18h ago

Solarpunk

Today, I finally finished rereading A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.

It was fantastic and delightful in every way, absolutely incredible - perhaps even more than I remembered. This makes me want to reread The Night Circus as well; if this one was this good, than that one might be that good. Perchance.

Currently, though, I'm reading A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Well, it's OK. I like it, sure, but I'm liking it much less. For one, I think the novelty - maybe... - has worn off a bit. The world is brilliant and inviting - luscious, as per Martha Wells - but now that I've been introduced to it in the first book, it doesn't hit as hard in the second. Maybe. I think this logic is a little flawed, since I did enjoy it very much on reread. I don't know.

We might be going into some conflict resolution soon, but I guess I do feel like not much conflict has existed in the first, what, 3/4ths of the book? It's still pretty and all, and there's some insight to be gleaned, certainly, but I just don't feel as pulled in, this time around.

I'll finish the book, of course, maybe even today. Then, I don't know. I might go back to Shadow Slave - not that I've dropped it or anything - or I might give something else a try. Maybe even - and hold on to your jaws - non-fiction!

AAAAH!!!

Sorry, I scared myself there.

I read exclusively fiction for no reason other than the fact I've never read non-fiction outside of an academic context. Well, I guess I've read news articles and such; it won't be that much different, maybe. I hope it'll be interesting, at least.

Alternatively, I can just read fiction instead. I don't see why not, other than the fact that I don't feel particularly inclined toward any particular book. I could look stuff up, of course, but I always feel a little uncertain when picking up new stuff - as is normal, I do suspect. I'm strongly considering going with The Dresden Files.

Becky Chambers, give me your autograph. I promise to cherish it.

6 comments

If you liked The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern you also might like Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel by Susan Cooper.
I never read Solar Punk, I’ll give it a try.
Non-Fiction can be good as well. I recently read The Berlin Diary by William Shirer. It’s Shirers diary he wrote while stationed as a journalist during Nazi Germany and published when he came back to the US. It reads astonishingly modern and is absolutely infuriating while you read about his struggle to inform an oblivious american public about the crimes of the nazis.
On Writing Well by William Zinsser is also very entertaining and informative.
- Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel by Susan Cooper
  I've heard of this before, but ended up not going for it at the time. I'll add it to the list, thanks :D
  Thanks for the recs!
Free by Lea Ypi is one of my favourite non-fiction books 🤌 it's kinda in between fiction and non-fiction now that I think about it. It's a personal, diary style, description of a tumultuous childhood during an exceptional part of history.
- Thanks for the rec. Just read the synopsis; it sounds like something I should read, frankly.
  It's officially moved up to the top of the list.
Disclaimer: I have never actually read a Solarpunk novel. However, from my my understanding of Solarpunk it seems like your complaint of a lack of conflict seems quite understandable. Solarpunk is a more or less utopian setting, so creating a compelling conflict is likely quite challenging.
Also, for a non-fiction recommendation, I would recommend The War for Kindness by Jamil Zaki. It's an insightful and compelling book that reveals why empathy seems to lack in some people.
Alternatively, for a sci-fi recommendation I would recommend The Silence trilogy by D Nolan Clark. Excellent novels.
- Thanks for the recs :D
  Solarpunk is a more or less utopian setting, so creating a compelling conflict is likely quite challenging.
  Well, maybe in the traditional sense. I think there's value in art for beauty - simply describing a beautiful, idyllic world might be enough for a good novella - but conflict is the nexus of narrative, of a compelling one, at least. The first book, for example - A Psalm for the Wild-Built - centers the internal conflict of the MC. The second book (which I've now finished) feels more like a journey in a physical sense - walking around; there are different philosophies explored, but it doesn't feel nearly as meaningful; also, at the end, a big question is asked, so it kinda feels like the whole book was a build-up - read: justification - for the last couple of pages wherein the conflict is both confronted and resolved, meaning, it's practically absent for 95% of readtime.
  ...The War for Kindness by Jamil Zaki... ...The Silence trilogy by D Nolan Clark...
  Added to the list! :D

6 comments