Today, I finally finished rereading A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.
It was fantastic and delightful in every way, absolutely incredible - perhaps even more than I remembered. This makes me want to reread The Night Circus as well; if this one was this good, than that one might be that good. Perchance.
Currently, though, I'm reading A Prayer for the Crown-Shy. Well, it's OK. I like it, sure, but I'm liking it much less. For one, I think the novelty - maybe... - has worn off a bit. The world is brilliant and inviting - luscious, as per Martha Wells - but now that I've been introduced to it in the first book, it doesn't hit as hard in the second. Maybe. I think this logic is a little flawed, since I did enjoy it very much on reread. I don't know.
We might be going into some conflict resolution soon, but I guess I do feel like not much conflict has existed in the first, what, 3/4ths of the book? It's still pretty and all, and there's some insight to be gleaned, certainly, but I just don't feel as pulled in, this time around.
I'll finish the book, of course, maybe even today. Then, I don't know. I might go back to Shadow Slave - not that I've dropped it or anything - or I might give something else a try. Maybe even - and hold on to your jaws - non-fiction!
AAAAH!!!
Sorry, I scared myself there.
I read exclusively fiction for no reason other than the fact I've never read non-fiction outside of an academic context. Well, I guess I've read news articles and such; it won't be that much different, maybe. I hope it'll be interesting, at least.
Alternatively, I can just read fiction instead. I don't see why not, other than the fact that I don't feel particularly inclined toward any particular book. I could look stuff up, of course, but I always feel a little uncertain when picking up new stuff - as is normal, I do suspect. I'm strongly considering going with The Dresden Files.
Becky Chambers, give me your autograph. I promise to cherish it.
Disclaimer: I have never actually read a Solarpunk novel. However, from my my understanding of Solarpunk it seems like your complaint of a lack of conflict seems quite understandable. Solarpunk is a more or less utopian setting, so creating a compelling conflict is likely quite challenging.
Also, for a non-fiction recommendation, I would recommend The War for Kindness by Jamil Zaki. It's an insightful and compelling book that reveals why empathy seems to lack in some people.
Alternatively, for a sci-fi recommendation I would recommend The Silence trilogy by D Nolan Clark. Excellent novels.
Thanks for the recs :D
Well, maybe in the traditional sense. I think there's value in art for beauty - simply describing a beautiful, idyllic world might be enough for a good novella - but conflict is the nexus of narrative, of a compelling one, at least. The first book, for example - A Psalm for the Wild-Built - centers the internal conflict of the MC. The second book (which I've now finished) feels more like a journey in a physical sense - walking around; there are different philosophies explored, but it doesn't feel nearly as meaningful; also, at the end, a big question is asked, so it kinda feels like the whole book was a build-up - read: justification - for the last couple of pages wherein the conflict is both confronted and resolved, meaning, it's practically absent for 95% of readtime.
Added to the list! :D