ZenAndCyrrene - Network

I found myself unexpectedly charmed by Tress Of The Emerald Sea (Brandon Sanderson). The addition of a wry narrator greatly enlivens...

I found myself unexpectedly charmed by Tress Of The Emerald Sea (Brandon Sanderson). The addition of a wry narrator greatly enlivens Sanderson's prose, which I normally find to be mediocre. The characters are mostly likable too, particularly Tress and her found family of pirates, as they sailed a well-crafted world of seas filled not with water, but with colorful (and deadly) spores.

I sometimes think about Sanderson's enviable ability to create interesting worlds - and how they usually fail to engage me. Though it's no direct fault of his, it feels like the outsized success of the Cosmere has pressured fantasy publishing towards strictly systematized worlds and magic systems. Massive MCU universes and anime-ish, epic battles to match, where wonder, whimsy, and lyricism take a back seat.

With Tress, Sanderson has shrugged off the weight of his own worlds to create a story full of heart. And for that, of all the Sanderson #books I've read, I enjoyed Tress of The Emerald Sea the most.

Hah, good grief, I hadn't realized that 1) I have no profile info and 2) adding one posts it.So I guess I'll have to come up with a...

Hah, good grief, I hadn't realized that 1) I have no profile info and 2) adding one posts it.

So I guess I'll have to come up with a good intro.

On the complete opposite end, I also read The Winged Histories (Sofia Samatar), which tells the stories of four women during a time of...

On the complete opposite end, I also read The Winged Histories (Sofia Samatar), which tells the stories of four women during a time of rebellion in the #fantasy land of Olondria, and whew - I can only dream of writing like Samatar does.

I read the #book blind and found out afterwards that Samatar is a professor of English and a poet, and it shows, with stunning prose that winds and weaves around big themes: femininity, gender, colonization, the loss of cultural identity. A standout section for me was one that was written in second person and conveys a kind of deep intimacy that comes about usually when lovers lie side-by-side, sharing the pain in themselves.

So yes, literary fantasy through and through, and so I can't recommend it if you're looking for something standard. Samatar isn't going to ease you in; the plot frequently jumps around in time and POV, lending it a dreamlike quality. But if you want lovingly rendered themes and prose, this is one to read. #bookstodon

Couple of #fantasy #book reviews.The easier one to review is Into The Labyrinth: Mage Errant 1 (John Bierce). Clocking in at a breezy 216...

Couple of #fantasy #book reviews.

The easier one to review is Into The Labyrinth: Mage Errant 1 (John Bierce). Clocking in at a breezy 216 pages, this magical school fantasy is very typical in many ways, featuring young underdog heroes who come into their unique powers while overcoming their personal challenges.

What set this one apart for me was the fact that Bierce clearly understood the emotional landscapes of his characters, and as a result, was able to insert some subtext that one normally doesn't expect in books that follow this formula.

I mean, you shouldn't expect anything too heavy or nuanced here, and Bierce doesn't bash you over the head with it. At the end of the day, this is still a light fantasy about going to magic school. But it is refreshing to see depth in books like this.

I've been around. I joined Twitter originally in 2008.Of the services I've tried so far, Mastodon feels most like those early days....

I've been around. I joined Twitter originally in 2008.

Of the services I've tried so far, Mastodon feels most like those early days. Small, quiet, and friendly.

I'm sure I'll get to know more of you over time. For now, it's nice to just hang out. :)

(it's not COVID - unless I'm just that bad at testing myself that I flubbed it 3 times)

(it's not COVID - unless I'm just that bad at testing myself that I flubbed it 3 times)

This respiratory illness, whatever it is, has been keeping me awake at night. During the witching hour, I'm tortured by the mistakes...

This respiratory illness, whatever it is, has been keeping me awake at night.

During the witching hour, I'm tortured by the mistakes I've made in my life, such as pre-ordering Heavy Rain for the PlayStation 3.

On the classic literary fiction side, 100 Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez) was a book that I meant to read for about twenty years,...

On the classic literary fiction side, 100 Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez) was a book that I meant to read for about twenty years, and when I finally got to it, I spend about half of it pretty engaged but also little bemused, and then subsequently, the other half of it in in awe.

This book is frequently cited as a pillar of both magical realism and 20th century Latin American literature, and it more than earns its reputation for those.

But what stuck with me most even now, months after I read it, was how vividly Garcia Marquez depicted solitude - the ways that people seek solitude, and just as importantly, the ways in which people inflict solitude on others, deliberately or accidentally. Because of this, I sincerely believe that anyone who reads this book and truly seeks to understand it will become a better person.

#books #Reading #bookstodon

I also loved Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki.A trans girl runs away (CW abuse, sex work, transphobia) to L.A. and finds refuge in a...

I also loved Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki.

A trans girl runs away (CW abuse, sex work, transphobia) to L.A. and finds refuge in a found family and her violin skills. Also there are aliens and demons. As you do.

What strikes me is the passion that Aoki poured into it, both in depicting life as a trans woman (Aoki is trans), and the fabric of Asian American and Latinx life in San Gabriel Valley.

When she describes the donut shop, the boba cafe, the streets and malls, the FOOD - I'm instantly transported. As an Asian American in CA, so much of this is achingly familiar.

But importantly, the heart of the book is the trans experience, having to map out the safe spaces, to avoid abuse, and to find the places where you truly belong.

If you need books to be neatly paced or to fit within neat genre lines, this is not for you. Some have complained about its whiplash between darkness and cheeriness. But if you can look past those, this book is highly recommended. #books

In no particular order, here are some standout #books for me from the past few years. The Lions of Al-Rassan is the book that won me over...

In no particular order, here are some standout #books for me from the past few years.

The Lions of Al-Rassan is the book that won me over for author Guy Gavriel Kay. The characters are memorable and likable, and as they slowly get to know each other and form tentative bonds, Kay then asks the question - can these new relationships survive the flames of war and of religious bigotry?

It's a bittersweet, melancholy work, set in an alternate Moorish Spain and tied together by Kay's superb prose.

After reading this book, I ended up seeking out most of Kay's other books and reading them all.

I should start by talking about the kinds of #books I enjoy #Reading ! Usually, I swing between fantasy/science fiction, literary fiction,...

I should start by talking about the kinds of #books I enjoy #Reading !

Usually, I swing between fantasy/science fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction/essays. As you can imagine, there's a special place in my heart for literary SFF.

Prose is really important to me; beautifully written prose will draw me into a book like nothing else. Next comes good characterization - I want to care about the characters! Plot keeps me reading and I love strong themes as well.

About the only thing I'm not too fussed about is world-building, oddly enough for an SFF reader. I appreciate good world-building, but it's not strictly necessary for me to enjoy a book. I also don't really need a hard magic system or for a book to move at breakneck pace.

#bookstodon

I made the mistake of having Twitter be the only place where I kept track of my #books and #reading, through a long Twitter thread.I am...

I made the mistake of having Twitter be the only place where I kept track of my #books and #reading, through a long Twitter thread.

I am going to start talking more about books here though. 1000 characters makes it much easier to write cogently about books.

Plus, I just love talking about books!

I see that Threads' home feed is a mess. That's a shame as I'm not particularly in the mood to be force-fed celebrity...

I see that Threads' home feed is a mess. That's a shame as I'm not particularly in the mood to be force-fed celebrity threads.

Weird way to start the service.

And here's a sketch for the next character. I don't know how to draw a hat, that much is clear, so I'm going to have to figure...

And here's a sketch for the next character.

I don't know how to draw a hat, that much is clear, so I'm going to have to figure that out.

I started drawing again about two days ago just so that I can better imagine what the characters in the book I'm writing.My art needs...

I started drawing again about two days ago just so that I can better imagine what the characters in the book I'm writing.

My art needs serious improvement, but all I gotta do is to draw concept art for my characters and the funny thing is, it actually does help me visualize my scenes. Not to mention, it helps me keep their visual design consistent.

So I guess I have to draw all of my main characters now. Luckily, it's fun to do that.

Well, I'm back. I don't know why I kept going back to Twitter in the first place, but that's the end of that. Hi.

Well, I'm back. I don't know why I kept going back to Twitter in the first place, but that's the end of that. Hi.

I went to San Francisco Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival. A bit crowded for me, but the vibe was generally happy and excited, and...

I went to San Francisco Japantown for the Cherry Blossom Festival. A bit crowded for me, but the vibe was generally happy and excited, and I'm glad to see that the community has made it through the last few years.

I've been told that content about #ai is popular.

I've been told that content about #ai is popular.

Hello everyone, suggest some cool people to follow. Thanks!

Hello everyone, suggest some cool people to follow. Thanks!