"Midnight Robber" by Nalo Hopkinson (BR)

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

This is the September Buddy Read for the Inclusive Book Bingo (Caribbean Author).

You do not need to be participating in the IBB to read along! Who's in?

Same drill as always, please use spoiler tags and a chapter/page so we can follow along!

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

I’m in! Lucky me library has a copy. I think this is my first time reading Nalo Hopkinson.

[Bill]

I just read this last week. Was my first Hopkinson book too. It has some really heavy themes but thought she handled it very well. Looking forward to the discussion.

[Ariana]

I am, but I'm starting to hyperventilate seeing Poppy War, Calculating Stars, Infomocracy, and this one all starting in 1 day.

What are people reading first?

[Soo]

I'm in! I got the audiobook a few days ago. I had no idea there was a buddy read for it. =D

[Anthony]

I’m in but am going to read The Calculating Stars first. So give me a couple days...

[Anna]

Ariana wrote: "I am, but I'm starting to hyperventilate seeing Poppy War, Calculating Stars, Infomocracy, and this one all starting in 1 day.

What are people reading first?"

I read CalcStars already, but the rest will have to wait until I'm done with Translateathon (Sep 2-9). I might try to sneak Poppy in at times during the week, but there's no way I'll get to Robber before the 10th. And Infomocracy is going to have to wait until State Tectonics is out later in the month. (Oh it's out on the 11th, damn.)

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

Ariana wrote: "I am, but I'm starting to hyperventilate seeing Poppy War, Calculating Stars, Infomocracy, and this one all starting in 1 day.

What are people reading first?"

I was thinking my order would be: Calculating Stars (it has to go back on the 1st), Infomocracy, Poppy War and then Midnight Robber. Only because I’m already 65% of the way through Poppy War too. I don’t know if that’s helpful or not since I’ve already started half of them. I’m also reading Kraken.

At the very least- September is shaping up to be a great month for reading lol.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Poppy War, Calc Stars, Tigana, Midnight Robber for me :)

Soo, I'm so glad you stumbled onto this!!

[Cheryl]

I read Midnight Robber a few years ago and let my copy go, so won't join, but will follow along. It was indeed, at least for me, a very different book, and even though I didn't understand it very well or fully appreciate it, I feel that I can give myself credit for trying it!

[Megan]

I'm excited for this, and I hope to start the book next week. I began reading Nalo Hopkinson a couple months ago--The Salt Roads is my favorite book I've read over the last year. I've also been enjoying her short fiction a lot. So I was pleased to see this BR because it solved my dilemma for which of her books to read next. :D

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

We'll still be here, Amanda :) I likely won't have my copy yet by then!

[Anthony]

I finished The Calculating Stars last night and am going to dive into this today. I realize I may be the only voice here for a minute or two. I’ll do spoiler tags for sure. See you when I see you!

[Anthony]

Just wanted to say that I had read some of Hopkinson’s short stories and enjoyed them, so I had a good feeling about this going in. What’s especially impressive to me about her writing is the confidence that infuses it. She fully commits to the voice and setting and style of everything I’ve read of hers. I’m in the middle of the (very long) first chapter and am enchanted so far.

[Anthony]

In the middle of chapter two and it just keeps getting better and better. Hurry up already, folks! It’s invigorating to read something that feels so original and vibrant.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Aaghh I was gonna read Tigana first but this is so effing tempting!!

[Wen]

I am in too:) but I haven’t finished Ukulele Jam yet. Anthony is so fast... And I am still so thrilled that I am in the group discussion. (Sorry, I am new here.)

[Jemppu]

wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Hi Wen! We're thrilled to discuss it with you!

Through absolutely no amounts of coercion or peer pressure, I've just requested this book at my library and should join in this week! Can't wait to find out what Jemina (is it okay if we use your GR handle?) and Anthony are talking about!

[Jemppu]

Allison wrote: "Hi Wen! We're thrilled to discuss it with you!

Through absolutely no amounts of coercion or peer pressure, I've just requested this book at my library and should join in this week! Can't wait to ..."

Yes, Jemina is all good.

Whelp. Guess I'm in then. Was actually just reading the preview there for breakfast, but seem to have gotten caught up in it. The language is indeed quite captivating, and an alluring way into the world.

This will be hard one to follow whilst also trying to get work done - will probably end up reading every sentence twice for it <:)

[Anthony]

Jemppu wrote: "wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though."

I wonder whether the copy editor was given a glossary of terms or some sort of document from Hopkinson about the idiosyncrasies of her grammar and syntax. Because those copy editors can be very conservative, I have to imagine that this one was thoroughly debriefed or it would have been a nightmarish process of going back and forth between the copy editor and editor and author.

Glad to see folks starting to jump in!

[Gabi]

Jemppu wrote: "wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though."

That's helpful to know. Then I'll skip this one, cause my understanding of English is probably not good enough for it.

[Anthony]

Gabi wrote: "Jemppu wrote: "wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though."

That's helpful to know. Then I'll skip this one, cause my understandin..."
I don’t think it would prohibit you from understanding it. Maybe click on the “preview” tab and see how you do with the first couple of pages?

[Jemppu]

Anthony wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Jemppu wrote: "wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though."

That's helpful to know. Then I'll skip this one, cause my..."

I agree with Anthony here. Read a bit of the preview, it gives a very good idea.

The language itself isn't hard, in that there would be much foreign words. It's just arranged differently and skips some 'unnecessary' words. In a sense simplified English even (very true to what I imagine the language could evolve / is already evolving into, in certain 'colonies').

That said. 'Gibberish' as it may first seem, there's a clear consistency in the whole vernacular, which I'm loving. Makes for a very convincing world.

(Indeed, anyone who got to proof read this must have been given a list of in world terms and intro to the syntaxes)

Still, takes a bit more concentration to actually remember to follow the story - not just marvel the speech.

[Anthony]

Jemppu wrote: "Anthony wrote: "Gabi wrote: "Jemppu wrote: "wow, this one seems to have a 'heavy accent'. Original indeed. Must've been a nightmare to proof read though."

That's helpful to know. Then I'll skip th..."

Total agreement!

[Bobby]

Whew I almost forgot about this one. I knew there was a reason I didn't have anything lined up to read. Luckily I was able to get the e-book version from my library with no hold times, so I should be able to start today or tomorrow.

[Jemppu]

Random? Almost laughed out loud on a bus today for a line in the first chapter:
(view spoiler)["Antonio, what the ass you doing making masque in my machète ring".

Also, feel like "I-don't-business-with-you" has all the potential to become widely recognized expression, for true. (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

Yes, the dialogue is magnificent throughout.

In the early part of chapter 4 now. (view spoiler)[ I don’t remember reading a book that so skillfully weaves the horrific events of rape/murder/child molestation with a pulsing, almost joyful, propulsive narrative energy. This is shaping up to be one of the most original and deeply impressive books I’ve ever read. (hide spoiler)]

Nalo Hopkinson is a literary force of nature.

[Bobby]

I got to read a good amount at lunch. I'm about 9% in according to my kindle and still haven't finished chapter 1. The good thing is there are plenty of breaks, just not full on chapter breaks.

I'm liking it so far. The voice and style took me a while to get used to, but I'm starting to figure out what everything means to the point that I don't have to think too hard about most of what is being said.

Spoiler up to 9% or page 32 of my kindle version: (view spoiler)[We are still in the world building and set up part of the book. I have to say I love the vibrant Caribbean style. I don't know if this is intended, but I'm imagining everything with a lot of color, especially Jonkanoo.

I've traveled to the Caribbean multiple times, and it's really interesting to see that atmosphere with some advanced technology and a history linked to space exploration thrown in. I liked how the Pedi Cabs were resisting automation, and I'm interested to see how that develops. (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

I’ve seen trigger warnings mentioned in threads for other books. I think there may need to be some mentioned for this book. Can Allison or Anna give me some guidance regarding how best to phrase such warnings?

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Sure! Thanks for thinking of that. I like to advise there may be some content warnings and then make a list in spoiler tags of common things that may upset people (rape, child abuse, body horror, transphobia etc). The only things I add other than the overall topic is if it's really graphic or implied/ "off screen" as that sometimes changes people's comfort level.

[Anthony]

Ok so trigger warnings follow:

(view spoiler)[Rape and child abuse, both physical and sexual. As well as verbal. Hopkinson writes everything very poetically, in a patois that leaves things sort of halfway between graphic and implied, if that makes any sense. (hide spoiler)]

I hope that’s helpful. I recognize that I tend to have a pretty high tolerance for intense subject matter in books I read, but I know that’s not the case for everyone, understandably. Having said that, I’m finding this book especially compelling and wholly original and wonderful.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Thanks, Anthony! Knowing what to expect helps.

[Wen]

I am still in chapter one and I have not found a way to embrace the rhythm yet. It feels like I keep kicking into something on the road... Hopefully it will get better later(I guess I am not good with words >_<

[Anthony]

This book is spectacular. And so very special. I just finished it. I can’t wait to hear others’ responses.

[Soo]

Robin Miles is the narrator for the book and she's great! I just started the audiobook and already love the way she is adding to the story with her narration.

[Jemppu]

Half way tree through now.

(view spoiler)[Just had the Benta escape happen (which, after all that transpired, felt such a tremendously freeing a scene, despiteall the shock and horror, and mental and physical ache - beautifully described)

I think the assault(s) were very well handled, and didn't seem like they came completely out of the bushes either. The understated (and not so) ways in which Tan-Tan is mistreated throughout her whole childhood and how dysfunctional her parents are shown to be (and allowed to act), kinda prepared one for something worse down the line. Which is an unsettling thought, that it would be "the natural course", but felt sadly true to real life too (as a result of prolonged, uninterfered problems, rather than random stand alone occurrences).

In fact, the abuse Tan-Tan is subjected to from the early stages of the world building, was presented with such casualness, that it had me wondering from the get go, as to how should I take it? What to read into it, if it was just maybe part of the culture the book was setting up, and not such a big deal as it would be with the sensibilities of our Earthly society. Since there weren't any other kids / families or their experiences to draw from either.

Made for a very realistic experience for the reader: it is how it must be for Tan-Tan herself too after all, being born and growing up in such conditions, not knowing better.

However, the way Ione was portrayed the clearly negligent parent did indicate that all was not 'normal' after all. I found myself constantly thinking "it's good Tan-Tan has eshu around at least", until getting reminded, that no, it's only a program she's interacting with. Most worrying, when she's alone with her mom, like in the autocar, but which of course seems minor in hindsight... since Ione's dismissal of her daughter, bittersweetly builds up for the importance of Tan-Tan's relationship with Antonio. And for the even more heart breaking pay up.

The subtle way in which Antonio gradually gets driven to this downwards spiral and his ultimate 'reasoning' in acting the way he does, felt painfully authentic.


I'm loving how Tan-Tan is shown growing up, starting to find herself, and fighting these urges and emotions which she recognizes as the ones her parents had/have and feels guilt of them, yet, is unable to completely act against them either. And how tragically she's still tied to this sorry family - the only one she has -, and is still quite unable to do much by herself. Made one quite furious to see how she still "had to" standing up for her dad!

But it all gives her character such depth and humanity. Like all the rest of the cast: agonizingly flawed and thus so relatable.


On a rather more pedantic note, also feel like mentioning couple lone words along the way, which seemed to me like they stuck as 'out of the world', somehow (just further cements how unique a world this is, to have such ordinary words stand out):

The utterance of "God" couple times (on page 28 or so, in the expression "since God was a boy" and page 73 "behind God back") - do these people still recognize/recall God (capitalized) apart from Granny Nanny? Or are these just old-timey expressions, perhaps?

And then there was the glaring, lone "fuck" from Antonio around page 66, which among all the "motherasses"/"rasses" and the rest of the delightfully colorful, original curses, stood out rather contemporary. (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

Jemppu wrote: "Half way tree through now.

What a fantastically articulated response to what you’ve been reading. Thank you for putting into words the visceral nature of the journey this book is taking you on. It’s enriched my experience of the book all that much more.

[Wen]

I am still in chapter one...

(view spoiler)[So far I felt it's having so much/varied color and very loud too. Even though it sounds like a sad story(for me), still full of life and energy.

In chapter one, page 30 "on-one else would play wtih her, so she talked to the eshu." Aww.... In Japan, they have this rental family service. Tan-tan can rent a happy lovely family plus a pet! I guess I am off topic now^^
(hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

I love the sense of vibrant life that courses through this novel, even in the darkest scenes. It really is a stunning achievement, and gets even more stunning as I think back on it.

[Wen]

Anthony wrote: "I love the sense of vibrant life that courses through this novel, even in the darkest scenes. It really is a stunning achievement, and gets even more stunning as I think back on it."

Ahh, thank you for addressing it. I am not good with words and it seems everyone writes beatuiful reviews. I am not sure if I could fit in the group? but I'll try~

[Bobby]

I'm up to page 82, or 23% on my kindle. The style is very unique, and I like it, but I'm still having a bit of difficulty understanding everything that's happening. I find myself going back a few pages to re-read every once in a while when I feel like I'm missing something.

(view spoiler)[ I'm now at the point where Tan-Tan and Antonio went to New Half-Way Tree. Now I think we jumped years in the future and a story is being told to children about a mythical version of Tan-Tan's origins. I'm kind of confused, but I'm hoping I'm going to get back into the narrative soon. I want to know what happens to Tan-Tan and Antonio in the new world they found themselves in.

I have to tell you when Antonio and Tan-Tan were in the pod, I was getting some very creepy vibes. There was a line where he says " You dear to me like daughter, like sister, like wife self" and I do not like where I think that's going. Maybe I'm paranoid, but we'll see. (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

@Bobby I think you’ll appreciate the role those mythical side stories play as you continue...

[Bobby]

Anthony wrote: "@Bobby I think you’ll appreciate the role those mythical side stories play as you continue..."

You're probably right. I was just really getting into what was going on and I wanted to see what happened next.

[Beth]

Soo wrote: "Robin Miles is the narrator for the book and she's great! I just started the audiobook and already love the way she is adding to the story with her narration."

I was going to come in with something very similar to what Soo says here. If you have the opportunity, give the audio a try! Not very far yet, just the first chapter break in the audio, which is like seven minutes. More later...

[Megan]

Really liking this so far, and I've reached the end of the second (?) chapter (I'm at ~25% in), and I'm excited to keep reading.

(view spoiler)[I have no idea what comes next, now that Tan-Tan and Antonio have left Touissant. I love not knowing what to expect. :D I'm also really enjoying how the book is absolutely grounded in Afro-Caribbean folklore, especially with the technology. Eshu the AI! Granny Nansi / Anansi's web!

I found a copy of David C. Finlay's poem from the preface here. I've read it a few times now, keeping it in mind as I read along. I like that it set up Hopkinson's use of creole--which I'm really enjoying. It keeps me paying attention to the language, and that's no hardship here. (hide spoiler)]

[Anthony]

Megan wrote: "Really liking this so far, and I've reached the end of the second (?) chapter (I'm at ~25% in), and I'm excited to keep reading.

I’m so happy to see you all falling under this book’s spell.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Can't wait! Book's waiting for me, and I'll likely finish Calculating Stars today. See ya tomorrow, when I can start clicking all these tantalizing spoilers!

[Anthony]

Woot! Enjoy!

[Soo]

While the audio is great, I find myself wanting to give the story my full attention instead of my usual multi-tasking. Ordered the paperback and it should arrive this weekend. I am gonna go hog wild once I get the print version in my greedy hands. =)

Meanwhile, grumping-pause on Persepolis Rising cause I am moping about Holden & Naomi, speedily chomping & chortling on the Confederate series by Tanya Huff and started The Calculating Stars.