09-30-2021, 01:25 PM
A Stranger in Olondria by Sofia Samatar
A well written book that was ultimately unsatisfying. I loved the language of this book. It was tremendous exercise in world building. But the story in it wasn't very good. Jevick the Islander travels to Orlandia to sell his family's pepper harvest. But in reality, he does it to buy more books. He has been introduced to books and reading by his new Olrandian teacher at the behest of his father. And when it is his turn to go to the big city off he goes. There is much more to the story but that is the genesis. Along the way, he is accused of being a mystic which is a crime. He talks to a ghost. He travels.
It is ultimately a book about books and reading. There are a ton of books mentioned. Jevik eventually has to write a book. Everyone is constantly telling stories to make points. Meh. But language of the book was beautiful.
A well written book that was ultimately unsatisfying. I loved the language of this book. It was tremendous exercise in world building. But the story in it wasn't very good. Jevick the Islander travels to Orlandia to sell his family's pepper harvest. But in reality, he does it to buy more books. He has been introduced to books and reading by his new Olrandian teacher at the behest of his father. And when it is his turn to go to the big city off he goes. There is much more to the story but that is the genesis. Along the way, he is accused of being a mystic which is a crime. He talks to a ghost. He travels.
It is ultimately a book about books and reading. There are a ton of books mentioned. Jevik eventually has to write a book. Everyone is constantly telling stories to make points. Meh. But language of the book was beautiful.
As a matter of fact, my anger does keep me warm