It's fine, can see the appeal, but for me there's no magic hook that makes me want to keep reading. The orientalism is fun and over the top but it wasn't enough.
I gave up at page 566, which is outrageously late to be making that decision. That's on me.
After that many pages I'm definitely still counting it as having read it.
I'm surprised to say this is the strongest so far in the Ender's series. It's a little more philosophical than the others but in a way that suits what's happening on the page plus it also includes a fantastically realistic anti-heroes journey I didn't expect.
I'm really not sure about the whole young Peter and Val surprise, it felt like it came out of nowhere purely for the purpose of sequels
Considering who wrote this, it's fascinating to see the issues of religious fundamentalism discussed in such detail.
This is crack for any history fan. A true masterpiece of fictional worldbuilding.
Although definitely noticed this time that possibly the most old fashioned British influence over this whole mythos is the complete avoidance of anything overtly sexual in Tolkiens stories. When you compare his myths to their obvious forebear, the Greek Gods, you realise how much sex has been left out.
This isn't in itself a bad thing, but you'd be hardpressed to find any genuine historical myth from around the world that so thoroughly ignored one of the biggest features of human nature.
Well I can see why this is popular. When you so perfectly combine lifelong friendship and post-war Italy you can't miss.
Does everyone have the brilliant friend? The friend who you share a unique understanding of the world with that no one else seems to grasp? The friend that makes you feel both less and more than what you are?
That's nice to know, it's a friendship you don't see in literature enough.
Also, surely I'm not the only one that absolutely loved when Ferrante did that thing that some novels do, where it turns out the brilliant friend in the title wasn't who you expected. As the Elena of my duo, I appreciated the ego stroke.
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