Katherine
This book was such a step up from Shards of Honor for me, and I really enjoyed that one! The Vorkosigan series was published in a frankly bizarre order- despite this one being listed as #7, it’s a direct sequel to #1- like, DIRECT sequel. I’d definitely recommend reading those back to back.
Barrayar really exemplified Bujold’s talent for great characters and great worldbuilding. You can tell that each element of the politics and culture were thought through, and the characters are so memorable and real. I loved the outsider perspective on a culture that is misogynistic and ableist and this character not understanding it at all. It really shines a light on the issues in our own culture and society. Bujold also has an insane talent to switch emotions rapidly- one moment, I’m tearing up at a sad or tender moment, the next I’m laughing my ass off, and right after that it gets extremely tense. I don’t know how she manages it, but she does. Definitely continuing the series, I’m really enjoying this take on the classic space opera.
This book was such a step up from Shards of Honor for me, and I really enjoyed that one! The Vorkosigan series was published in a frankly bizarre order- despite this one being listed as #7, it’s a direct sequel to #1- like, DIRECT sequel. I’d definitely recommend reading those back to back.
Barrayar really exemplified Bujold’s talent for great characters and great worldbuilding. You can tell that each element of the politics and culture were thought through, and the characters are so memorable and real. I loved the outsider perspective on a culture that is misogynistic and ableist and this character not understanding it at all. It really shines a light on the issues in our own culture and society. Bujold also has an insane talent to switch emotions rapidly- one moment, I’m tearing up at a sad or tender moment, the next I’m laughing my ass off, and right after that it gets extremely tense. I don’t know how she manages it, but she does. Definitely continuing the series, I’m really enjoying this take on the classic space opera.
I read this because of a friend, who bullied me (lightheartedly) into putting it on hold at the library a while ago. This was a pretty dang good book, with the caveat of being aware there is SA and it plays a major role in the plot. The story has a lot going for it- the characters are realistic, the emotional writing hits HARD, the romance is sweet, and there’s a LOT going on politically and with the worldbuilding- while it is set in Ireland, there’s a lot to unpack that I thought was really intriguing. I wanted more of that.
I think what let it down a bit for me is that it was *very* slow to get started. I also think the retelling aspect made it a little too predictable at times? Once the plot got going, a lot of it I did see coming. That isn’t to say there were *no* twists and turns, but a lot of it wasn’t surprising. I would like to see what the author does without that framework, honestly. I think her politicking would be really good and interesting.
Overall, great story that is one of the few I’ve seen in this subgenre of romantasy that worked well for me. It handled itself well with balancing characters, worldbuilding, and romance in a way that is rare to find, in my opinion. I put the next book on hold at the library!
I read this because of a friend, who bullied me (lightheartedly) into putting it on hold at the library a while ago. This was a pretty dang good book, with the caveat of being aware there is SA and it plays a major role in the plot. The story has a lot going for it- the characters are realistic, the emotional writing hits HARD, the romance is sweet, and there’s a LOT going on politically and with the worldbuilding- while it is set in Ireland, there’s a lot to unpack that I thought was really intriguing. I wanted more of that.
I think what let it down a bit for me is that it was *very* slow to get started. I also think the retelling aspect made it a little too predictable at times? Once the plot got going, a lot of it I did see coming. That isn’t to say there were *no* twists and turns, but a lot of it wasn’t surprising. I would like to see what the author does without that framework, honestly. I think her politicking would be really good and interesting.
Overall, great story that is one of the few I’ve seen in this subgenre of romantasy that worked well for me. It handled itself well with balancing characters, worldbuilding, and romance in a way that is rare to find, in my opinion. I put the next book on hold at the library!
Added to listBird bird bird, bird is the wordwith 16 books.
Added to listIndigenous Books with 13 books.
It is always hard to rate nonfiction. I typically rate it based on how effectively the book communicated its message or information, if it was accessible to the average person, and if it was “enjoyable” to read on a line level- nonfiction can be written very dryly. This book nailed it on all three criteria.
This is a ROUGH book to read. The story relayed shows some of the most depraved horrors of capitalism and greed. The dial painters represented here should be talked about in the same breath as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire- these women, who were only girls at the time of their employment and so, so young at the time of their deaths, had to claw and fight to receive ANY compensation for the horrific suffering they endured. These cases were landmarks for establishing more laws around workplace safety, and even helped establish OSHA.
While it remains clinical in tone in the passages around what happened to the dial painters medically, the details are not sugar-coated. Moore tells you exactly how much these women suffered by describing their symptoms, their pain, and how they deteriorated due to the radium poisoning. It’s never overly graphic or used for shock value, but it IS horrific. Proceed with caution for those without a strong stomach.
This is simultaneously an infuriating and deeply sad read. The tragedy that unfolds does have some moments of triumph- but how much triumph is it really, when they were doomed from the very moment they began working with the luminous paint. Their courage and determination is clearly evident in their tale, and they truly deserve to be recognized for it. Kate Moore did a great service to them by writing their story, from THEIR perspective, not the legal and medical professionals, so it could be remembered in the 21st century.
It is always hard to rate nonfiction. I typically rate it based on how effectively the book communicated its message or information, if it was accessible to the average person, and if it was “enjoyable” to read on a line level- nonfiction can be written very dryly. This book nailed it on all three criteria.
This is a ROUGH book to read. The story relayed shows some of the most depraved horrors of capitalism and greed. The dial painters represented here should be talked about in the same breath as the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire- these women, who were only girls at the time of their employment and so, so young at the time of their deaths, had to claw and fight to receive ANY compensation for the horrific suffering they endured. These cases were landmarks for establishing more laws around workplace safety, and even helped establish OSHA.
While it remains clinical in tone in the passages around what happened to the dial painters medically, the details are not sugar-coated. Moore tells you exactly how much these women suffered by describing their symptoms, their pain, and how they deteriorated due to the radium poisoning. It’s never overly graphic or used for shock value, but it IS horrific. Proceed with caution for those without a strong stomach.
This is simultaneously an infuriating and deeply sad read. The tragedy that unfolds does have some moments of triumph- but how much triumph is it really, when they were doomed from the very moment they began working with the luminous paint. Their courage and determination is clearly evident in their tale, and they truly deserve to be recognized for it. Kate Moore did a great service to them by writing their story, from THEIR perspective, not the legal and medical professionals, so it could be remembered in the 21st century.
