime/Thriller |
Synopsis: | A small girl is found drowned, presumably the victim of an accident, but evidence slowly comes to light suggesting something a lot darker. |
Verdict: | Very well done with excellent plotting, character development and a patient drawing out of personal stories over the series. Camilla Läckberg always seems to pay as much attention to the details of the back stories as she does to the main story line which makes for a very rich read. |
Pages: | 473 |
Read: | April 2011 |