The Impossible Fortress brought to mind Ready Player One in that it was chock full of the 80's. At one point the two main characters, Will and Mary, go see Some Kind of Wonderful in the local movie theater. Will is a fan of Van Halen, and they are working on a Commodore 64 computer and hoping to win a new IBM PS/2. Email is not instant or cheap, they have to use dial up and CompuServe. It was a blast from the past.
But it was also a coming of age story that could have happened in any year. It isn't easy to be a teenager, an unpopular teenager with only a couple of real friends, and then have to face pressure from your friends to do something you don't want to but feel like you have to. But sometimes you learn that your friends are just as lost and confused as you are and come through in the end. Oh and naked Vanna White.
While this wasn't perfect, it was impossible to not care about Will, Mary, Alf, and Clark.
And the trip to my teen years was fun. The reminder of how far technology has come was striking as well. I remember my first computer, it was a Vic 20 and a Commodore 64 was what we got to upgrade from it. We had floppy disks but before that we used a cassette to save the silly and very basic programs we used to write. Take the trip, it is worth it.
(Finished April 30, 2017)
Sunday, April 30, 2017
Sunday, April 9, 2017
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Henrietta Lacks.
daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, cancer patient, immortal
HeLa
The story of Henrietta, her family, and her cells, is to put it mildly, incredible.
There is so much here to take in. The evolution of medical research ethics, the way people of color have been treated specifically by the medical community and the scientists doing medical research. Poverty. Education. Trust. Love. Faith.
These are all part of the story that Rebecca Skloot is telling. It sounds like it could be a science fiction novel, a woman has cervical cancer, her cells are taken, and they start the biggest, longest chain of scientific research into treatments for cancer and other diseases, polio vaccines, AIDS research, and other types of medical advancements. The cells lead to cloning experiments and test tube babies. Her consent to use her cells after she dies was never asked for or given. Her family is not aware for a long time about this and when they find out they feel abused and are actually abused.
But it isn't fiction, this is a true story, a story told in all its raw honesty. Skloot makes Henrietta's story and family come to life and their pain becomes palpable. The anger, resentments, and heartbreak are shared but it is clear it isn't easy and they have suffered much.
Skloot tells the story with love, respect, and finally for this family, some dignity.
HBO is going to be airing a movie based on this book later this month starring Oprah.
(Finished April 9, 2017)
daughter, sister, cousin, wife, mother, cancer patient, immortal
HeLa
The story of Henrietta, her family, and her cells, is to put it mildly, incredible.
There is so much here to take in. The evolution of medical research ethics, the way people of color have been treated specifically by the medical community and the scientists doing medical research. Poverty. Education. Trust. Love. Faith.
These are all part of the story that Rebecca Skloot is telling. It sounds like it could be a science fiction novel, a woman has cervical cancer, her cells are taken, and they start the biggest, longest chain of scientific research into treatments for cancer and other diseases, polio vaccines, AIDS research, and other types of medical advancements. The cells lead to cloning experiments and test tube babies. Her consent to use her cells after she dies was never asked for or given. Her family is not aware for a long time about this and when they find out they feel abused and are actually abused.
But it isn't fiction, this is a true story, a story told in all its raw honesty. Skloot makes Henrietta's story and family come to life and their pain becomes palpable. The anger, resentments, and heartbreak are shared but it is clear it isn't easy and they have suffered much.
Skloot tells the story with love, respect, and finally for this family, some dignity.
HBO is going to be airing a movie based on this book later this month starring Oprah.
(Finished April 9, 2017)
Morning Star (Red Rising #3) by Pierce Brown
The third and (was supposed to be) final installment of (what was supposed to be) the Red Rising trilogy ends with....well now, I can't tell you that, SPOILERS!!!
I can tell you that you will have your heart shredded, mended, shredded again, and maybe mended again. I can tell you that you might chuckle when you least expect a chuckle to be appropriate.
And you will think. When power corrupts and is then overthrown, what steps in to fill the void? Someone has to lead. But what kind of leadership? Not everyone will like the new leadership, that's a given, but how does someone or a group of someones step in and create a new order without becoming the tyrants overthrown but still bring along those who don't want to come? It is a puzzle for sure. It is a world torn apart and needing rebuilding.
A color system that is clearly out of wack with the idea of freedom no matter what those at the top try to sell to those at the bottom....is one color more able than the others? Do we become who are because we are told it is who we are or do we makes choices that make us who we are and learn to carve out a place for ourselves in the place we best fit because of those choices? These are the questions, or at least some of them, that the Red Rising story asks and attempts to answer.
But now I am all uptight because I read this trilogy because someone, I am looking at you Danielle, told me that she loved it and if I did too all three books were already published so I wouldn't have to wait to find out what happens, only to get to the last page of this book and see that Mr. Brown has changed the paradigm once again...and his trilogy is now a quartet and there will be new book in the near future. Well played Mr. Brown, well played.
(finished April 9, 2017)
PS in fairness to Mr. Brown, if you read these now and have to wait for book 4, you won't be left all in a tangle, it does wrap up as if this was meant to be the ending.
My thoughts on
Red Rising
Golden Son
I can tell you that you will have your heart shredded, mended, shredded again, and maybe mended again. I can tell you that you might chuckle when you least expect a chuckle to be appropriate.
And you will think. When power corrupts and is then overthrown, what steps in to fill the void? Someone has to lead. But what kind of leadership? Not everyone will like the new leadership, that's a given, but how does someone or a group of someones step in and create a new order without becoming the tyrants overthrown but still bring along those who don't want to come? It is a puzzle for sure. It is a world torn apart and needing rebuilding.
A color system that is clearly out of wack with the idea of freedom no matter what those at the top try to sell to those at the bottom....is one color more able than the others? Do we become who are because we are told it is who we are or do we makes choices that make us who we are and learn to carve out a place for ourselves in the place we best fit because of those choices? These are the questions, or at least some of them, that the Red Rising story asks and attempts to answer.
But now I am all uptight because I read this trilogy because someone, I am looking at you Danielle, told me that she loved it and if I did too all three books were already published so I wouldn't have to wait to find out what happens, only to get to the last page of this book and see that Mr. Brown has changed the paradigm once again...and his trilogy is now a quartet and there will be new book in the near future. Well played Mr. Brown, well played.
(finished April 9, 2017)
PS in fairness to Mr. Brown, if you read these now and have to wait for book 4, you won't be left all in a tangle, it does wrap up as if this was meant to be the ending.
My thoughts on
Red Rising
Golden Son
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Golden Son (Red Rising #2) by Pierce Brown
I. Just. Can't. With. The. Feelings!!!
Ok, I can. But wow. It is hard to write a review for books you don't want to spoil for anyone but I will do my best.
This is book 2 in a trilogy, and as soon as I am done posting this I am diving into the finale, Morning Star.
Golden Son picks up 2 years after the ending of Red Rising. So much happens here that you would think it is slow moving, but then when it was over I couldn't believe it was done so quickly.
Darrow learns some hard lessons and some weighty questions are raised. What is the real cost of war is a central thread through the story so far. But there is so much more. What makes a family? How much can a relationship bend before it stops holding together and breaks? How does who we are at a given moment shape how we love? Darrow deals with betrayal, forgiveness, growing up, learning it isn't weak to depend on others, facing the timeless question about going home, and death, he faces death head on numerous time.
I'm finding the main theme of the story to be what makes us human, what makes some people lead and others follow, is it better to follow because it is how you are your best self or because you are forced to or trained to? Or does it matter, someone has to lead and someone has to follow and survival of the fittest and all that? It is the commonality in all of these types of stories, someone takes over and oppresses others until someone sparks a rebellion or revolution and a new cycle begins, until hopefully someday an equitable system is built.
There is also the obvious thread of race relations. I don't say that as criticism. It would be wrong to say we live in a post racial world, and so it feels relevant to have the hierarchy be based on a color system, Gold at the top and Red at the bottom.
Darrow is an interesting character because of his duality. Is he who is, how he is wired or is he a product of his environment? Nurture vs Nature. If you could walk a mile in another's skin would it change how you view them? Or yourself?
I know this all sounds so deep, and it is a thought provoking story, but it is also well written and gripping, even entertaining.
Ok, I have rambled on enough. I must go and begin the next book...
(Finished April 6, 2017)
My thoughts on Red Rising
Ok, I can. But wow. It is hard to write a review for books you don't want to spoil for anyone but I will do my best.
This is book 2 in a trilogy, and as soon as I am done posting this I am diving into the finale, Morning Star.
Golden Son picks up 2 years after the ending of Red Rising. So much happens here that you would think it is slow moving, but then when it was over I couldn't believe it was done so quickly.
Darrow learns some hard lessons and some weighty questions are raised. What is the real cost of war is a central thread through the story so far. But there is so much more. What makes a family? How much can a relationship bend before it stops holding together and breaks? How does who we are at a given moment shape how we love? Darrow deals with betrayal, forgiveness, growing up, learning it isn't weak to depend on others, facing the timeless question about going home, and death, he faces death head on numerous time.
I'm finding the main theme of the story to be what makes us human, what makes some people lead and others follow, is it better to follow because it is how you are your best self or because you are forced to or trained to? Or does it matter, someone has to lead and someone has to follow and survival of the fittest and all that? It is the commonality in all of these types of stories, someone takes over and oppresses others until someone sparks a rebellion or revolution and a new cycle begins, until hopefully someday an equitable system is built.
There is also the obvious thread of race relations. I don't say that as criticism. It would be wrong to say we live in a post racial world, and so it feels relevant to have the hierarchy be based on a color system, Gold at the top and Red at the bottom.
Darrow is an interesting character because of his duality. Is he who is, how he is wired or is he a product of his environment? Nurture vs Nature. If you could walk a mile in another's skin would it change how you view them? Or yourself?
I know this all sounds so deep, and it is a thought provoking story, but it is also well written and gripping, even entertaining.
Ok, I have rambled on enough. I must go and begin the next book...
(Finished April 6, 2017)
My thoughts on Red Rising
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