kab

4.5

3.5

3.5

1.5 A fantasy I could indulge in but philosophically unimaginative, positing only that power corrupts. A simple reversal without consideration of history of oppression, blanketing humanity with the empathic capacity of a child wanting to be king of the hill.

3.5

The title is excellent.

3.5

4.5

3.5

3.5 The preposterous secret identities undermine the message of breaking free from the conventions of society. Past that, and the early whining, it is a charming of-its-era read; the beauty of nature sparkles in the text.

The most frustrating aspect of Adulthood Rites and Imago is the same as in Survivor, the book Octavia disowned, which is the essentialism of race. In Survivor, blue Kohn are leaders; in the Xenogenesis series, humans and Oankali are also set in their respective singular tracks. It makes for more or less blank personalities and shallow relationships based solely on physiological addiction. The human sides of the constructs—stubbornness and fear of change—also keep the plot on the ground and off the ship. Imagine being endlessly curious yet having zero desire to explore space.

Nevertheless, Octavia's work is always effortless to read and I miss being immersed in her worlds.

4.5

2.5

3.5

Octavia ejected Survivor from the canon of her work because of its racial essentialism, with the Kohn having strict social classes according to colour. Aside from this element, Octavia's exploration of space is utterly absorbing, whether humans believe they are graduating from the earth or are escaping it. Having only one chance once you drop on a new planet is a compelling and terrifying idea and the force of the book's title rings throughout. The relationship between Alanna and Diut is also one of her most believable, including taking into account the active non-consent at its initiation, reflecting the decisions Alanna has to make to survive her new world, if not echoing a large part of human history.

Excellent balance of reading, vocab, grammar notes, exercises. I like a lot of reading and self-study and I got to a B1 level with this.

4.5

3.5 A rare English-to-Cantonese textbook that includes dialogue and vocabulary with Chinese characters. There are unfortunately racist illustrations throughout the book in addition to some backwards conversations. As a language learning resource the vocabulary in use and grammar points are excellent. However, the exercises only in romanised characters are useless. I haven't found a better alternative.

2.5

4.5

2.5

2.5

3.5

2.5 This is not written in Maya's voice. Her previous six autobiographies are among my favourite books. Mom & Me & Mom is largely a diminished retelling—of an incredible and heartening life.

2.5