The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis Book Review

Rawr Reader,

One of the wonderful things about books is it can bring people together over different periods of time. It can bring people together who share nothing in common. It invites discussions. Inspires movie adaptations. It can be for a book club—in which case the latter is the truth for me. This particular book club is small, just my sister and I. Naturally I gravitate toward fiction and my sister non-, so when she suggested The Future We Choose for our March pick, a book dealing on climate change—a subject of interest for both of us, I couldn't wait to dive in.

Up until this point I've only done reviews for fiction titles. I think this is a perfect bridge into the other side of the written word.

The synopsis of The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac is provided by Goodreads, my trusty source on all things book:

Climate change: it is arguably the most urgent and consequential issue humankind has ever faced. How we address it in the next thirty years will determine the kind of world we will live in and will bequeath to our children and to theirs.

In The Future We Choose, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac--who led negotiations for the United Nations during the historic Paris Agreement of 2015—have written a cautionary but optimistic book about the world's changing climate and the fate of humanity.

The authors outline two possible scenarios for our planet. In one, they describe what life on Earth will be like by 2050 if we fail to meet the Paris climate targets. In the other, they lay out what it will be like to live in a carbon neutral, regenerative world. They argue for confronting the climate crisis head-on, with determination and optimism. The Future We Choose presents our options and tells us what governments, corporations, and each of us can and must do to fend off disaster.

Reference:

I have been introduced to this book through environmental accounts I follow and my sister. I can't recall which came first.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book)

    Climate change is a global issue. One part of the world may not feel its impacts but even those in developed countries can't shut their ears off from the outcries of protesters. Climate change deniers may certainly ignore, change the channel, unfriend someone, hang up, but no one can stop hearing about it for long. Over the years the volume from the megaphone has only increased.

   So what does Figueres and Rivett-Carnac, key contributors to the Paris Agreement in 2015, do in The Future We Choose that works so well in addressing the climate change issue?

    I think tackling such a large issue calls to reason we must analyze the worldwide and national data, but the way to make waves of change is to start small, which is exactly how the authors focused on addressing this issue. Let's not even get into the body of the book, look at the framework of the main title:

The Future - zoom out

We - zoom in

Choose - the step forward, to continue to recognize and address this as both something we must zoom out from and introspectively zoom in to constantly

    The structure of the book follows the pathway of its title. The first challenges you to imagine, zooming out of your own personal experience through life to see how the earth may become if there is inaction and the efforts toward curbing and outright stopping greenhouse emissions by 2050 (highlighting the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold we cannot pass). However there is another side. Zooming out to see how the earth might become if we look at the data and act, from small scale models within a household to large scale visions with government and national action. The diction used to convey the heat of the planet in the former with the cooling and regenerative planet with the latter was executed brilliantly. I thought I was reading non-fiction but those two chapters really felt apocalyptic and utopian in their narratives. 

    The We in the novel calls onto us to ask ourselves to toughen our mindsets, yet introspectively be open and flexible to change. How both? Well, the world right now is on a trajectory. That trajectory is leading us to an unfavorable end with the cost being many animal and plant species becoming extinct, entire ecosystems withering away, and the quality of human life on the precipice of destruction. What our authors want us to know is that while the missile has been shot and is indeed on a negative trajectory, human will and human efforts can become the wind that redirects that trajectory. We don't need to continue down a self-destructive path. In fact we are still within the window of meaningful change.

    With resolve people can take the mantle and steer the course. It starts small. It starts with the mind. The mind is our most powerful weapon. While it can deceptively make us believe we ourselves are powerless because we are only one person, we are out of reach, we don't have a voice—we most certainly can make a difference. In a nation with free speech, in a democratic nation with power to elect officials who reflect our ideals, in a nation where the words and thoughts of those half way around the world are reachable, the future we need is more accessible and changeable than ever before. It begins with the mind though. To teach ourselves that the negative reports and influx of studies propagating impending doom doesn't mean we're reached the point we are powerless to make a change. The authors present combating these forces with three mindsets to help in facing the titanic issue of climate change: Stubborn Optimism, Endless Abundance, and Radical Regeneration.

    While on the surface my mind preferred to read about the first and the latter, ironically one of my favorite parts was in the second mindset. It addressed directly and acknowledged contentiously how our cultural mindset of how we view and live in this world may in fact be a mirage. Much of the western world views the resources and opportunities of our world as expendable and infinite and through the lens of a zero-sum paradigm—a model showing there are two sides, of which you can only be a winner or a loser. It is so engrained and intertwined in our consumerist and capitalist societies that we need more and if we aren't obtaining more than we are losing to someone else who is gaining more, taking something from us.

    Our authors challenge us to reevaluate this notion. Shift our perception about a scarcity of something when there is actually an abundance. We should celebrate collaboration over competition. We should care about communities and sacrifice others for the self. The common good over what one as a person can gain. It is possible that if give we also gain. A contradictory concept on its surface, but by measuring the worth of something or an experience beyond how it best serves the self and more how it serves our communities or nature, we can take small steps toward reaching a prosperity for all. I won't deny one example they elaborate on concerning communal sharing, like a future where certain aspects of society like private ownership of automobiles within urban cities become obsolete, seemed a bit far-fetched to me. But maybe this is with the perception that I don't live in an urban city. I have an attachment to owning my own car. This is a mindset of someone who doesn't know another way. In the upcoming decades this might change. Perceptions can be as fluid as we make them to be.

    Neither the authors nor myself believe competition should be removed from the equation. Technology and safety measures against disasters has taken many leaps forward because competition pushed us toward improving and modernizing and making our societies better than they used to be. However what nature provides is perfect. It doesn't need an upgrade from us. It supplies, recycles, regenerates, and upgrades itself. It doesn't confirm to a manmade linear equation on a graph. It's a circle.

    The authors have now shown us the world one of the two paths our world will take. They have shown us the attitude we should learn to develop and strengthen within ourselves so we can continuously fight for a positive change in our world. Now what is left is the final step. 

    Action.

    Knowing the path we're on and having the mental determination toward making a change are only two ends of the triangle. The final corner is action, which is detailed by our authors in ten building blocks to show where we can grow from or begin from scratch. The steps derive from many places. 

    How you approach climate change personally starting with a shift in mentality. One line I liked and will borrow from Action 2: "You do not have to believe your vision is likely to be achieved, or that the struggle to achieve it is going well, to keep pursuing it." Because the world around us says one thing does not mean we must give up fighting. Work on having stubborn optimism (one of the three mindsets alluded to in the prior Three Mindsets section), where is achievable and will be achievable do not have a difference in meaning, because your action and determination toward both are equal. 

    A subset of stubborn optimism that the authors and I wish to highlight is going one step further: "infect[ing] others with the same conviction." Once we've mastered the art for ourselves, it will be our responsibility to champion others to the cause. And don't let the word cause intimidate you. Don't think of it as a cause against someone, but for the planet we all live on.

    How you can make small conscious acts in your daily habits. Action 4 calls on identifying ourselves as "citizen—not as a consumer." Focus on the things we really need and try to dial down on spending more than what is needed. Let's try to curb food waste. Use less water and unplug electricity when you're not actively attending to it. Strive to eating no meat a day less each week. Walk, cycle, use public transportation such as trains or buses instead of cars if it's practical. Small efforts to create a change. And share with others how you're trying to readjust your living. Communication with one another can further inspire the growing movement toward sustainability.

    Making a decision to invest your money and time into companies that strive for a more inclusive and environmentally-conscious business model. Companies are feeling growing pressure by consumers and social media to be more transparent about how their investments are made and how their businesses are run and what their goals are toward clean energy. One of the beautiful perks of technology is that it more easily shows what a company's policies are and how they support or do not support a certain issue. 

     Some of the ten steps tie into one another, some of the steps are harder to act on than others, but the authors note that you don't need to take these steps and achieve them in any order. They are merely where you can start if you are unsure how you can start.

     The Industrial Revolution launched modern society in a way that seems to only catapult farther and farther forward as each of the recent decades pass. It's overwhelming. It's daunting. We can feel helpless. We can become depressed. And it's all right to feel that way. However we must always remember to recognize the despondency and acknowledge what it can be, but always strive for and choose to prevail.

    Deforestation, acidification, desertification, global warming, species extinction, ice sheets melting, disappearing coral reefs, plastic pollution, air pollution, flooding, droughts, famines, mass emigrations, more frequent natural disasters and other climate disasters are not endgame. We have our foot on the gas and we still have the power and the responsibility to take it off.

    Climate change is the earth's response to mankind. I've thought it for several years and over time I can't help feeling the conviction in my bones. The world will still be here even if we destroy everything to the ground. However it won't be a world designed for sustainable life for humans. And it won't be a world we grew up in. That much is already evident to us. It's up to us to surrender to the world and try to find a new harmony with it. It has taken care of us for millenniums and from epoch to another. It's our turn to be the caretakers.

    This was published right before COVID-19 and I remember the authors noting how the world can't stop running. Funnily enough we did. Entire nations enforced lockdowns, some spanning weeks, others months. And what did the scientists find? The break from emissions made a noticeable difference. Earth's Overshoot Day even extended nearly a month later to August from 2019's dismal July date. It will take a massive effort, but human determination and innovation can achieve widespread change.

    This book wishes to rally people toward a unifying goal. Climate change isn't something we are defenseless against. It's certainly mammoth. Climate change doesn't choose who it affects, but it affects others—usually those with less means and less resources—more unilaterally and disproportionately than others. Let's start caring for each other more. Let's start making an effort for the common good.

    I would like to reiterate that I think this book is phenomenal and I wish I could go into detail about each of its chapters on subjects like rewilding or electric cars, but honestly the authors communicate their ideas better than my summaries and opinions ever could and you might pick up something I didn't. And their list of sources for more information at the end is a plethora of starting points for those wishing to learn more. Definitely recommend.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

Quote:

"Impossible is not a fact. It is an attitude."

-Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis

My Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next to Read:

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

Some free promo for some accounts I follow on Instagram that focus or frequently discuss climate change, social justice, efforts to make a greener life, and similar affairs:
@worldeconomicforum

@thezerowasteguide

@earthrise.studio

@extinctionrebellion

@earthalliance

@nrdc_org

@tedcountdown

@friends_earth

@100isnow

And a documentary I enjoyed recently:

Kiss the Ground (available on Netflix)

I'd love to hear about any documentaries or books you'd recommend related to climate change and the environment.

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

A Natural History of Dragons Book Review

 Rawr Reader,

What joy! I know said this last time I posted a review but it's been so long! I haven't shared my recent reads with you but I think everyone can agree 2020 was a funky year and most of us would find it the most unusual, unexpected, and darkest year we've ever faced. In that darkness I found a new love, yoga. I was blessed to have stayed employed when so many lost their jobs, however it was a desk job and my body was feeling the effects. Enter yoga, and I don't think I can go back without it in my life.

On the topic of books, unfortunately, I read a measly 14 books. 

                                                                *Queue sudden gasp*

I shudder to think back to the peak of my college years when I read nearly 5 times that many. And of the fourteen only two were quite memorable and what I would rank Five Star Reads. While I never did a review for them I would still like to share them:

The Overstory by Richard Powers

and

The 7 ½  Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Both are mammoth. Both successfully blew me away. The former for tackling a narrative that intertwined the environment and a wide cast of characters with a structure that mirrored a Frankenstein/Cloud Atlas tree ring. And the latter for being a contemporary Agatha Christie whodunnit I only wish I could reread for the first time again. I would gladly revisit both of these novels if I could read a new book at the same time. Alas, we are creatures with only a singular pair of eyes. I wish evolution considered humans desire to read into the equation so we could at least have the option to read two books at once. Or one pair of eyes sleep while the other reads through the night. Just me? I think the impossibility of nature stemmed from my recent dive into fantasy again. So let's jump in!

The synopsis for The Memoirs of Lady Trent series, A Natural History of Dragons is by Marie Brennan and borrowed from Goodreads:

You, dear reader, continue at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart—no more so than the study of dragons itself. But such study offers rewards beyond compare: to stand in a dragon's presence, even for the briefest of moments—even at the risk of one's life—is a delight that, once experienced, can never be forgotten. . . .

All the world, from Scirland to the farthest reaches of Eriga, know Isabella, Lady Trent, to be the world's preeminent dragon naturalist. She is the remarkable woman who brought the study of dragons out of the misty shadows of myth and misunderstanding into the clear light of modern science. But before she became the illustrious figure we know today, there was a bookish young woman whose passion for learning, natural history, and, yes, dragons defied the stifling conventions of her day.

Here at last, in her own words, is the true story of a pioneering spirit who risked her reputation, her prospects, and her fragile flesh and bone to satisfy her scientific curiosity; of how she sought true love and happiness despite her lamentable eccentricities; and of her thrilling expedition to the perilous mountains of Vystrana, where she made the first of many historic discoveries that would change the world forever.

Reference:

Goodreads. Because Goodreads is a wonderful fountain of literature.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book)

        I can honestly say I can't think of the last time a fantasy author took my hand and led me into their story with grace, grit, and wit. Fantasy, as its nature, oftentimes has to deliver a multi-layered world to the reader and yet keep to the plot without drifting too much. Brennan is a phenomenal writer. Through her descriptions of settings and the manner and voice of our narrator Isabella Hendemore, our marvelous Lady Trent before she earned the appellation, Brennan reveals a deep look into this vibrant world that might take another author perhaps twice as long to execute effectively. Set in an alternate Victorian era world, places and names are colorful and familiar and thankfully names I only have to read in my head because if I tried saying them aloud I would likely butcher them. I would suggest that if it helps, it might be useful to write down names for people and places and vernacular until you become familiar with them since Brennan never defines new words, she simply implies meaning with context.
        Unlike many ladies in proper society, Isabella is spellbound by dragons, a species that is rare and mysterious and in a word—destiny—for our young narrator. Throughout the first and second books, she encounters dragons of different sizes and in different environments. She observes some, merely escapes with her life with others, and throughout it all will not think twice about risking her life to relive the experiences again. I admire a woman who is driven, even more so when the topic is as exciting as dragons. 

        The exotic and strenuous environments she is drawn to to study the dragons are as much an obstacle for Isabella and her companions which can make the study of the dragons that much more taxing. Yet she refuses to let a dangerous landscape or a foreign people deter her. I found her encounters and interactions with the mountainous peoples of Vystrana what made me love these books even more. Brennan doesn't make the entire world a single culture, there are other cultures and in ANHoD we live in it for a huge chunk of the book, which only adds to the list of difficulties Isabella and her companions have to learn to adapt to and not in any way easier to tackle because they are the same species.  

        Dragon hunting is not an easy hobby. I can't help but reminded of the Fairy Godmother in Shrek 2 as she angrily commends her son's accomplishments to the king, but Isabella's ambition through precarious terrains and with questionable foreigners really is a remarkable trait. Her goal isn't as simplistic as saving the princess in the locked tower, she has questions to the anatomy, the behaviors, the culture's accepting or antagonistic views toward dragons who more often than not only lead to more questions.
        Isabella isn't just an enthusiast for dragons, she becomes committed to learning the languages of the countries she travels to so that she can contribute and be the most effective in her studies. And Lady Trent notes more than once how language barriers and the limits that poor comprehension translates to transpired in her efforts to accomplish whatever task she was set on. I love reading about new cultures in fantasy, and added with a cast of languages and Brennan's alluring prose, I don't see how I could have walked away from this book disappointed.
        Lady Trent also often references books within the world of the series we will never read but are described so vividly that readers might do a double take to remember those are works of fiction in a fiction. This reminds me of a similar inclusion in Amazon's Carnival Row, another colorful world of high fantasy, where the two protagonists become interested in a work of fiction and how it brings them together. She subtly references scientists and authors that we have never heard of and notes their significance alongside works Lady Trent has published. Little drops of detail like these make this memoir seem that much more realistic despite the topic of discussion. 

        The eponymous A Natural History of Dragons is a scientific text Isabella reads early in her life that becomes a bible that will set her toward the events that unfolds in the series. Being that there are four more novels in this series, I'd like to think this text will reappear later as Isabella ages and learns more about dragons.
        One of the last things I'd like to touch on is Isabella's connections and the relationships she makes throughout the two books. Being a woman of science more than society, social graces aren't what I'd label as Isabella's strong suits and yet she manages to form strong bonds with people native and foreign to her. The camaraderie that develops between certain characters like Tom Wilker and Dagmira were some of my favorites, despite being some of the most difficult for her. There are others who have flatter lasting impressions of friendship or detestation, but the fluidity of these relationships I found to be the most enjoyable to read through.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

Quote:

“But I know, at least, that you would keep a library on the subject, and I hoped that I might be allowed to read from it.”

He regarded me with a bemused expression. “You want me for my library.”

― Marie Brennan, A Natural History of Dragons

~Because Isabella and Mr. Camherst have a relationship to rival many famous literary duos~

My Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next to Read:
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac

Spoilers:
(unsafe for those who haven't read this book, so don't read this section)

      Brennan must have known how perfect she was making Jacob Camherst when she was writing him. A man who not only shared Isabella's interests but included her when others in society would have shut the door on her. Time and time again we see how much he loved her. He almost always doing what she wanted, which sounds rather boring of him when I say it like that, but as I was reading it seemed very endearing. 

     Something I noticed throughout the book was how often things turned out "okay." There were struggles Isabella and the party faced when studying the dragons, but incidents and problems always righted itself by the end. Rather "easy" from an outsider's point-of-view. There were losses, of course with the obvious being Jacob, however even then it sort of had to happen because if she continued with him at her side, then society would focus more on his accomplishments over hers. I know Tom Wilker joins her in the next novel at least, and it could be said their accomplishments might bring him more into the spotlight than her, however one thing that she mentions on more than one occasion is the fact that he isn't of the same rank as her. Isabella and Tom are somewhat of the black sheep of scientists with being a woman and being of a lower station respectively, but being tied to Jacob and his family's status and reputation elevated her above him. If Jacob were there, he would be the focus. I enjoyed how Isabella and Tom found a common ground in that even though they butted heads in everything else.

     Dragons are one of the most majestic and thrilling creatures to read about in fantasy and I liked how Brennan gave her a little twist to them in her series: dragons leave no trace behind after death save teeth or claws, so studying dragons and their anatomy implies that anyone trying to study them has to work quickly after slaying. Isabella in Lady Trent flair reminds the reader that she has no qualms killing a dragon as long as its in the name of science, and we see her play a hand in the capture of them. Admirer of dragons as I am, I couldn't help shedding a tear every time a dragon was hunted down. I just had to remind myself—it's for science.
     Adventure tales have always appealed to me, but I think one reason why this one did especially was because it reminded me of The Mummy movie series. While set in a Victorian era, several decades before the Mummy movies which were set in the 20s/30s, they both were reliant on scholarship and our characters wished to join the acclaimed ranks of academia, there were limitations technology and transportation offered them, the lands they would explore were populated by cultures not all that friendly to them. The next book is set in the jungle and I can't wait to see how dragons fair in tropical climates and how Brennan unravels more of this fascinating mystery behind the dragon species.

 

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

BIG NEWS + Recent Recommended Reads

Rawr Reader,

It's been a long time my friends! Three years have sure flown by. I hope during that time you've found some new favorites to add to your bookshelves. I'm currently twiddling my thumbs for The Queen of Nothing by Holly Black, the conclusion to The Folk of the Air series, and like most fans out there was *super stoked* to hear the release date was pushed nearly 2 months earlier from January 2020 to November 2019. Bless publishing houses. (And Robert Downey Jr. for starting the trend for up-and-coming releases to get earlier release dates.)

My resurface to Rawr Reader though isn't just to mention some recent reads I loved and wanted to share, which I will down below. First, I have some big news I am super excited to share with you.

I am self-publishing a book! :D

It's been a piece of my heart since 2011 and while I may not have acquired an agent with this particular story, I wanted to share it with the world.

It's called Trium and follows Jamie when she discovers the existence of living gargoyles atop her hometown cathedral. I'll be announcing the release date later this month. For a more in-depth synopsis, you can check out the book info on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47892350-trium?ac=1&from_search=true

Since 2016 I've found some literary treasures I highly recommend.

Grey Souls by Philippe Claudel. A mystery set in France during WWI.

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. A black nurse performs CPR on the baby of a white supremacist couple and is therefore charged with a serious crime.

Updraft by Fran Wilde. A fantasy following a society who live among the clouds, their sole means of transportation: gliders!

Monstress by Marjorie M. Liu and Sana Takeda. My first graphic novel, an art deco, steampunk fantasy set in an alternate 1900's Asia where a girl embarks on a quest accompanied by a powerful monster.

War Against All Puerto Ricans: Revolution and Terror in America’s Colony by Nelson A. Denis. A historic account of Puerto Rico during the 20th century exploring the rise and falls of leaders, the island's relationship with the US, and how life was changed for boricuas because of them.

Crooked House by Agatha Christie. An old millionaire dies and the suspicion falls on his young widow, although the further the authorities go into the investigation, the more they believe to suspect the entire household.

Evil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie. A Poirot mystery, a woman is found dead on the beach of a luxury resort with possible murder suspects pooled from among the hotel guests.

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. A sci-fi romance between two time-travel agents working for two warring sides.

Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan. A sci-fi murder mystery set centuries into our future where mankind has conquered death by allowing the human conscious to be transferrable between bodies. (Also highly recommend the Netflix show, it's phenomenal and one of my all-time favorites. Warning: it's rated TV-MA and contains elements unsuitable and possibly triggering for certain audiences such as sex & nudity; violence; profanity; alcohol, drugs, and smoking; and disturbing images.)

At Any Price by Brenna Aubrey. A New Adult romance where a gaming blogger sells her virginity in an auction as a political statement and for much-needed cash with the winner being a millionaire CEO of his own gaming company. A fun read with a lot of nerdy pop culture references I couldn't not appreciate.

If you would like to check out other books I've read, my Goodreads is:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

My current read is Gods of Jade and Shadow by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and I'm really enjoying it. Set in the 20's, it follows a mortal girl and a degraded, fallen god embarking through Latin America to reclaim his throne. What can I say, fantasy just keeps getting better and better over the years. 

If you have any recommendations, I'm always looking for new and underrated books to add to my ever-growing TBR list.


Until Next Time,
Nicole Ciel

Who Fears Death Book Review

Rawr Reader,

I'm a little late with this review since I finished this a couple of days ago, but I think I'm on a really good reading streak and I can only hope it keeps going. This is Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor, the synopsis borrowed from the front flap of the American hardcover edition: 

In a post-apocalyptic Africa, the world has changed in many ways, yet in one region genocide between tribes still bloodies the land. After years of enslaving the Okeke people, the Nuru tribe has decided to follow the Great Book and exterminate the Okeke tribe for good. An Okeke woman who has survived the annihilation of her village and a terrible rape by an enemy general wanders into the desert hoping to die. Instead, she gives birth to an angry baby girl with hair and skin the color of sand. Gripped by the certainty that her daughter is different---special---she names her child Onyesonwu, which means "Who Fears Death?" in an ancient tongue.

From a young age, stubborn, willful Onyesonwu is trouble. It doesn't take long for her to understand that she is physically and socially marked by the circumstances of her violent conception. She is Ewu---a child of rape who is expected to live a life of violence, a half-breed rejected by both tribes.

But Onye is not the average Ewu. As a child, Onye's singing attracts owls. By the age of eleven, she can change into a vulture. But these amazing abilities are merely the first glimmers of a remarkable and unique magic. As Onye grows, so does her abilities---soon she can manipulate matter and flesh, or travel beyond into the spiritual world. During an inadvertent visit to this other realm she learns something terrifying: someone powerful is trying to kill her.

Desperate to elude her would-be murderer, and to understand her own nature, she seeks help from the magic practitioners of her village. But even among her mother's people, she meets with frustrating prejudice because she is Ewu and female. Yet Onyesonwu persists. 

Eventually her magic destiny and her rebellious nature will force her to leave home on a quest that will be perilous in ways that Onyesonwu can not possibly imagine. For this journey will cause her to grapple with nature, tradition, history,true love, and the spiritual mysteries of her culture, and ultimately to learn why she was given the name she bears: Who Fears Death? 

Reference:

 I'm usually good with this section but I honestly can't remember. I'll have to credit Goodreads, because it has an eye-catching cover and there have been many a time I click on a book because of its cover.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book)

    I have to get into the habit of intentionally picking up a book set in another country or continent because sometimes it's too easy to only gravitate toward the best-sellers or the ones with the pretty covers----all conveniently set in the US. Now I've found one that I know I'll never forget. Set in the distant future where cultures haven't lost their essence of family and religious diversity, the darker aspects of society like prejudice and corruption are just as omnipresent. The building blocks of society, interwoven so naturally and inerrant, Okorafor convinces the reader that her words aren't just pressed ink to a page--- they're life and memory and fantasy and truth.
   Onyesonwu is a character that we love to love and love to hate. While she isn't my favorite character of all time, I mean I wouldn't run to be her friend at first, but she's a character I admire and one that is written to be beautifully flawed. She's tempestuous and headstrong. A nature and disposition that comes to being Ewu---and that's only the beginning. Onyesonwu encounters friendly and hostile cultures and characters that react to those like her, broadening her view of the world and offering a better understanding of the world she's trying to save; all while trying to control the magic and powers that she's still trying to understand.
    Constantly while reading I kept thinking okay, when is this story going to stop tearing my soul apart. Not only does Onyesonwu see the ugly side of society because of her skin color, but she's had to be exposed to other gritty and unnatural violations of human nature. With all of this in mind, to every dark, there is light, and Onyesonwu is supported by friends and finds a love that matches her destiny as the Chosen One. But not the trope Chosen One, the trope we've all gotten our full of; I felt that Okorafor redefined how the Chosen One trope should be written. It wasn't thrown in your face all the time, but a subtle undertone. And this is reinforced by our unreliable narrator: our protagonist, Onyesonwu.
   At first it seems this story is told in the present---only to realize it's in retrospect. I won't get into details since it's part of the plot, but similar to Zusak's The Book Thief, the narrator will have grown on you by the end. 
   What was probably the hardest element for me to get past was the writing. It flowed at parts, but then sometimes I felt the syntax became distractingly jarring. The story would unravel so naturally and then I'd stumble as the sentences became incongruent. Then there were multiple grammar errors which wasn't the author's fault---but then it is. And her editor's. And since the author is credited for having a PHD in English and teaches creative writing at a university---I'll have some standards.
   All that, and I still was so absolutely in love with this story and these characters. I'm the type of reader who treasures a good story over good writing any day. You can be the best writer in the country but without a compelling story, it doesn't mean I'll ever recommend your book or read it again. 
    *One thing I really want to inform potential readers on is that this books deals heavily with sex and rape. If this is a trigger for you, I would recommend on passing this story, because as amazing as everything else is, it's too frequent to skip over and still keep the essence of the story. 

I give this book 5/5 stars.

Quote:

“My library was -- all libraries are -- a place of ultimate refuge, a wild and sacred space where meanings are manageable precisely because they aren't binding; and where illusion is comfortingly real.” 

― André Brink

My Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

TBD

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this book yet, so don't read this section)

     I need to say how thankful I am that this became a group journey; I really only expected Onyesonwu to go on this journey on her own. Mwita wasn't just the love interest, he became a true companion and comrade in arms. He foiled Onyesonwu's character in almost every way without losing his sense of romantic connection. While I was surprised to be introduced to a love interest since Romance isn't a subgenre listed on Goodreads, I'm happy that Onyesonwu was surrounded by love, romantic and platonic. I especially loved Onyesonwu's and Luyu's relationship, how it developed and how it grew. I really admire authors when they put just as much focus and attention on friendships, particularly for secondary characters, as they do on romantic relationships since it's easy to write flat friends and not give them layers or even a real personality that makes readers just as emotionally unstable as main characters. 

   And not only characters, but then Okorafor introduces contrasting cultures that each distinctly shape and transform Onyesonwu's understanding of the world she wants to save. Some are similar to her own and others are what she'd never imagined. Otherworldly. All with their own customs that baffle and perplex Onyesonwu, the woman who can transform into a bird and step into another world. I haven't read a book of this size, that isn't a series, that has such diverse societies. I think Okorafor managed it flawlessly and I can't wait to read another work of hers.

   

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

Vengeance Road Book Review

Rawr Reader,

I went to two libraries today, one to check out some travel books for my mom and the other because it's closer to my house and it had a book I wanted. But I ended up checking out nothing since I had this beautiful book waiting for me. Without further ado, let me present the synopsis for Erin Bowman's Vengeance Road provided by Goodreads:

Revenge is worth its weight in gold.

When her father is murdered for a journal revealing the location of a hidden gold mine, eighteen-year-old Kate Thompson disguises herself as a boy and takes to the gritty plains looking for answers—and justice. What she finds are untrustworthy strangers, endless dust and heat, and a surprising band of allies, among them a young Apache girl and a pair of stubborn brothers who refuse to quit riding in her shadow. But as Kate gets closer to the secrets about her family, a startling truth becomes clear: some men will stop at nothing to get their hands on gold, and Kate’s quest for revenge may prove fatal.

Reference:

   A friend of mine uploaded a picture on Instagram with this book and I was immediately drawn to the cover. I'm going t gush about it a little more in my review, so prepare yourself.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book)

   Kate Thompson isn't like your everyday run of the mill young adult protagonist. She's on a mission and nothing's going to deter her from that path. What I have to say I admire about Kate the most was her voice. From the get go we're dropped in a 19th century world where order, law, and justice is what people make of it. They're a long way from civilization and deep in the Wild West, luck and fortune are given to those who are resilient and to be frank, tough. Life's tough on the American frontier and it forces Kate to make some tough decisions quick. We see it in the first chapter when she has to decide whether to follow her father's murderers before the trail goes cold or to put her father to rest. It's an easy decision for someone who's safe 150 years in the future, sitting comfortably in their favorite reading spot with their noses in a book, but for someone who knows little of the world other than what she's seen in the few miles from town to her homestead, those first pivotal moments are what establish the baseline of the novel. Which is a girl seeking a vengeance that no man, woman, or law can stop.

    I want to be honest and say that I didn't think of Mattie Ross from True Grit a lot of the time, but that would be an obvious lie. I read True Grit a couple of years back for a college class and held it a pretty high pedestal; though that might have been because it was the only Western I've read and I was impressed with it. So coming into Vengeance Road, with a pretty similar plot, and I was really afraid I was going to end up closing the back cover and realizing the only thing I loved from this book after all was the cover. 

    Which reminds me...

    The cover attracted me. There I said it. If I were a fly I would be fried because oh my Lord when I saw the cover I needed it on my shelf. I'm pretty strict with myself when it comes to books--- I won't buy a book no matter how pretty it is if I'm not interested in the plot, especially when I know I won't like it. And this was a YA title. I figured I wasn't going to. I haven't had any luck reading YA lately and on the brink of tossing all YA titles from my to-be-read list because they all just became formulaic. However it was books like Vengeance Road that gives me hope there are still a couple YAs out there that won't make me roll my eyes every page. But I'm digressing from my digression... I can't wait to put this on my shelf and show off the cover. While not YA, I bought another book for it's cover (coincidentally another Western) called The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt and ended up dropping it. I'm just glad it won't be facing the bookshelf heavens, but my smiling face.

   Now something I found really engaging instead of irritating was the fact that the story's written in the present tense. I don't know if you're a nit picky reader like me, but I get incredibly distracted by narratives in the present tense. It was maybe 10 pages or so when I realized I was cruising smoothly through a point of view I would usually stumble over. Maybe it was because the style was meant to mimic the prose of 19th century Westerners... Maybe I was just excited for a thrilling read. I can't be sure, but in the end, who cares. If you're reading who cares if it's outside your comfort zone.

    This is an adventure story, appropriately assisted by a map, and if I had to give a grade for the quality of the adventure I think I'd give it a 80%. I have no idea what giving a grade means but I wanted to try something new and fresh from reading, I think the terrain, obstacles, coincidences, mapping, stranger encounters and plot equate to a B. I hope this doesn't make it seem like the story falls flat, since a B is still above average. 

   A major difference between True Grit and Vengeance Road has to be the fact that there's romance intertwined into the plot. By no means it hovers over the vengeance theme, however as a YA, it's to be expected. The relationship between the Kate and the guy isn't staggering. No one will leave this and claim it's their favorite literary couple. However, I did find it one of the most real between YA couples. And it was one of the most authentic things I found about Kate. She wasn't just a girl seeking revenge for her father, she was still a girl who hadn't really encountered a first love or saw much of a future for herself. But with a guy, she started to really see what this quest would mean for herself---with a romantic partner or without them. I think out of millions of YA couples there are, I would rank Kate's and RL's (romantic lead) as top 10. Top 5 maybe if I try and remember if there are really that many YA couples that I actually like.

   In my last review I mentioned how I've been on a quest for reads that center on women or have a predominantly female-led cast; and it wasn't until finishing Vengeance Road I realized I'm also on a quest for casts that are more diverse. I'm satisfied to say that Bowman delivers. Contrary to the name, Kate Thompson is half-white, half-Mexican, and she acquires the aid of a Native Apache girl in her quest. While there aren't many scenes with first or second generation Mexicans, there are references to Latin people, and Bowman does mention Chinese characters. While it isn't a lot, it's a lot more than I see nowadays. It doesn't discount the presence of non-whites in the Old West who usually only fulfill the purpose of antagonist and mustache twisting villain. While I know depicting Native Americans is a bit sensitive when it comes from a writer who isn't Native themselves, I found that Bowman depicted them in a respective and commemorative way. I only wish there were a couple more scenes with them.

   By it's end I found that the fast-paced read to be a thrilling read. It's something you can read in a day and despite the high stakes, something you can relax with at the beach. For this, I found very little to complain about.

I give this book 4/5 stars.

Quote:

"How marvelous books are, crossing worlds and centuries, defeating ignorance and, finally, cruel time itself."

- Gore Vidal

My Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this yet, so don't read this section)

    I wasn't lying in the review section, I really did enjoy Kate's relationship with Jesse and her point of view of what wasn't their relationship. Even though the emotional swing went back and forth for a while, this is a girl who largely spent her time with solely her father, and when she did encounter boys her age they didn't tickle her fancy. I think it was realistic that when one finally did reciprocate those feelings, she question a lot of the actions he did that might seem unwarranted on the surface to everyone else. 

   Let's talk about Rose and his gang. While I think it's fair that as a 1st person POV, it might limit the personalities of characters we only see when our protagonist sees, however I wanted more from them. They were the antagonists and considering most of the time Kate was trailing them and just in the middle of the desert, we do see a lot of them. I just wish there was more to them than the flat, archetype of a Wild West villain. Creating the rose scar on the deceased (or soon-to-become-deceased) was a cool trait of the gang and I like that the villain used his name as a marker instead of initials (you see me Zorro? you see me Batman?). Also, another thing I liked about the gang was the different encounters Kate had with them. There's the first in Prescott--- her first real test to see how far she'd go in her vengeance, then the shoot out on the Agua Fria River, and Phoenix of course. Then her last one at the cache by the gold mine. It was enjoyable to see how she encountered the ruthless thugs, by killing each one, mentally preparing her for her big stand-off with Rose himself. Almost like a video game and she needed to level up with each death. Only she didn't kill all of them like she was checking them off from a list. One died by natural causes and one died by Rose himself. 

    I feel I need to talk about Will. His death didn't mean as much as I think Bowman meant for it to be. Plot-wise it made sense--- it gave Jesse a newfounded quest past the gold. But, when he died I didn't really care. It probably tied into the fact I didn't understand why he was rebuking Kate on Jesse's feelings. Jesse's his brother--- why patronize someone who is not only older, but a stranger to you? Put all that aside, he was a nice foil to his responsible, thoughtful, well-mannered brother. 

  Let me talk about that ending though. It was... how can I say it... disorienting. This woman comes out of no where, appealing to Kate with a name she'd never heard and it's pretty easy to guess it's her mom. I mean, if you didn't get that from the reference to an older woman who we'd never seen before that appeared near the mine--- something only Kate's parents and the Apache people knew about--- I don't know what to tell you. It was obvious to me. And the fact she was faking a ruse, pretending to be a hostage to garner on Kate's sympathies was just an easy solution to a suspenseful moment. Not lazy writing, just lazy plotting. That scene was predictable, and yet interesting. I said disorienting because I know Bowman wanted me to be shocked about the fact her mom was still alive, and Bowman wanted Kate to be emotionally comprised because it's a woman she loved and who she thought was dead--- but I just didn't like how it came about. She turns out to be in cahoots with Rose! Not surprising! The fact that she starts to monologue was just odd since in a moment like this--- no one would just reflecting on what happened in the past like they were reuniting after decades apart. She finishes explaining Kate's past to then turn on Rose. I'm sitting there thinking--- why?? They have a stand-off and then she tries to shoot Kate. Maybe it was an accident--- but then why did she mention there being "two" minds who knew about the mine that wasn't going to leave again. She pointed at Jesse then Rose, so why shoot Kate? I thought "her flesh and blood" was important to her. I mean, that's how she made it sound to Kate. Like she cared for her. Only--- she didn't really. She was just satisfied staying in the mountains. So: I'm not shocked when I should be by the mother's appearance, I don't sympathize a woman and her struggles after being abandoned since she was drowning in her greed, and then she shoots at her family when I can't be sure what her true feelings are. It might've been a twist if it was handled better. The fact that Rose made a legit deal with her is probably the most confusing. He offed his other men, no problem, but instead of overpowering this woman he could easily do, or just come back on his own, he's settling for a small amount of gold and is shocked when she turns on him.

    Whew, I hope that all made sense. Because if so, you'll understand why my feelings toward that scene is all over the place. Good thing the ending was nice. I don't usually care for romance bookending a story when romance was just a subplot; but I liked it. I'll tip my hat to Bowman this one time.

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel

Moloka'i Book Review

Rawr Reader,

Can I just first say, Happy Mother's Day to all the lovely mom's out there. I for one have one of those mothers that I really wouldn't be as open-minded as I am without her, or do what I love without her, or just be the cooky, voracious reader I am thanks to her and all the opportunities she's given me. So the fact that I finished this novel, which praises motherly figures, not entirely of blood relation, is probably more suiting than I planned when I decided to finish it today. So without further ado, let's jump right in. The synopsis Alan Brennert's Moloka'i is provided by Goodreads: 

This richly imagined novel, set in Hawai'i more than a century ago, is an extraordinary epic of a little-known time and place---and a deeply moving testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.

Rachel Kalama, a spirited seven-year-old Hawaiian girl, dreams of visiting far-off lands like her father, a merchant seaman. Then one day a rose-colored mark appears on her skin, and those dreams are stolen from her. Taken from her home and family, Rachel is sent to Kalaupapa, the quarantined leprosy settlement on the island of Moloka'i. Here her life is supposed to end---but instead she discovers it is only just beginning.

Reference:

   I first saw this book when walking down the book aisles in Target and it was on the shelf for Target Club Picks. I was drawn by the pretty cover then absolutely interested when reading it was in fact about a life in Hawaii. It was about a disease so I waited for the right time to read such a heavy subject, and thought it was well worth the wait. As you've noticed I haven't found a book that's blown me away in a long time and it was meant to get me out of this slump.

Review:

(safe for those who haven't read this book yet)

   There's more to life than just the good things: love, career promotions, children, money. In fact there's disappointment, sacrifice, despair. Any reader knows this and despite wanting happy endings, we read because we need to see our characters suffer so that when they're happy, it means something. It isn't just a blimp or serendipitous fortune, the good happens and you're thrilled because most importantly, the character deserves it.

   Rachel Kalama is a girl who has one of the worst misfortunes a child could have: disease, only to be further aggravated when she is not only forcibly separated from her family into a medical institution, she's sent away to another island. Despite what's happened to her, she clutches onto the only thing that would make such a hellish situation better--- a relative who loves her like she was his. This is just the beginning for our young brave adventuress. While facing for the first time the consequences of the disease, she grasps the meaning of life much earlier than a seven-year-old child should. Overlapping her personal tragedies to ones on a larger historical setting, Brennert does a vividly phenomenal job placing the reader in a world spanning decades, being surrounded by people's whose desires, motivations, and fears are so real that you have to remind yourself that you're reading a piece of fiction. While Brennert says that many accounts in the story are taken from patients of Hansen's Disease who still live in Kalaupapa. 

    In Moloka'i, there's humor, consolation, friendships that cross boundaries of religion and gender, love that is temporary and love that fulfills the time that it's given. We encounter a world where technology and science is blossoming, evidence that the world is changing and while it may have started off bad, it can change for the good. Their conditions on Moloka'i doesn't have to be a death sentence, inevitable and foredooming. 

   And though Rachel witnesses many first-hand accounts of death, there's always still life to balance the grief and make her see that life is worth living on. Death, as much as it hurts, isn't the end. We see hope, because there's hope to be had no matter the inauspicious circumstances.

   Brennert also gave a depth of reality to this world an culture by implementing the vernacular of the Hawaiian people. It's one of my favorite things reading about other cultures and if you didn't look it up, you were mostly in the dark for the rest of the novel since Brennert didn't do all the work. 

   I've also been on a quest to find a novel with strong female characters who predominantly influence our protagonist, and Moloka'i doesn't disappoint.

   Something I found by story's end that I absolutely loved was the parallel between Rachel and her father and Brennert with me the reader. No matter what, it's unwavering. Every time things got bad, I felt Brennert was holding my hand, reassuring me with soft words like: "It's okay. The path's a little rocky now but I've seen the end of the path and once we reach it, and both of us look over the promontory into the ocean, the view will be worth it. Just hold my hand for now. I'll protect you." There's catastrophes and moments where your heart breaks, but there's moments where you feel like things are too good to be true and something bad is going to happen--- but then it doesn't. Life can be good at times and it doesn't have to fall prey to plot conveniences or literary vendettas. One of my favorite lines exemplifies this:

 "She stayed with Rachel in her room, listening to a life's story that was, she discovered, richer than it was sad." (372)

I was afraid that this would just be another story that focused on the tragedies and the misfortunes, and epitomize the phrase: c'est la vie, Brennert really gives the reader something to look forward to when he balances the ill and the fortune. Because in Moloka'i, you won't get a perfectly horrid story or even a miraculous one, just one worth telling that's full of love and lessons and people to love because they're so human you just wish you were able to rely on and call for when you needed them most. 

  And I for one have a large soft spot for characters that love books as much as I do. Rachel is unfortunate to be quarantined from a changing society, however what has been taken to her, is likewise given to her in book-shaped presents. Not only stories, but cultural novelties from lands beyond the horizon. 

   This story transcends time and has made a very comfortable home in my heart, and more importantly, on my bookshelf. Brennert put so much love into Moloka'i and he found a reader who absolutely believes in it as much as him. I can't recommend this story enough, and hope that if you give a chance to reading it you'll enjoy it as much as I did, and will for many years to come.

I give this book 5/5 stars.

Quotes:
“Who can doubt the presence of God in the sight of men whom He has given wings?"

"I recall that so precisely because I've had time to consider my error. God didn't give man wings; He gave him the brain and the spirit to give himself wings."
-Alan Brennert, Moloka'i

My Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7170636-nicole

Next To Read:

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman

River Song's Spoilers:

(unsafe for those who haven't read this yet, so don't read this section)

   Now there's only one little thing that I'm half in turmoil and half satisfied with, and that's dealing with Mother Mary Catherine Voorhies. There's a twenty year jump from the final chapter to the end note and we as the readers are never given the chance to put our hearts to rest because we assume she died (Rachel died at eighty something so there's a very unlikely chance that Catherine was still alive), and yet we're never really told exactly what happened. And the reason why I need to know about her more than anything else is because Rachel lost everyone she every really knew in her adult life and most of her childhood, except Catherine. She changed as much as Rachel did and while she was a main character, she wasn't the main one. I loved her uncertainties about her faith and her love for Rachel. Rachel saved Catherine and in turn, years later, Catherine saves Rachel.

   But it isn't just Catherine. We see such amazing female roles: Dorothy, her mother for as short a time as she had her; Haleola, her uncle Pono's lover, her hānai (adopted auntie),  and her makuahine (auntie and mother); and Leilani, our spirited and loving transwoman who is a caring friend to Rachel. And all in between Rachel is surrounded by many female friends and teachers. As I mentioned, this story is not only full of female characters, but they're actually important to our protagonist. I wasn't expecting Brennert to be so generous with the female roles, I can only thank him he dedicated many aspects of the novel to the strength and resilience of women in an era and social position that typically handicaps them. 

   Something else I appreciate from Brennert is the fact that he didn't get rid of Kenji in the way I feared. As soon as the chapter came along and it ran along the time of 1941-1943 I already knew what was going to happen. Or at least, I thought I did. Let me tell you, I thought he was going to be taken to a Japanese Internment Camp after Pearl Harbor. Brennert later reveals that the U.S. gov't didn't relocate Japanese on the Hawaiian islands since they were the predominant work force, so when Kenji exits the story in a more normal, unrelated war accident, I felt that Brennert wrote his role to justice.

   I'm really happy that Brennert had Rachel move in with Sarah in the final chapters of the book. Brennert said that he hadn't planned on moving one sister with the other but that she kind of just came to life and moved in on her own. As a writer myself, I felt that I could relate to Brennert. The characters are our creations however, they do surprise us as much as if they were real. While both sisters have lost so much, they were able to find each other. I found it especially satisfying that they had each other when I'd really begun to worry that Rachel would end up alone with no one to be there for her (unless she returned to Kalaupapa to be with Catherine), but the fact it came to be with the person who most regretted her mistake and someone she was stripped of having a functional relationship with, made me happy as a reader, and as a sister. 

   I wish there was more to say but this novel was pretty close to perfect for me. Was there anything with the story that bothered you? Let's discuss!

Until Next Time,

Nicole Ciel