Recent reading

[luzula]

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine (2019)
Read for my fannish book club. All of us loved this! \o/ I had high expectations, since a lot of people on my reading list have been talking up this book. And I was not disappointed: the worldbuilding, the plot, the characters, the writing--it's all immensely enjoyable. Looking forward to the sequel.

Blue at the Mizzen and 21 by Patrick O'Brian (1999)
I checked, and it's been three years since I read the previous book in the series. Which is because I could not really forgive O'Brian for what he did in that book. I did enjoy these last books, because they have the same style that I love, and who could begrudge Jack his flag (or pennant, or whatever it's called)? But I think Diana is mentioned only in one place, and only because of some practicality. It's like she's erased from the narrative, and I hate that. : ( That said, I am sure I will enjoy re-reading the whole series at some future point in my life.

Comments

[dolorosa_12]

I'm glad you enjoyed A Memory Called Empire. It was one of my favourite new books read this year, and it makes me very happy to see others enjoying it as well.

[luzula]

I have not seen anyone who didn't enjoy it, I think!

[dolorosa_12]

Same here. If it doesn't win all the genre awards next year I'll be astonished.

[auroracloud]

I really enjoyed A Memory Called Empire, too! I read it very recently and hadn't yet gotten around to writing anything about it, but it was fascinating, especially the worldbuilding and the way it handled various political and cultural themes, and the characters were fabulous as well.

[luzula]

There was one bit I related to that you possibly might as well--Sweden is of course not under threat of being colonized, but I read a whole lot of books in English, as Mahit does in Teixcalaanli. There was one year in which my goal was that less than a third of all books I read should be American. I reached it, but it was a bit of a struggle.