bookwoods's reviews
708 reviews

 I’m generally quite suspicious of the concept of billionaires writing climate change books (or any books for that matter), but if the fame of the author helps spread an important message, it can’t be all bad. Unfortunately, although Gates has a lot of good points, the writing is so dry and technical that people who pick this up to get motivated, might find that the book achieves the opposite effect. More specifically, what I don’t like is how Gates keeps throwing examples of how much money he donates to different purposes, trying to prove to he isn’t just another generic white male billionaire. He also repeatedly, and unnecessarily, refers to conversations with his super famous friends. I mean, we know that he has money and power and influential connections – this book shouldn’t be about him as a person but about how to avoid a climate catastrophe. In addition, I found some of his arguments to be weak, like when he tries to prove that eating meat is important because the gastronomic meal of the French belongs to UNESCO’s Intangible cultural heritage. And I don’t think he emphasizes politics enough, remaining too neutral. But I can’t deny how informative the book is. How well, if dryly, climate change as a phenomenon is explained and how well different technical solutions and problems are introduced. So, I do guess this book has its audience. Mainly those who adore Bill Gates. 

I just really, really enjoy Wyndham’s storytelling, it never lets me down! The Midwich Cuckoos is another journalistic-like report of mysterious events with a strong and imaginative plot. The focus is on a small English town, which experiences something profoundly strange when its inhabitants fall unconscious for a whole day. Afterwards, all the women find themselves suddenly pregnant. The resulting children exhibit disturbing qualities and eventually, become a threat - that is exactly my kind of weird.

 I don’t think Skein Island has the most intriguing premise of Aliya Whiteley’s novels, but it’s the only one that was available from the library and as I was hesitant to buy her books without a feel for her writing, I chose to read it first. And I must say, I’m quite conflicted. I love the prose a lot, and the built up of tension and mystery in the beginning is masterfully executed. But it all falls flat after that. 

Maybe I should explain the story briefly. Skein Island is sort of a resort where women come for a week to reflect on their lives and write their declarations – stories of their lives. ”That’s the point of the island, right? These stories, sealed up, like a time capsule. A record of what it means to be a woman.” Marianne receives an invitation after being taken advantage of by a man, and while on the island, begins to discover its history, which lead us into the realm of Greek myths. 

Usually I adore weird books, but this just wasn’t my type of weird. In addition, the climax is underwhelming to say the least. But I did adore the writing, hence the conflicted feelings. I’ve heard that Whiteley’s stories are all quite different though, so that gives me hope that the others might be more to my liking. 

 The premise of The Lathe of Heaven - a future plagued by the effects of climate change and war, which keeps changing through one man’s dreams – made me want to read it as soon as I heard about it. Something about the concept just really intrigued me! And thankfully the execution works. The constant shifts in the world and the opposition between the man whose dreams determine reality and his therapist, who seeks to fix the world by exploiting him, make this an action packed read. One that I just had to finish in one day. Some of Le Guin’s political statements went over my head though, as they did in The Word for World is Forest.