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sarahetc's review
2.0
If you're an aspiring Tor author and want to get nominated for ALL the awards, this is how you do it. You write 316 and one-third pages of non-stop interlocking alternate histories. One history must prove that Christian Morality is Oppressive. The other history must prove that Bourgeois Bohemianism with equal parts socialism, space-travel, and three-ways, is stunning and brave. And whatever you do, never, ever, stop virtual signaling. Even if it wrecks your whole alternate history thing to have to ignore certain facts about technology and/or Greenpeace, it's much better to get those points!
Interesting premise, but nothing (except the loud and clear kowtowing to her LJ fanbase-- which she acknowledges! That was the most remarkable thing about the book: LiveJournal still exist and people other than George R. R. Martin use it!) that hasn't been done on a few episodes of Star Trek, Sliders, and oh yeah, Quantum (freaking) Leap.
Interesting premise, but nothing (except the loud and clear kowtowing to her LJ fanbase-- which she acknowledges! That was the most remarkable thing about the book: LiveJournal still exist and people other than George R. R. Martin use it!) that hasn't been done on a few episodes of Star Trek, Sliders, and oh yeah, Quantum (freaking) Leap.
jupiterismyhomeboy's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
jmeyers888's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
I really enjoyed the alternate histories in this book. It was a thought provoking book with a likable main character and easy to read. I throughly enjoyed reading about the diverging worlds, and the struggles life throws at a person. I thought the author did a really good job of portraying one core personality, with the main character Patty, and following her through two different realities with different ups and downs/struggles and achievements. Bonus points for the LGBTQ aspects of this book.
I waived back and forth between rating this book a 5 star or 4.5. I decided with 4.5 however because, though the story/stories of Patty’s lives were enjoyable and the book overall was thought provoking, I never got the spark of “feeling.” Essentially, I felt like the book didn’t draw me in emotionally. Yes there were happy and sad moments in Patty’s lives, but as the reader I never felt like I was in the trenches with her. Because of this I just couldn’t add that extra 1/2 star.
I waived back and forth between rating this book a 5 star or 4.5. I decided with 4.5 however because, though the story/stories of Patty’s lives were enjoyable and the book overall was thought provoking, I never got the spark of “feeling.” Essentially, I felt like the book didn’t draw me in emotionally. Yes there were happy and sad moments in Patty’s lives, but as the reader I never felt like I was in the trenches with her. Because of this I just couldn’t add that extra 1/2 star.
elsiemookow's review
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
My Real Children (though shelved as fantasy) is historical fiction with a tiny speck of the fantastical as a woman suffering from memory loss distinctly remembers two lives that she lived which diverged due to a decision she made in her early 20s. I must confess that I usually run far away from historical fiction but having heard nothing but good things about Jo Walton, I decided to give it a go. I'm not quite sure why, but My Real Children really captured my attention- I spent at least one night staying up far too late because I couldn't put it down. It is not fantastical, action packed, or mysterious in the least- it is a character study of a woman who's life could have turned out drastically differently based on a single decision. I wouldn't widely recommend My Real Children, as the plot was slow and the writing was just okay, but I cried at least three different times, so maybe the book just what I needed to read at the time.
sherwoodreads's review
Jo Walton can be trusted to do the unexpected, and to write it in beautiful prose.
This novel (read in draft, so I might be changing this review when I get the book) was so beautifully written that I did not realize until about three-quarters of the way through how linear it was. Ordinarily I resist linear. I like show, not tell, But I was so deeply engaged with the characters that it was impossible to lay it aside.
This novel (read in draft, so I might be changing this review when I get the book) was so beautifully written that I did not realize until about three-quarters of the way through how linear it was. Ordinarily I resist linear. I like show, not tell, But I was so deeply engaged with the characters that it was impossible to lay it aside.
jessicadiaz's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
joelanichols's review
4.0
i love the people (most of them) and the places in this book and how it resists simple answers.
kerrycat's review
5.0
aggghhh - the ending - this story upset me the entire time I was reading it, and it upsets me now as I try to work through the ways and hows and whys of that. Just the usual spectacularness of Walton.