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heliopteryx's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I liked this book a lot, and I'm surprise I didn't hear of it earlier. I heard of this author from seeing her novel The Gate to Women's Country on a feminist sci fi book list, but when I saw the synopsis of Grass, I was fascinated.
The alien planet worldbuilding for Grass itself was great, but weakened by the author's lack of real world scientific knowledge. The exposition about the plague is the worst part, where it's clear the author is aware of some real biological concepts like latency and chirality, but doesn't know enough to work these in gracefully. This book does have the assumption thatknowing how a disease started is the key to curing it which , while it works in the story, is a common misconception i've had to dispel many times around real world diseases like covid. That's not how it really works.
I think the moral questions between the different species could have been made more interesting if the author were aware of the concept of neoteny, and that humans are a species exhibiting that trait.
It's best to focus on what a book is rather than what it is not, and Grass is all about culture shock and learning to be friends with those who are not like yourself. It's EXTRAORDINARILY hostile to organized religion used as social control, but it is friendly to the idea of spirituality and believing in God. The interpersonal interactions and deeply flawed characters were all written really well. The way the human society on Grass gradually unfolds to the reader is so well paced.
The alien planet worldbuilding for Grass itself was great, but weakened by the author's lack of real world scientific knowledge. The exposition about the plague is the worst part, where it's clear the author is aware of some real biological concepts like latency and chirality, but doesn't know enough to work these in gracefully. This book does have the assumption that
I think the moral questions between the different species could have been made more interesting if the author were aware of the concept of neoteny, and that humans are a species exhibiting that trait.
It's best to focus on what a book is rather than what it is not, and Grass is all about culture shock and learning to be friends with those who are not like yourself. It's EXTRAORDINARILY hostile to organized religion used as social control, but it is friendly to the idea of spirituality and believing in God. The interpersonal interactions and deeply flawed characters were all written really well. The way the human society on Grass gradually unfolds to the reader is so well paced.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
kerttuli's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Colonisation, and Classism
Moderate: Ableism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
sarah_i_jackson's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent