cabeiro commented on sunnysunshine's review of Babel
What does it take for one to forgo their proximity to empire to fight back against it? What elements of violence are essential to that fight? Where is the balance between violent revolution and political maneuvering? These questions are all explored in a historical fantasy where silver and the translations between languages serve as the main tool of empire.
The not-so-good (aka my only critiques and possibly personal preferences rather than objective critique of the writing):
The pacing, while intentional to distort the reader's perception of time as it reflects the experience of Robin, our main character, is overdone to the point that certain less exciting parts drag on while the excitement and action happens relatively quickly. While I do appreciate the time distortion I don't believe every sentence in the slow sections was necessary and so the slow pacing for me was overdone. I wanted more character development and just more time with the characters. I would have sacrificed some of the lectures on translation if it got me more Ramy, Victoire, and Robin interacting (and I LOVED the linguistic lectures.) Some of the times where characters are really dived into I did feel more often that I was being told who they were rather than shown as well.
The amazing: This book isn't meant to teach you that colonialism is bad - it's pretty specific that everyone in the story already knows this - it's what conveniences one is willing to give up for this knowledge that Babel tackles, and what methods of fighting the injustice are considered valid or effective and how this distorts with what privileges one is accustomed to. This is explored through quite a few different intersections and what this means for different character relationships and decisions. One parallel with today's world is that many people by now know that their smartphones and other technologies are created unjustly and at the expense of the people whose countries we are exploiting for such conveniences. Yet we all still use our devices just as those who know there is injustice in Babel continue their translations and using their silver and separating themselves from the reality of empire. There is no clear answer to what balance between violence and political maneuvering must be struck, this is not an instruction manual to righting the wrongs of empire - it's a recognition that we must do -something- or we will remain in our complicity, shaking our heads and wringing our hands at injustice while believing that there's nothing we can really do as individuals. It's a reminder that this is the world we are in and if we do not take action to choose a side then we will inevitably side with the empire.
This book isn't going to teach you anything about colonialism as a negative force that you don't already know - it's going to make the privileged readers in the imperial core uncomfortable with all they do know and how they move through the world despite this knowledge. It's a reminder that when we choose comfort and convenience in the face of a known injustice that we are serving the empire while we ignore its victims.
cabeiro commented on a post
This book has me giggling out loud in brand new ways and I really really like it!
cabeiro commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
cabeiro commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
Whichever one of you beautiful Pagebound souls who read my crashout and decided to manifest a man who would like books my way, it worked in less than 24 hours. Ya'll are scary! In less than 24 hours, I had a guy talk to me and listen to me about the types of books I liked, we liked, and he told me about books he liked. So I would like to thank whoever played their little magic on me. At this moment, we have plans to go to the bookstore together (time and date not decided yet). Sadly, he isn't much my type, but other than that, he is really cute. However, my type is literally toxic men, so maybe it is time to change that 😅 Thank you for your manifestations. If it doesn't turn romantic, I am happy to have a friend, nonetheless, who likes to read and talk about books!
cabeiro commented on MadHoney's review of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries (Emily Wilde, #1)
I liked this story so much more than I thought I would. I was a little iffy the first 20% but once creepy little Poe showed up I was sold. The banter in this story was great, they could tease each other but it didn’t seem mean. I also really liked the inclusion of the fairy stories, it really made it feel like she knew her field. I am looking forward to picking up the next book, I just need to figure out when I can fit it into my plan.
Format: Audio + eBook
cabeiro commented on a post
Has anyone who’s currently reading this book also read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern? The Starless Sea is on my tbr, but I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Night Circus, so I was wondering how similar the pacing / writing style is!
cabeiro commented on a post
My mind is all over the place and blown so far 🤯🤯🤯
cabeiro commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
Since joining this platform, I have never been part of a community so welcoming! Everyone seems incredibly friendly and supportive, and it never fails to make me smile 🤍🌸 A massive thank you to you all and I hope to be friends with many more of you!
Feel free to drop your favourite ever read below! 🌸🤍
cabeiro commented on AndreaB's update
AndreaB completed their yearly reading goal of 65 books!
cabeiro commented on a post from the Pagebound Club forum
Hey, page-turners 🤗 So, I used to lend out my physical books without even a second thought (now I only read ebooks and audiobooks, which means I don't have that problem anymore). But, man, not everyone’s in a rush to give them back, are they?
There was this one time I bought an absolutely beautiful art book when I was at the Louvre (felt super fancy, not gonna lie), and I let a friend borrow it. He loved art as much as I did, or so I thought. Yeah, that book never made its way back to me. The worst part? I barely even got to look through it myself. Ugh, talk about regret. 🤦♂️
What about you? Are you cool with lending your books out, or do you kind of feel like you’re just saying goodbye forever? 📖😊
cabeiro wants to read...
The Tainted Cup (Shadow of the Leviathan, #1)
Robert Jackson Bennett
cabeiro commented on moss-mylk's update
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cabeiro wants to read...
Piranesi
Susanna Clarke
cabeiro commented on dust.on.every.page's update
cabeiro commented on a post
I have not read Leigh Bardugo since Six of Crows and this seems like the PERFECT October read so let's see how this goes 👀👀
(Also this is the second book off my tbr in a row and I feel like I'm being blessed 😭🙏)
cabeiro commented on cabeiro's review of Nettle & Bone
After finishing this book, I called every single one of my friends (who reads) and demanded they read this. Yes, demanded, because it was THAT good and I have complete confidence that they will adore it as much as I do.
It's been a while since I've had a book where I can so gleefully mark 5 stars in every category:
I am completely obsessed with this book and I think I will remain so until I read my next Kingfisher.