Alison > Recent Status Updates

I want to go back and reread this chapter with my eyeballs

The letter Daan wrote to Sybil made me weep.

18

The extensive descriptions toward the end are horrifying and gross.
Lots of action!
Reminds me of A Wrinkle in Time a bit.

- extremely descriptive writing
- the plot sometimes gets lost in the writing, doesn't keep me engaged.
- unique setting for a fantasy book: the jungle
- unique flora/fauna, magic system
- a huge lull in the middle third of the book
- feels akin to Jame's Cameron's Avatar, with a touch of Fern Gully

- a quest, starting over as settlers in a new place.
- also, Avatar vibes 👆
- much different from other fantasy books I've read.
-would make a good movie

-the dynamic between Blane, Lyrus, and Ketza reminds me of the dynamic in Homeward Bound
- the book also gives me Dinotopia vibes - discovery of a different culture/way of life, a whole new world. Extensive world building, but it makes the book slow-paced.
-influence of Mayan/Olmec culture and names
-Focuses on the clash of cultures between the Leodans and Zumari.

The book was published 20 years ago in 2006. There is so much that could be written in an update in this book, namely the shrinking of saline lakes and the ecological devastation caused as a result, and the health risks posed to surround populations by the exposed lakebeds.

When discussing the Dead Sea, it briefly mentions how it's shrinking. It discusses the devastating salt extraction techniques in UK's Cheshire County during the Industrial Revolution, but doesn't really recognize or consider the ecological effects of shrinking saline lakes. It could use an update/addendum to this book taking into what we've learned about exposed saline lake beds.

This narrative meanders - it's roughly organized by time/culture/region/civilization, but at the same time it jumps between them when there's a connection.

It's all very interesting - but in all honesty, I can only recall about 5% of what I've learned.

I see influences of Pitfall, Strange World, Indiana Jones. Jungle world, glow in the dark flora and fauna, strange animals, poisonous plants and dangerous plants and animals.
The main character doesn't understand the jungle.
The main characters are settlers, possibly shipwrecked or just exploring/ settling after a ship voyage.
Extremely descriptive, a lot of world building.
I don't like the characters' names.