30 December 2020

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His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (the entire trilogy in ebook omnibus). Reread, but I don't think I'd read the last two books of the trilogy since Amber Spyglass came out when I was 14. (Should go look up what I wrote about it at the time for perspective, but haven't yet.) Philip Pullman spins a entertaining adventure yarn, but I'm less compelled by the theology / meditation on loss of innocence. I feel like a theme in classic children's literature is about how being a kid is great -- you get to go to Narnia, read the alethiometer, are generally more open to magic... and there's not enough about how being a teenager/young adult is also great, and doesn't mean you're done growing up already. Would like less Will, more armored bears. Had forgotten how great Mary Malone is, though!

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, Hank Green. Present-day SF that's also a meditation on social media and celebrity. Protagonist is not a great person, and we get to watch her screw up a lot, but the supporting cast is made up of lovely people (apart from the Designated Villain). Reading was a cathartic and meaningful experience. Ends on a cliffhanger, and I have already started the sequel, A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor. Worried the protagonists may be a bit too beautifully foolish her.

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Alison

June 2025

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