Books Post

[radiantfracture]

Since the last books post, I finished Girl, Woman, Other, which I continue to admire. Evaristo's long poetic-prose line creates a clear yet rippling stream of consciousness. She handles pacing flawlessly. Each chapter immerses you completely in a character, their pain and happiness; then you move on, but this movement doesn't have the unsatisfying feel that such a device could have. Each new chapter is so absorbing that I was happy to let go of the last and be pulled along. I have put a couple more of her books on hold at the library.

Not all of the characters had the same clarity and vividness for me of the first two adult characters, Amma and Dominique, but those two are also closest to my own experience (activists, artists, theatre folk) -- and they were at the beginning, when the approach was freshest.

I liked Evaristo's affectionate skepticism about activist absolutes. I liked the way she dug into history to show Black British women with roots and ties to the land many generations deep, as well as invoking more familiar stories of immigration. I thought the non-binary character was convincingly drawn, though I think I wanted them to be more self-possessed -- which is just a want, not a flaw in the book. The book has expansive but not naive compassion.

Maybe I wanted a stronger sense of crystallization or revelation from the end of the book, something that turned the style back on itself? But, reflecting, I don't think that's the only way for this technique to resolve, or that such a moment was Evaristo's purpose. The party scene resolves the style formally, mixing perspectives and adding in further voices. I don't think Evaristo had pyrotechnic goals for that scene -- it's about connections and community, not revelation -- and it accomplishes that marking of a moment of community and change, the constant trickling of time forward, old connections shifting, new connections forming. It makes sense that there's no crest to that wave, just more waves. No particular need to climb Story Mountain; maybe more need to wash it away.

Anyway, great book.

I also read Murderbot 2 and 3. I got 5 next in the library lottery, but I think I'll wait for 4 because it felt disorienting stepping into the plot in the wrong moment. Still fun: like bingeing a great TV show, reasonably enough.

Quick book notes

• I read a book of poetry for review.
• I've not made much progress with Orwell's Roses, but I will stick it out a bit longer.
• I'm nearing the end of A Farewell to Arms.
• I have a bunch of stuff on hold that I got excited about because podcasts.

{rf}

Comments

[sovay]

I have put a couple more of her books on hold at the library.

Have I already recommended The Emperor's Babe (2001)? It was my introduction to Evaristo and I still adore it.

that marking of a moment of community and change, the constant trickling of time forward, old connections shifting, new connections forming. It makes sense that there's no crest to that wave, just more waves.

I like that kind of structure very much.

[radiantfracture]

I like that kind of structure very much.

The more I think about it, the more pleased I am with it.

Have I already recommended The Emperor's Babe (2001)?

I'm not sure, though I remember reading an enthusiastic review (yours?) -- In any case, it's one of the ones I put on order, though /Mr. Loverman/ has come in first. (I'd forgotten she wrote that, and have meant for ages to read it, so that's two good Evaristo convergences.)

[sovay]

I'm not sure, though I remember reading an enthusiastic review (yours?)

If it was me, I probably linked this excerpt. Enjoy Mr. Loverman! I have not read it and it looks great.

[larryhammer]

Er, yeah -- Murderbot 5 (and 6) will spoil you heavily for 4, and including several of the sort of plotty things that do lesson appreciation.

1-4 are a tightly knit plot arc. Once you've read those, 5 and 6 can be read in either order. (#6 was written after 5, but is set between 4 and 5, and is designed to not spoil 5 nor be spoiled by it. It's not exactly a side-quest but it's more character deepening than story advancing, if that makes sense.)

[radiantfracture]

Yeah, after a couple of sentences I carefully put it away. But now I am drumming my mechanical fingers waiting for the book to come in.

[sabotabby]

Not all of the characters had the same clarity and vividness for me of the first two adult characters, Amma and Dominique, but those two are also closest to my own experience (activists, artists, theatre folk) -- and they were at the beginning, when the approach was freshest.

This is intriguing. Could be my jam?

[radiantfracture]

I think it would be nearly anyone's jam? Most of the characters are not activists, and I would say they tend to skew middle class -- the book's ideas read to me as reflective and broadly critical rather than radical, but then I skew to the radical side of ideas.

My friend K. read this and /Homegoing/ at about the same time and said the two books used similar structural devices (varied & generational POV characters), but that she liked /Homegoing/ better -- but I have not read /Homegoing/ yet.

[watervole]

Yes, you really need to read Murderbot in order. And don't miss the small novella that squeezes in just before the longer novel. (I think it's 'Home Habitat Range', but you'd have to check)

[radiantfracture]

Thank you! I hadn't thought of that one.