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Whenever I run across a book that sounds interesting, if it's available on Overdrive, I'll put a hold on it or wishlist it. Sometimes, though, if it's not available, I'll request that the library purchase it. If the library does purchase the book, it usually gets checked out to me or I get put on a hold list. This is what happened with Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh. I had forgotten what this book was about when I started reading it and decided not to reread the summary and just enjoy the novel.

It is the story of Deen Datta, a Bengali-American rare book dealer in his 60s. He's just been dumped and he's feeling a bit lost. On a trip back to home to India, he gets caught up in the story of the Gun Merchant - a folktale with slightly different versions told in both Eastern India and Bangladesh. The novel follows Deen on his trip to investigate a temple/shrine before climate change destroys it and what happens after he gets back to the US. Somehow, without even realizing it, Deen finds himself entangled in the story of the Gun Merchant and it starts to bleed into his real life.

This is something of a fantasy novel, only because I tend to categorize things in more general genres, but it's also considered folklore fiction. If you're not a fan of spiders, read this during the day (there are a couple of short spider-related scenes that are stressful, though no one gets hurt). But the undercurrent of Ghosh's novel is not necessarily just the story of the Gun Merchant, or even Deen himself. Instead, it's a story about immigration, migration, refugees, and the idea that history connects us all to each other. There are also a few scenes that talk about who tells the stories and who gets to tell these stories, including a scene about privilege which was well executed.

Gun Island is about Deen, but it's about all the people that surround him. What happens to him doesn't just happen to only him - all the characters around him form a connection to him, through the Gun Merchant folktale without most of them even noticing. Deen by himself is actually an interesting character, but Ghosh lets us sees the lives of these side characters (an Italian professor, two boys that Deen meets on his trip to learn more about the Gun Merchant, the aunt of one of the boys, and plenty of Bengali speakers he meets in Italy.

It does appear that this is a semi-sequel to a previous novel of his and has mixed reviews on LT. But, you know, as I said, I enjoyed the novel, even if it feels a little heavy handed at times with the climate change and immigration story lines, but these things always need to be said. I really liked this book and enjoyed reading it quite a bit, even if the ending left me wanting more and I'm not sure how I feel about it. However, I would still recommend this book because the ride is engrossing and enjoyable

blue_ant

I finished Becky Chambers' 4th Wayfarers book, The Galaxy, and the Ground Within, last night. I had not expected to say up late finishing it, but once I started on the final few chapters, I couldn't stop.

fiveforsilver was right when she said it was a good book - I might even argue that it's the best book in the entire series. The thing I like about Chambers' writing is the way she weaves points of view together, without overwhelming the reader and she did this in the 4th Wayfarers book exceptionally well. But, what I liked best, was the way the characters grew over the short few days they were together and the stories they told (themselves and each other). I also found the epilogue to be exceptionally powerful. A true hopepunk ending.

I also finished the second Legends of the Condor Heroes Series (by Jin Yong) book, A Bond Undone, while out taking a walk. This is a very epic series (in four parts) and extremely enjoyable. The series follows the life of Guo Jin, an unexceptional boy (young man in this book) who ends up learning kung fu through accident and sure force of will. The first book, A Hero Born, was basically his origin story starting before he was born until he's close to adulthood. This second book covers the next couple if years surrounding his 18th birthday (when he both no longer a boy but also not yet a man). Guo Jin gets up to lots of adventures (as expected) and falls in love and learns much more kung fu.

I like these books, but it was toward the end of this one when I had an epiphany. I watched The Untamed in 2020 and started Word of Honor and have been slowly watching it - these books are Chinese wuxia BL TV shows (though because they are Chinese, there is no actual boys love in them) that look very pretty - both the actors and the kung fu. The characters in both books use the martial arts in different ways - with weapons, their bodies, and musical instruments. Toward the end of A Bond Undone, there is a battle between two masters via their music and suddenly so much about the The Untamed and Word of Honor made sense. I am eager to start watching the latter again now that I understand a lot more what musical kungfu/martial arts is really about (ie inner strength).

I recommend both series, though I still have two more books left in the Legends of the Condor Heroes series to go.

blue_ant

This week I am reading Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee

I'm about 50 pages in and I really like it. One of the things I've noticed, though, is that a lot of recent SF I've read (examples: Ancillary Mercy and The Peripheral) where you're basically dumped into the middle of the story and nothing makes sense at first. I find this to be equal parts great and annoying. A facet of urban fantasy is that each book in a series, including the first will explain shit that's happened. Sometimes I love this, but it's not good for binge reading. It's like all the 'last week on ...' that you get on TV shows. But this is completely not what's happening in the books I mentioned above, and Yoon's Ninefox Gambit. Instead, you just have to pick up knowledge as you go along. I don't know if this is a new thing or if I just haven't read a lot of SF recently, or at least more future-SF (instead of near-future or science fantasy). But, anyway, just an observation. That's not to say that I don't like Yoon's book so far, because I do. It just has a steep learning curve.

Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: Giant Bombcast

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