Hélène Louise's Blog, page 16

Ruthless Magic – Megan Crewe

(I thank Netgalley and Another World Press for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

It wasn’t a perfect read but still a very good one!

The characters are rather classic and functional, except for Finn, who’s particularly interesting and touching. It’s quite unusual in YA /romance to find a character -especially a male one – who is weak, power wise. I loved his humour and his philosophy of life, and the alternative point of view (his and the main feminine character’s one)  was a shame in my opinion. I know that it’s a favourite technique for readers and writers, especially in romance stories, but it’s also a narrative facility which frequently weakens the story.

However, the story was great. I really appreciated that the drastic situation was credible. In many recent YA books, even much acclaimed ones, I’m disturbed by the incoherence of the dystopic or pseudo dystopic situation, which is clearly artificial, established to make the story possible (in all its excruciating details, even). I know that it’s fiction but still it must be plausible for me or I get frustrated or even sickened. In Ruthless Magic the plot, that we discover point by point, was clever and surprising, hard sometimes but never unbearable, and I loved it! In fact a good part of the story is pretty awful, but nothing is gratuitous and the author never unhealthily insist upon the most horrible situations.

The treatment of magic is also quite good. I find difficult in general to visualise something that doesn’t exist, but Megan Cress manages it well. The Exam atmosphere is also very efficace and reminded me Brussolo’s Peggy Sue books. The revelations were clever and astonishing, I was impressed

Brave enough – Kati Gardner

I was very happy to read this book, which has many qualities of authenticity.

Indeed the author has chosen a subject that matters a lot to her, as she’s directly concerned. She explains, in the end of the book, that she had the same cancer as her heroine as a child, and have lost her left leg as a result. The story and its characters are the product of her imagination, but all the facts, the details, the emotions are quite true.

I’ve got ambivalent thoughts about the actuel tendency of presenting more and more teenagers with various illnesses in YA books. In a way it’s really great, giving information to readers, encouraging them to understand, to be tolerant, to show that a person is a person no matter what, and never their illness. But on the other hand I’m always suspicious. Some authors, even motivated with the best intentions, even concerned by the difference, sometimes instrumentalise it, using the dramatics of an illness or neurological difference to create high emotions. I’m not sure it’s a bad thing, especially if the result is wholesome for the readers, but I can’t feeling the process sometimes a little dishonest… In « Brave enough », I was quite happy, all was perfect in my point of view.

I read this book very easily, it was a good story, with strong message about illness, family and drugs. I applaud the author to have managed to write a very positive story without letting the reader forgot about the realities of cancer and addiction. Some children and some teenagers die of cancer, even with good treatments. Some people aren’t able to overcome their addiction, even with the best help. And still, hope is bright, as so many courageous people – patients, their families, doctors, hospital workers, volunteers – do their best, always.

Withstanding the gravity of the themes, the story was pleasant, with good characters, and the two stories intertwined of a teenage girl, a professional dancer, and a teenage boy, who was a « cancer kid » and is now cured but had also been using drugs. Their psychological evolution is a little bit rushed but sound and optimist, with a positive ending, which is a beautiful message!

(I thank Netgalley and North Star Editions for sending me the ARC in exchange for my honest review)

Paperback, 280 pages
Expected publication: August 21st 2018 by Flux

The Quantum Magician – Derek Kunsken

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I was very excited to read this book, but also a little apprehensive. In theory I love hard science-fi, because it seems so real, so true, so possible. But in practice, I’m easily lost: most hard science-fi books dwells on physics and, if I know that universe and space mean physics, and if I’m genuinely interested in the subject, it’s alas a case of unrequited love there… I love science in general, but my kind of science is clearly biology  (which is not, in my opinion, enough developed in science-fi) and advanced physics are difficult for me.

I went through three phases reading this book.

At the very beginning I was quite happy: the story was immediately interesting, the characters were engaging, and the quantum magician seems to be absolutely there, in a human kind of way, not as a concept floating in an esoteric no-space or such as I had feared (in some hard science-fi I frequently have the impression of reading with my eyes closed, as in some dreams, when and where I can never focus whatever the efforts I make). So a good start!

At about ten per cent in the story, I had quite a shock: suddenly I was facing a long explanation about the functioning of the quantum man’s brain. Quite fascinating in theory, but absolutely abstruse for the reader I am. And – have I told you yet? quite long. I read on, not understanding much, till I had to stop and think about my dilemma. I clearly wasn’t able to appreciate this kind of explanation, but on the other hand had really loved the story so far and really wanted to know some more. So I pondered a few minutes and finally decided, sighing sadly, that I was perfectly able to skim through unintelligible passages and understand, if not all of it, at least the general idea. Not comfortable, but manageable.

Actually, I had kittens for nothing ! Those difficult passages were very few in the books, and always useful, never gratuitous. After some more exposition I understood more and more about the quantum brain and was able to surf upon some other explanations (those less interesting in my point of view). In fact, during the book I never had another difficult moment before the final grand action, which is never my cup of tea anyway (during Still’s parts to be precise). The whole read was delightful, and very supple.

In the end I had just two discomforts during my read. The brainy-quantum explanation which happened in my opinion to early in the book (not to mention too long :P). Also I was also frequently discountenanced, in the very beginning, by the narration using the third person, as it had clearly a first person vibe for me. Maybe the very first had been written at the first person before being rewritten in another way? This dissonance disappeared very quickly though (so I could have shut up about it; maybe).

I must seem quite a quibbler there ! If so, it’s because I loved this book so much that I was frustrated by these little flaws… And also because I have a self-appointed mission: to reassure the readers who may feel lost at the same very point I was, that it won’t be the general tone it the story, and that any reader may be able to appreciate it without any suffering!

The fantastic points are plentiful.

Firstly, absolute different voices for all the characters, which is finally quite rare. The characters are wonderful, their personalities, their stories, their interactions – just flawless!

The story in itself is quite interesting, with a strong general idea around quantum people and why the main character, who differs from the quantum people’s norm, decided to chose another live, one of criminal projects. The sub-story around the Puppet people is so brilliant that it could be the only reason to read the book!

One particular aspect impressed me a lot and made for a wonderful read: the way the author skillfully develops its story’s background, without never ever frustrating his reader. From the start some particularities of the science-fi world are exposed, as the three new human races, bio-engineered (I must confess a soft spot for this theme, what a treat here!), making the reader wanting to know more about it. Then, through future developments, all you’ll need and want to know will be displayed, just at the perfect moment, without any info-dump nor artificial exposition: du grand art, vraiment

Tortues à l’infini – John Green

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J’aime beaucoup cet auteur, la manière dont il met en scène, avec beaucoup de justesse et de sensibilité, des adolescents brillants et souvent tourmentés, montrant bien qu’une haute intelligence n’est pas la garantie d’une vie sans heurts, bien au contraire.

Ce dernier roman est très particulier. Si l’on retrouve la patte de l’auteur, dans une histoire agréable à suivre, l’essence du roman est bien dans son message. L’héroïne souffre de troubles anxieux s’exprimant par un trouble obsessionnel compulsif (une plaie qu’elle s’auto-entretient dans un stress hypocondriaque incessant) : l’écho avoué des troubles dont souffre l’auteur.

Cette mise en scène d’un trouble anxieux grave est ainsi d’une grande qualité. La dualité permanente des pensées de la jeune fille, pensées anxieuses, morbides et pulsions auto-destructives d’une part et logique scientifique limpide d’autre part, est la base du roman. L’auteur montre avec beaucoup d’habilité et d’émotion la souffrance constante engendrée par cet état de fait : bien que consciente de l’absurdité des spirales de ses pensées anxieuses, qui la poussent à s’auto-mutiler dans une frénésie de phobie microbienne, bien que parfaitement informée d’un point de vue purement scientifique, l’héroïne ne PEUT PAS juguler ces pensées et ces pulsions.

Ce message me paraît fondamental. L’entourage des personnes anxieuses, même le plus bienveillant, ne comprend pas toujours me semble-t-il, que savoir n’est pas ressentir, que comprendre n’est pas pouvoir.

Une aide professionnelle ainsi parfois nécessaire, quand l’anxiété n’est plus latente mais bien une maladie. Une aide via une thérapie mais aussi parfois via des médicaments. Dans le roman l’héroïne ne vit pas bien cette obligation médicamenteuse et « oublie » souvent de prendre son traitement – signe de l’importance du dialogue entre les deux parties, le traitement devant à mon sens être choisi après des explications et des offres alternatives…

Si l’anxiété du personnage principal est un point central, l’histoire n’est pas uniquement focalisée là-dessus ! Il y a une disparition mystérieuse, des rencontres, des dialogues typique du style de l’auteur.

Un pan important est l’évolution psychologique de l’héroïne, qui comprend que sa maladie l’a rendue égoïste, trop focalisée sur elle-même. C’est inévitable et il aisé de compatir, mais je pense que l’auteur a voulu marquer le coup, exposer son propre vécu. La fin du roman offre un dernier message très clair, positif et résigné à la fois : la maladie ne disparaîtra jamais, mais elle n’est pas mortelle, la jeune fille (John Green) pourra vivre, seule ou en couple, avoir des enfants si elle le souhaite, avoir un travail, mener à bien des activités. Le trouble sera toujours là, toujours à combattre, mais il n’aura plus jamais, espérons, le dessus.

Aux Editions Gallimard pour la version française,   parution le 1 octobre 2017

352 pages – 21 € pour le format papier et 14,99 € pour le format numérique

J’aime beaucoup cet auteur, la manière dont il met en sc...

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J’aime beaucoup cet auteur, la manière dont il met en scène, avec beaucoup de justesse et de sensibilité, des adolescents brillants et souvent tourmentés, montrant bien qu’une haute intelligence n’est pas la garantie d’une vie sans heurts, bien au contraire.

Ce dernier roman est très particulier. Si l’on retrouve la patte de l’auteur, dans une histoire agréable à suivre, l’essence du roman est bien dans son message. L’héroïne souffre de troubles anxieux s’exprimant par un trouble obsessionnel compulsif (une plaie qu’elle s’auto-entretient dans un stress hypocondriaque incessant) : l’écho avoué des troubles dont souffre l’auteur.

Cette mise en scène d’un trouble anxieux grave est ainsi d’une grande qualité. La dualité permanente des pensées de la jeune fille, pensées anxieuses, morbides et pulsions auto-destructives d’une part et logique scientifique limpide d’autre part, est la base du roman. L’auteur montre avec beaucoup d’habilité et d’émotion la souffrance constante engendrée par cet état de fait : bien que consciente de l’absurdité des spirales de ses pensées anxieuses, qui la poussent à s’auto-mutiler dans une frénésie de phobie microbienne, bien que parfaitement informée d’un point de vue purement scientifique, l’héroïne ne PEUT PAS juguler ces pensées et ces pulsions.

Ce message me paraît fondamental. L’entourage des personnes anxieuses, même le plus bienveillant, ne comprend pas toujours me semble-t-il, que savoir n’est pas ressentir, que comprendre n’est pas pouvoir.

Une aide professionnelle ainsi parfois nécessaire, quand l’anxiété n’est plus latente mais bien une maladie. Une aide via une thérapie mais aussi parfois via des médicaments. Dans le roman l’héroïne ne vit pas bien cette obligation médicamenteuse et « oublie » souvent de prendre son traitement – signe de l’importance du dialogue entre les deux parties, le traitement devant à mon sens être choisi après des explications et des offres alternatives…

Si l’anxiété du personnage principal est un point central, l’histoire n’est pas uniquement focalisée là-dessus ! Il y a une disparition mystérieuse, des rencontres, des dialogues typique du style de l’auteur.

Un pan important est l’évolution psychologique de l’héroïne, qui comprend que sa maladie l’a rendue égoïste, trop focalisée sur elle-même. C’est inévitable et il aisé de compatir, mais je pense que l’auteur a voulu marquer le coup, exposer son propre vécu. La fin du roman offre un dernier message très clair, positif et résigné à la fois : la maladie ne disparaîtra jamais, mais elle n’est pas mortelle, la jeune fille (John Green) pourra vivre, seule ou en couple, avoir des enfants si elle le souhaite, avoir un travail, mener à bien des activités. Le trouble sera toujours là, toujours à combattre, mais il n’aura plus jamais, espérons, le dessus.

Aux Editions Gallimard pour la version française,   parution le 1 octobre 2017

352 pages – 21 € pour le format papier et 14,99 € pour le format numérique

Down in the belly of the whale – Kelley Kay Bowles

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I liked this story very much and read very quickly, as a page turner. I was especially entranced by the young narrator voice, the best facet of the book: Harper sounds like a very credible gifted teenager, clever and funny, in a self deprecating kind of way, and a bubbling mind, which frequently let her to obsess about some thing or another. She’s smart and wise, but can also be very short sighted in some situations (her infatuation with a boy based only on his looks for instance), marking her as still a very young person, and never an adult.

The other characters weren’t quite as good, but only for lack of correct exposition: at the exception of the mother, a strong figure with a delightful personality, most characters felt like not really stereotypical, but left at a first draft. Not because of a lack of skill, but more because of the choice of telling about a lot of things at the same time.

In general, even if I really appreciated the story and am looking forward reading the next author’s book, I had the impression of overabundance of themes used, at their disadvantage.

I applaud the author’s efforts to developed some strong situations for her heroin, but I couldn’t help thinking that it was too much for the book. In the end it felt a little more pedagogical than naturally included in the story.

Another point that felt a bit discordant was the funny and light beginning which suddenly sank in dark reality facts. Harper’s arch voice was suddenly lost, of course, she wouldn’t keep her sparkling tone, and I felt like jumping from one book to another one at full speed…

All in all I’m just quibbling, as usual, because contemporary YA book is my favourite, and I’m always spliting hairs about tiny details… shame on me!

To conclude I warmly recommend this book, for its endearing heroin and its story which doesn’t shy to show difficult realities and explains how the right attitude can make a real difference.

 

Published May 5th 2018 by Aionios Books, LLC

Paperback, 235 pages

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(A review copy (e-galley) of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley)

Artificial Condition – Martha Wells

 

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What a treat!

I’ve read the first book of « The Murderbot Diaries », « All Systems Red », quite recently and was very excited at the idea of reading the sequels, as this first nevella has been a perfect read for me. I loved the real science-fi vibe, the humanity of the story, with true people, ordinary people – except for the narrator, an artificial person, a security robot, or a murderbot.

I’ve always been fascinated by intelligence non human in fiction: demons, dragons, robots… I love the scenaristic complexities offered by this kind of character, the way it makes the reader ponder about identity and humanity. In « The Murderbot Diaries » series some « bots », made with human DNA and a lot a technology (a mix between android and cyborg) are used as slaves, paying no heed to the fact that they’re clearly as aware as humans. My very old sense of indignation towards any form of injustice was immediately awake and ready to approve all the author efforts to solve this unbearable situation. I read on and was charmed…

The hero(ine) of this series (whom we’ll call Bootie, to make it simple) is a very likeable person, with an endearing personality, very reserved and even shy, but with a delicious dry sense of humour. By nature Botie feels the need to help humans, but not any human: their intelligence helps them to see how people really are, and since the first book, Bootie’s tribulations, around some mysteries, were riveting and made a very pleasurable read.

I particularly appreciate how this kind of exposing of a non human character helps understand some particular human personalities, who are able to like and love other humans but bear contact with difficulties and much prefer to have indirect interactions with other humans: they’re not abnormal and cold, just different and sensitive, and need to be accepted with their differences.

But to come back to this second novella, « Artificial Condition ».

If you’ve loved the first episode, you’re sure to love this one too. The story is very linear, beginning just after the end of « All Systems Red ». If you don’t remember very precisely this first story, and have chosen not to read it again before, don’t worry, the author gives some tips to help the reader. And if you were sorry to see Bootie run away, you’ll see that she doesn’t forget her crew!

I won’t tell much about this new story, as I don’t want to spoil anybody, but I can just say that Bootie’s gaining a rather Hermionish sidekick, and manages to learn from their personal history. It was a delicious read, entertaining, sweet and fun!

I’m looking forward reading the next novella in the series, « Rogue Protocol » (August 2018), and the next, « Exit Strategy » (october 2018) – which seems to be the last, a shame, I would have love dozen of murderbot diaries…

I recommend this book in particular, and « The Murderbot diaries » in general, to all science-fi readers (and even more) who love a solid context and strong characters development, with no clichés and some dry humor.

Lovers of  Ann Leckie’s Ancillary books will love this series, and also, for instance, enthusiast readers of Lois McBujold’s Penrin § Desdemona’s novellas.

(A review copy (e-galley) of this book was provided by the publisher through netgalley)

Starlings – jo walton

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I’d only read two of Jo Walton’s books so far, but absolutely loved them and kept recommending them around me: « Among others » and « Tooth and claw » (the best Jane Austen’s fan-fiction ever written!). I actually don’t know why I waited so long to read another of her books, probably because some of the themes broached in them aren’t some I like to read about… a shame and a wrong decision, probably. I will make an effort soon.

Well. When I discovered this collection from Jo Walton, and had the opportunity to read it offered by Netgalley, I was enthusiast and happy to read it. I was also a little wary, as I’m not known to appreciate easily short stories: it’s often difficult for me to immerse myself in a story, and if the effort isn’t worth doing, if the story is just meh in the end, I’m rather frustrated. And conversly, if the story is fascinating, I’m also frustrated, because it’s to short!

A reader life can be difficult, sometimes…

Before beginning reading these short stories and poetry, I read the introduction by the author, and found it quite fascinating. Among things, she explains her relation with short stories, how she used to consider them much more difficult to write than novels, and also how she had incidentally discovered that some ideas were good basis for short stories, but not for novels. « Starlings » perfectly illustrates how the author manages to use this revelation.

I really loved this book, which I found astonishingly easy and entertaining to read. (I didn’t read all the poetry however: English isn’t my first langage and I still haven’t learned to appreciated poetry in this langage). Of course I preferred some stories, but all were good, or very good. And the very good ones were absolutely fantastic! I loved how the characters were immediately likeable and perfectly characterised. As a lot of the ideas were astonishing and frequently funny (even irreverently so!), I was deliciously entertained while reading them from their very beginning and spend some times after their end thinking about them – which is a sure sign of quality stories!

I thank again Netgalley for giving me this opportunity to read a book that I probably won’t have chose spontaneously, even knowing how the author had previously delighted me, because of my mistrust of collection of short stories. I very probably will buy the paper book at the first opportunity to re read it. I warmly recommend it to all passionate readers of science-fi and fantasy.

The hate U give – Angie Thomas

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J’ai lu ce roman il y a quelques temps en VO et j’attendais sa sortie en VF avec impatience, tout comme j’en attend son adaptation télévisuelle, prévue pour bientôt (je n’ai pas réussi à trouver de date précise).

J’ai refermé ce livre avec une très inhabituelle pensée : « Tout le monde devrait le lire ».

Inhabituelle car je ne crois pas au livre universel, susceptible de plaire à tous, et que j’essaie d’ailleurs de faire mon possible, lors de la rédaction de chroniques, pour orienter l’éventuel lecteur dans le bon sens.

Pourtant ce livre, entre roman et témoignage, est pour moi un futur classique, fortement apparenté au célèbre Ne tirez pas sur l’oiseau moqueur d’Harper Lee, et devrait être proposé à la lecture à un très large public.

Ce roman, classé young adult pour l’âge de son héroïne (Starr, 16 ans) dépasse largement les frontières du genre. C’est un cri dénonçant des réalités effroyables, des injustices intolérables, une situation permanente aux Etats-Unis, à travers un fait précis : le refus d’accorder la même valeur humaine à un jeune garçon noir qu’à un jeune garçon blanc.

Le roman est bien écrit, agréable à lire, avec des dialogues qui sonnent particulièrement authentiques (j’ai dû parfois recourir au dictionnaire urbain, je suis curieuse de voir comment le traducteur s’en est tiré !), des personnages forts et des situations très subtiles.

Le père de Starr, un ancien chef de gang reconverti à une honnête vie de labeur pour l’amour des siens, est certainement le personnage qui m’a le plus frappée et émue.

J’ai été aussi particulièrement remuée par la place des enfants dans l’histoire, ces petits qui côtoient l’injustice et la violence en toute innocence, sur le point d’être arrachés à leur enfance pour être plongés dans les réalités du monde injuste et violent où ils sont nés – par les hasards de la vie.

Un roman très fort à découvrir.

Et une superbe couverture conservée de celle de la version originale, quelle riche idée !

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Aux Editions Nathan pour la version française, parution le 5 avril 2018

496 pages –  17,95 € pour le format papier 

Thundercloud – Neal Shusterman

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J’ai lu avec beaucoup de plaisir le premier tome de cette série, malgré une certaine difficulté à « encaisser » certains points de départ de la dérive de ce monde établi dans le futur. J’ai adoré l’inventivité de l’auteur, son style, le soin accordé aux détails.

(remarque : aucun spoil ci-dessous, vous pouvez lire sans crainte)

J’ai retrouvé toutes ces qualités dans le deuxième tome, et plus encore. L’auteur repart sur les chapeaux de roues mais sans ressasser les éléments du premier tome, il y a de belles nouveautés, comme les textes précédant chaque chapitre, où s’exprime le Thunderhead (passages très importants, qui ont d’ailleurs contribué à lever l’une de mes principales réticences quand aux bases de la série), un nouveau personnage très intéressant (bien plus que les deux principaux, qui sont fonctionnels mais un poil fades à mes yeux), des rebondissements étonnants. La fin en particulier est très surprenante et promet une superbe suite !

Une style est excellent, très agréable à lire, avec un humour au tournant qui m’a beaucoup plu. Il y a des idées très drôles (les dindes à la Matrix, les bistrots à la Westworld) et l’ensemble est très réjouissant sans pour autant jamais tourner à la farce. Toujours beaucoup de maîtrise dans la narration, aucun laissez-aller, aucune facilité, quel bonheur de lecture !

Hélas, malgré mon agrément de lecture, ce roman n’est pas tout à fait un coup de cœur. Les personnages pour commencer, s’ils sont bien établis et finement mis en scène, ne me touchent pas particulièrement – à part Thunderhead, mon personnage préféré ! Mais ce qui me gêne toujours le plus dans cette série, ce qui m’arrache régulièrement à ma lecture, est le total manque de crédibilité scientifique de l’aspect biologique/médical. Dans un autre style de roman, plus loufoque ou bâclé, je ne l’aurais pas relevé. Mais ici, l’absurdité qui frise parfois le ridicule, dans ce monde si soigneusement imaginé et mis en scène, dénote comme faute d’orthographe dans un poème… Quel dommage ! L’auteur doit en être conscient, tant il reste vague pour certains aspects, qui se résolvent avec un « abracadabra ! » et une poignée jetée de poudre de fée qui me font lever les yeux au ciel à chaque fois. C’est d’autant plus triste qu’il aurait pu arriver à quelque chose de beaucoup plus solide à peu de frais – en demandant conseil à un scientifique par exemple.

Passé ce détail (ou pas :P) cela reste une excellente lecture, originale et approfondie. Vivement la suite !

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Aux Editions CollectionR pour la version française, parution le 15 mars 2018

576 pages – 19,50 € pour le format papier et 12,99 € pour le format numérique