"The Just City" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

This is the first impressions thread for our scifi genre bender winner.

This is the group's second Jo Walton! What do you think so far?

Please be vague about any details, particularly anything about plot, character development, or large structural changes. Save those a couple days, the full spoiler thread will be up shortly!

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ child molestation, slavery, loss of a loved one, rape (on screen) (hide spoiler)]

[Melani]

So I've been reading this for about a year now. I'm really hoping this is the kick I need to finish. I don't want to DNF, cause I'm enjoying it when I read it, I just don't feel compelled to go back to it when I put it down so I go for long periods between readings. It's an interesting mediation on philosophy, but honestly I want to kick most of the adults who are so far up Plato's nose that they can't see the forest for the trees. I don't know how intentional that was on Walton's part and it's one of the things that keeps me reading.

[Sarah, The Unsettled]

My first impressions of this book were that it was slow to start... but it continually got better and better right until the end.

[Christopher]

I'm loving this so far, started it Sunday night and am already 33% through it. I've had to stop and check Wikipedia a bunch of times to make sure I understand all the archaic terms, but that's been enjoyable too since I feel like I'm learning. I read The Republic about 20 years ago so I have a vague sense for it, but would need to re-read to remember any specifics -- anyone have thoughts on how much that would add to the experience?

[Travis]

I've read the first 7 chapters so far and am really enjoying it. It did start a bit slow (more focus on building the world than creating tension), not in a bad way though. And I can already see how it's going to start picking up.

[Gabi]

I just started it. Having spent the last months with a loooot of Percy Jackson readings with my boys it began with a wide grin for me reading about Artemis and Apollo quarreling.

[Ryan, Your favourite moderators favourite moderator]

I don't know what is meant by 'more focus on building the world' in this particular case.

[Gabi]

Okay, folks, I'm 10% in and I'm in love!

[Oleksandr]

Gabi wrote: "Okay, folks, I'm 10% in and I'm in love!"

Yes, it is great and Jo Walton is one of underappreciated authors of our day!

[Travis]

Ryan wrote: "I don't know what is meant by 'more focus on building the world' in this particular case."

I guess I just meant that, especially in the first several chapters, I found the setting -- and the relationships of the characters to that setting -- to be the most prominent aspects of the novel. More so than the plot or individual characterization. I'm almost at the end now, and that pattern has certainly shifted.

[Anna]

Spoiler thread is open!

[Alex]

One chapter in.

Okay.... *raises an eyebrow*

[J.W.]

I read this one almost when it first came out. Was very interested in the premise. Saw how hyped everyone was in the spoilers thread and decided to see if I could track down a copy. Sure enough, it’s in the ebooks for the library. Time to dive in!

[BookTurtle360]

I'm starting a bit late, so I wasn't sure if I would wait until next month's book but then I read the synopsis. I studied philosophy a bit in college and I'm a math teacher, so this sounds interesting to me. Oh, and my middle name is Daphne, so I was hooked on the first page.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha! Resonance from the word go! I hope you continue to find things to pull you in, BookTurtle!

[BookTurtle360]

I'm definitely glad I'm reading this on my Kindle. I like to highlight the names of new characters as they appear. I just went back to do that for chapters 1-6 and realized I'd completely missed a major plot point.

[Makamu]

Oh, talk about a happy coincidence!

I started this book (well, the trilogy) on Sunday and am about a hundred and fifty pages in. I studied English literature with a lot of philosophy in college, so I had a lot of nice aha moments already. I particularly enjoyed the arrival of the inhabitant of Thessaly and their comments on Plato.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Yes, that was a particularly fun element, Makamu!! I can't wait to hear your final thoughts.

[Jacqueline]

I cued this up on my iPad and was just reading a few pages to keep it at the top of the list and what do you know....I’m suddenly halfway through and really enjoying it.

[Jen]

I'm calling myself a bluestocking from now on.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

haha

[Jen]

I'm at about 15% and enjoying this, it's not what I expected. I like the different character POVs.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I'm glad you're enjoying it! I can't wait to hear what you had expected though.

[Jen]

I was expecting more of a myth retelling, not an original story.

...I must not have read the blurb

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Haha! That could have also been good, but yes quite different.

[Wade]

I was not expecting to like this book. The summary didn’t appeal to me, the cover is not my thing, and I generally find Philosophy quite dull.

But, it’s a page-turner! I love many of the characters. I love the shifting POV and the overlapping experiences.

I also love that the author went there with it. Any concept demanded to both construct the city and run it is clearly in there.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Marvelous, so glad your first book with us has worked for you! I agree, the author is really committing to her thought experiment.