Scan barcode
phoebe_phorreal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Still not quite sure how to sum up my feelings on this book, though I really enjoy how the different novellas play off each other, especially regarding the essential goodness of humanity, even at its most vile and annihilatory, and Christianity (here, specifically, the Catholic Church's) testimony to that inherent goodness in dark times. There are several discourses and ideas that Miller's future church puts down that reach a big payoff mere pages from the end- all centered around the common humanity we know by faith we share even if eugenicist philosophies would have us believe othherwise.
Some characters can seem a bit one-note and sometimes there are things set up that don't feel like they fully pay off or are consistent in-universe across novellas. There's also a notable lack of many women characters like a lot of fiction from this era. Overall, however, this is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and even at turns witty story of knowledge, humanity, faith and how the three shape each other, intermingle, fall apart, run together, bring disaster, and bring hope. A solid read, with more Latin than you can shake a stick at, that will lead you to both despair in humanity while also restoring your faith in the beauty of our common dignity
Some characters can seem a bit one-note and sometimes there are things set up that don't feel like they fully pay off or are consistent in-universe across novellas. There's also a notable lack of many women characters like a lot of fiction from this era. Overall, however, this is an achingly beautiful, poignant, and even at turns witty story of knowledge, humanity, faith and how the three shape each other, intermingle, fall apart, run together, bring disaster, and bring hope. A solid read, with more Latin than you can shake a stick at, that will lead you to both despair in humanity while also restoring your faith in the beauty of our common dignity
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Genocide and War
seanml's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A very funny, albeit tragic, look into all humanities and our future. Miller perfectly fuses the mysticism of religion, the stalwart progress of science, and the sadness of human memory. 9/10.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and War
Moderate: Child death, Death, Genocide, and Murder
Minor: Blood, Medical content, and Cannibalism
librarianmage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and War
Moderate: Animal death and Genocide
abby_reads_books's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail