book

Wants to read The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values

Finished reading Leviathan Falls

Wants to read The Terror

Wants to read An Instance of the Fingerpost

Wants to read The Silver Branch

Finished reading The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar

Wants to read Personal Memoirs

Rated Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety 8/10

Finished reading Sour Cherry

Wants to read The Book of Legendary Lands

Rated The World We Make 8/10

My review for book 1 was less than enthusiastic, but I'm glad I continued through for completeness sake and read this book. While it was a good 100 pages less, it was definitely more interesting and packed a lot more in the plot. Mostly, I think it was tighter and the previous book had already established all the characters, so it was able to get on with the action. It didn't surprise me to read in the Acknowledgments that Jemisin had both struggled to finish book 1 and wasn't sure whether to write any more in the series. The rise of Trump and the occurrence of the COVID pandemic understandably effected New York City massively and therefore effected a series that was a love letter to it. She is right, though, in having pushed through because in the end this is a fictional version of the city and it could include or exclude any aspect.<br/><br/>I personally read it as an analogy of racism and fascism incursions in current times and it works without bringing in either of those events. If anything, when Jemisin probably somewhat lost her way in finishing book 1, much of that book could also be tightened or parts removed and merged with book 2. Together they would make a great stand-alone book. The plot in book 2 included more interaction with the other city avatars and thankfully a lot less of the NYC avatars together and bickering. That was so off-putting for me in the first book. It would've been great to see more of the other city avatars, more interaction with them than just Mannahatta going hat in hand for help, one by one, before the big final major scene. And that final scene, as Neek says, damn! respect! It never occurred to me that outcome could happen, but it also was written to seem not possible.<br/><br/>It just occurred to me that The Great Cities series would've worked where each book could be a stand alone for different cities, either the ancient history cities or the new soon-to-come cities in the Americas. The tragedy of Atlantis, even if you know how it ends, would still be worth at least a novella! Actually, the idea of individual city books makes me think of the Anne Rice series The Vampire Chronicles. I suppose it can still be done albeit in a different medium since the reason I made sure to read these books right away was because of the news that its rights had been bought to make a series. I hope it actually happens. So many possibilities remain with this creative view of cities.

Rated A Game of Thrones / A Clash of Kings 8/10

Rated The House in the Cerulean Sea 7/10

In a state that has banned 35 books (16 already this year), Utah is super lucky to have some very cool, very queer local bookstores that are also community hubs.

Under the Umbrella
511 W 200 S, Suite 120
Salt Lake City, UT 84101

Support their Membership Drive & get cool shit:

https://withfriends.co/Under_the_Umbrella_Bookstore/join

#bookstodon #book #books #readersonbookstodon #readersofmastodon #localbookshop #bookbans #Utah #SLC

Humble is a book of images without pictures. i am not humble, but i am trying... my first and probably only book, a snapshot of some of the ideas that challenge my worldview. this is a small print run i made for #book afficionados. free online version also available.
#books #philosophy #graphicdesign #typography

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Added Pleasure Activism to Want to Read

Rated Gebied 19 8/10

Rated Gideon the Ninth 10/10

Anne Frank (June 12, 1929 – February 1945) for her thirteenth birthday received a diary. She began to write about her life, the people around her, short stories — even a novel.

She dreamed of becoming a writer.

War left us only her diary.

It stole the girl, the books she never wrote, and the life she should have had.

#AnneFrank #diary #writers #war #author #reading #books #bookstodon @bookstodon #booksky #bookstagram #book #readingcommunity #literature #history #ww2

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Rated Inside Threat A Novel 6/10

Added Real Sofistikashun: Essays on Poetry and Craft

Here is a new review of my #solarpunk novella, The Blossoming of the Big Tree, and hope it can nudge you to make a purchase.
“I enjoyed this novella. It has a delightful and satisfying ending, a main character that I wholly enjoyed meeting, and a lot of different points for discussion if read as a group.”

From Holly's Reading Escapades
https://hollysreadingescapades.blogspot.com/2026/06/book-review-blossoming-of-big-tree-by.html

To read a sample chapter and for links to buy the book, go here
https://www.ododopress.com/novellas/the-blossoming-of-the-big-tree/

#review #books #book #bookstodon #sff #scifi

The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s timeless masterpiece, has reached a historic milestone by becoming the world’s most translated book of fiction, with 600 translations to date!

#reading #TheLittlePrince #Exupery #books #literature #translation #novel #book #bookstodon #readingcommunity @bookstodon #bookstagram #BookTok #bookish #prince #littleprince #antoinedesaintexupery

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I still have my Third Doodle Collection book available! It even comes with a signed and doodled bookmark! ONLY at gricklemart.com https://gricklemart.com/third-twisted-graham-annable-doodle-collection/ #grickledoodle #cartoon #art #book #funny #horror #humor

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