Cheryl’s Comments (group member since Nov 29, 2022)

Cheryl’s comments from the Beyond Reality group.

“It was a pleasure to burn.”
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

“We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck.” Feed by M.T. Anderson

“My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.”
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

“Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board.”
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

“History has failed us, but no matter.”
Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

“I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.”
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

“They shoot the white girl first.”
Paradise by Toni Morrison

It was a ST:TNG novel. ;)

The current Libby Life newsletter has an article about first lines. Their picks include:

“This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it.” William Goldman, The Princess Bride

"Here is a small fact: You are going to die."
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“All this happened, more or less.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I picked it up today but won't be able to get around to it for at least a week, I think.

I'm ready! It looks big, but I bet it's a fast read. For some reason the cover and design are bringing to mind both Discworld and of The Surprising Adventures of Baron Muchausen.

I finally get to read The Prey of Gods for a group. I have no idea whether I'll like it, or even finish it, but it keeps getting pushed to me, so soon I'll get to find out.

Yes, the Hope is strong, making this book a joy to read even with the heavy themes.

Stories about generation ships often have good settings, as do ones about new colonies. We have to know what's where to be able to follow the adventure. But I can't come up with titles.

The one specific one that comes to mind is in the fourth book of the Wayfarers' series, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within. The planet Gora is home to the Five-Hop One-Stop, which seems like a really fun place to visit, but not for too long.

Oh, and let's not forget Discworld, with Ankh-Morpork etc. Say no more.

:smiles:

If you want good science, The Bees should be your choice. Also see pictures and captions of bees, wasps, and a hummingbird, by a college biology prof, at feathered photography dot com/ blog/ 2023/07/27.

That computerized fishing boat... what a bit of dark humor. So grateful I don't live in this world, even though it would be thrilling to learn of sapient octopuses.

I guess I have a different understanding of the word 'doorway' too. I always think of the reasons that children's libraries strive to have diverse collections, so that kids can see Mirrors, Windows, and Doors to their own and others' cultures & perspectives.

Well, it is a full-blown novella, not just a novelette. And, how about asking your library to buy it? Most love patron rec's.

Story is last of those four for me. After all, I read a lot of non-fiction, and essays, and poetry, so I guess language would be first. Again, of those four. I also love world-building, and books set in a particular place that I can learn more about, so setting next. Leaves characters third.

But what about themes, ideas? Those would actually be first for me. The Sense of Wonder and the What If of classic SF is what interests me the most. (Especially in books I read for this group. ;)

I have always thought that Pearl's work is over-rated, tbh.

"That's the ship," Maria Sukhoi told her husband. She pointed to the white needle on the spaceport's flight pad. "The Temenus. It launches in eight hours."

Good luck!

One of my favorites is “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” (view spoiler)[– George Orwell, 1984 (hide spoiler)]

It's all good. I just thought maybe it was worth mentioning.

I was slightly disappointed for the same reason. But I'm sure glad the octopuses were doing something to stick up for themselves. And I'm glad the author spent time exploring the theme about just how difficult it is to create a sanctuary that is truly safe.

Just a note - Mockingbird is very hard to find, at least not for money. None of my libraries have it, and I had on my wishlist at pbs for a long time. And Wishing Game has long holds at my libraries, as it's so new.

But both look so tempting!

Fantasy, The Bees
SF, Stars Uncharted.

see previous months for my reasons :)

And if we go back to stories for even younger children, I still get teased for being as sensitive as The Princess and the Pea. And I still feel as put upon as The Little Red Hen.

But adult fiction is about people who do cool things, and that's not me.

I wanted to be Trixie's friend, Honey, in part because she and I do have some things in common. ;)

In fact, I generally want to be just a friend. Maybe not a totally passive observer, but certainly not the adventurous main character. And I read to learn about what makes people tick. I don't think I've ever read about someone like me.

Oh, wait, I do identify with Beezus Quimby, from the Ramona books. Older sister, expected to set a good example, being bothered by younger pests, yup.