Summary Liu

What did you like about “The Three Body Problem”

  • fuse science / histoy –> “completely mindblown”
  • 2nd read: “I loved it even more”
  • China, Cultural Revolution, other cultures in video game –> fascinating
  • find out alongside characters –> interesting
  • gigantic scope: China, Earth, Universe
  • Well researched book
  • books made us question things, researching, reading up
  • unexpected twists and turns
  • rooted in history and then extrapolated extremely
  • alien civilisation and clashing political and existential questions
  • lots of effort, impressive
  • needs to be reread
  • China content more interesting for some than the scifi bits
  • reversed trope: Earth & humanity as a haven
  • freedom not guaranteed
  • writing style very precise
  • felt very realistic
  • we want to become badass STEM researchers now too
  • dark parts of science but also humanity
  • What is good? What is evil?
  • What do you do when faced with an unbeatable enemy?
  • quite dystopian: workers in dystopian system also on other planet
  • book 2&3 escalate even more –> unimaginable scope
  • the foe is not a nameless, lovecraftian horror but a society gone wrong
  • Religious faith in the aliens?
  • fighting for Earth?
  • Ecocriticism
  • Forbidden literature –> current issue
  • no limit of imagination
  • Cultural Revolution a new angle
  • within Chinese literature, the book is quite influential –> scifi
  • Charakters not only intellectuals but also normal people
  • Dehydrate! (Doctor Who vibes!)
  • not super action packed but still fascinating
  • main characters and time changesd all the time: jigsaw puzzle fascinating and annoying
  • Ken Liu great translator, needs a shoutout. But: order of story differs, German translation supposedly has more content, more info here: https://www.wired.com/2016/10/wired-book-club-ken-liu-interview/ + https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/ueqc7n/talked_with_a_mandarin_speaker_about_the_three/ –> English translation starts with Cultural Revolution, Chinese original has this in the middle but Liu wanted it to be different

What we discussed:

  • being a writer in China is hard, judging the author?: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/06/24/liu-cixins-war-of-the-worlds
  • too science-y for some, “I can’t look up everthing”
  • computer game very different from the rest
  • escalates too much maybe?
  • too many coincidences to be realistic
  • Beginning of book so very different from the ending, vibe changed entirely
  • Trisolarians a bit silly? Why not evacuate earlier?
  • No emotional connection to some characters
  • Villain origin story fun but also…weird?
  • Too many characters?
  • Scope a bit much if you are used to more contained scifi, if you come from “Foundation” or “Expanse” universes, you’re grand

Ratings:

  • 5/10 social score points: not interested in reading the sequels but a unique book
  • 5/5 Chaotic Eras: “2nd reread and I will reread them all again”
  • 4/5 Trisolarians: gonna read the sequels
  • 5/5 jawdropping plottwists: “I was like daaaamn”
  • 4/5 suns: interested in sequels, but could be a bit shorter
  • 4/5 Stars: good but too scifi for me, still entertaining
  • 4/5 too much info dump and science
  • 4/5 solar systems: will read sequels

More recommendations:

Summary Frankenstein

What we enjoyed about the book:

  • convoluted narrative situation, embedded stories, framing device
  • Waltons is a “massive Frankenstein stan”
  • unreliable narrators are great
  • “I liked it” despite it being a classic
  • super influential
  • timeless, so many retellings
  • different than imagined –> adaptations have a huge influence
  • very descriptive, good nature / emotion descriptions
  • transcends the idea of monster vs. good person
  • creature = monster? Victor = monster? creature = victim? –> blurred lines
  • change of how we like / perceive characters interesting
  • old book but writing style not too old fashioned
  • more layers / questions what we know
  • limits of science
  • creature / creator, hubris
  • exciting Gothic tale
  • transcends the limits of the genre
  • “such an iconic story”
  • Mother of Scifi just slays
  • subtexts: anticolonial, vegetarian, feminist
  • impressive
  • psychological dimension fascinating
  • 1930s movie not like the book at all
  • teenage angst novel
  • What if Frankenstein raised the creature properly? Daddy Issues TM
  • Do we create our own monsters?
  • theatre adaptation with Benedict Cumberbatch great
  • radical
  • man giving birth to a creature
  • queer reading so cool
  • scope fascinating: Cologne, the Rhine, Italy, Arctic circle
  • weird that he’s so shocked by the creature, Frankenstein made it???
  • movie adaptations messing with our head
  • Monster Theory!

What we discussed / disliked:

  • Romantic English bit annoying
  • very stupid Gothic idea: monster finds books in forest? Seriously?
  • undefined Middle Eastern problematic, half Christian so good? Wild.
  • backstory of French revolution weak
  • travel log format annoying to some
  • nobody writes letters like this, honestly
  • Frankenstein & Walton: gay?
  • scientification visible but details wonky
  • did Viktor give the creature genitals? Envy?
  • cottage philosophers romanticised af
  • Viktor is just clueless and runs away from his problems
  • very buff creature (OH ROCKY)
  • super rich people problems in parts
  • Daddy Issues TM
  • monster just needed a pet and a hug to be ok-ish?

Ratings (in weird categories):

  • 5/5 creepy teachers of ancient knowledge for a classic
  • 3/5 classics hidden in a random tree: not easy to read, too many layers?
  • 4/5 moving to a different country to outrun your problems: “if it had been a 5 star three years aago, I would’ve remembered more”; important book
  • 4/5 brutally but unsurprisingly murdered family members: “as a classic it was really good and easy to enjoy”
  • 4/5 brides for his harem: Open questions, who made the monster the way he was? Frankenstein too much, just trying tro justify his bullshit
  • 4.5/5 body parts: influence on scifi and Gothic so cool, approachable for a classic, fascinating narrative situation, Mary Shelley just slays
  • 4/5 major daddy issues: writing style & Viktor annoying, skipped paragraphs
  • STILL A BETER LOVE STORY THAN TWILIGHT
  • 4/5 warm hugs for the creature: radical themes, ahead of its time, still relevant today, pacing off

Other books we talked about:

  • Children Series by Tchaikovsky was recommended
  • China Mieville: Looking for Jack
  • Endgame by Beckett
  • Audiobook of “In the Life of Puppets” by Klune
  • “Equal Rites” by Terry Pratchett
  • “Island of Doctor Moreau” by H.G. Wells + “Daughtrer of Doctor Moreau”
  • November new Baldree cosy fantasy book coming ❤

Addison Summary

What we enjoyed about the “The Goblin Emperor”:

  • Very limited place-wise, condensed
  • Political intrigue the focus and not major fights à strongest point of the book#
  • Main character, Maia, is the best, very likeable, thrown into a very hostile environment
  • Maia just draws you in
  • So much potential: young character who lacks knowledge, nobody expected him to become the emperor (smart to introduce the world to readers!)
  • Smart book
  • Protagonist who faces racism and adversity
  • Philosophical stance of the character is convincing
  • Quiet, timid, pondering protagonist à important for a leader
  • Could relate to the character a lot
  • World building huge focus on language: status, gender à elaborate, “unlike anything I’ve ever read before”
  • Readers expected something big to happen but it didn’t
  • Navigating a new role and expectations while under intense scrutiny and facing racism
  • Witness for the Dead great
  • Questioning people very relatable
  • Racism in a fantasy setting very smartly set up
  • Goblin tradition: heritage, memory, ancestry, religion
  • Industrialisation, feminism touched upon too à smartly done
  • Felt organic in terms of world-building and character plots
  • Society felt very real, patriarchal setting contested but not extremely or unrealistically so
  • Female bodyguard one of the best characters
  • “It just calmed me down”, nice
  • Friendship wonderfully depicted
  • Bureaucracy / politics fascinating

What we discussed:

  • Too many names (list at the beginning of the book helpful) à makes sense though (protagonist and reader confused)
  • Audiobook hard to follow because of the names, audiobook not recommendable
  • Magic system and religious system could’ve needed more detail (we want to know more!)
  • Not enough fantasy almost à not enough magic
  • The beginning was a bit meh
  • Sad it’s a standalone novel
  • Ending felt a bit rushed
  • Ending too smooth? Too much summary?
  • Pacing in the ending off à too easy? (Maia grows into his new role of course, but it felt very easy)

Ratings:

  • Not finished yet: 3.5-4/5 ghost detectives “because I like the focus on language and that it’s limited to the city and not the whole world, but the amount of characters confused me”
  • 4/5 stars: “so much in there that I really enjoyed but so difficult to get into at first”
  • 5/5: “I’m not usually a high fantasy person […] but I really enjoyed reading it”, “I also want to finish it because I want to know how it ends”
  • 5/5

Other books we talked about:

  • “The Hanging Artist” Jon Steinhagen: Franz Kafka is a detective and has to solve a crime (“actually better than I thought it would be”), German title: “Kafka und der Tote am Seil”
  • “Dune” by Frank Herbert: full cast audiobook very good; rereading it for the second time fascinating
  • “Daisy Jones and the Six” audiobook + TV series really good

Summary Travis Baldree: Legends and Lattes

What we enjoyed about the book:

  • Atmosphere: wholesome, homey, cozy, comforts me
  • I expected things to turn dark but they didn’t, which was wholesome
  • Amity, the cat is the best –> dire cat
  • Starting anew and then rebuilding too is very hopeful
  • Twist about the stone: it’s working because of found family, not magic –> people of magic; justice idea
  • Structure a bit like a game: building something up; side quests
  • Expanding menu, satisfying to see the menu expand
  • Thimble: the bestest baker ever, a true genius
  • Tandri, the Bard was nice
  • Subversion of all the characters: stereotypes turned around
  • (Queer) people’s dream: open up an inclusive and safe space aka café or bookshop or both
  • Gnomes are the only ones who understand physics and invent things
  • Love story felt very organic, very sweet
  • Viv did not see the love story coming, geez, Viv, why
  • Made me crave coffee even though I do not like coffee –> romantic ideal of coffee even
  • Cal pulling a Geralt of Rivia: Hmmm; very funny
  • Baked goods –> mouthwatering
  • Book cover: nice
  • FOUND FAMILY IS THE BEST TROPE
  • People lift you up, you can always try again
  • Terry Pratchett vibes great
  • Student who wants to work at the café and not pay was very relatable
  • High fantasy but low stakes, not overly complicated
  • Travis Baldree was so nice! We love you, Travis!
  • Matriarch & mafia great
  • Refreshing idea, conventional but also subversive
  • Baked goods as protection money good
  • Interesting moral conflict with the mafia: will you pick up your sword again?
  • Viv learning self-care was wholesome –> character development; find love and accept love
  • Writing style: accessible, easy to read, flows nicely
  • Good chapter structure
  • Sense of wonder communicated to the readers well
  • Little things appreciated –> coffee appreciated again
  • Wholesome book about savouring life, finding the good things
  • Passionate people made us feel for them
  • To Go cups hilarious
  • Steam engine? Age of industrialisation coming up?
  • Madrigal: Queen Elizabeth II with Meryl Streep
  • Singular, extraordinary book: does not try to be grand, epic, overly literary –> just nice to sit down with and have a good time –> feel better after reading it
  • Impressive that Travis wrote it in a month –> also put himself into the book (Zoom!)
  • Start with stereotypes and then develop them –> what happens when you’re X for a long time?
  • Ending satisfying: Amity has her revenge –> acting out Fate –> morality score settled; Viv cannot kill F., the mafia also cannot kill for Viv à cat killed and it was personal!
  • Chess player: time space continuum –> he’s playing games against himself that he has played and that he has not played
  • They choose their relationship, they grow into it, they are not teenagers any more –> very nice

What we discussed:

  • too slow in parts for some (pacing)
  • CRINGE bit too much but then it changes which is good!
  • Elf villain quite flat, no real backstory, bit disappointing: breaking into the shop and then he escalates and burns everything down
  • Repairs too easy and too smooth –> too quickly resolved à unrealistic but some of us liked that
  • World building & magic system could be expanded
  • Monetary system just confusing & why is the coffee so cheap???
  • Mafia was not liked because one person feared for the worst from the very start
  • Resolve of the mafia bit underwhelming and how does her former crew member know the matriarch? Tell us how it is all connected!
  • Bloody beginning bit much: need it for the plot à introduce Viv in her former occupation and how she walks away from it; blood to be free à retired D&D character: write a book about it 🙂
  • People work too much and drink too much coffee! Major criticism!
  • Why chess playing gnome? WHAT IS GOING ON? This riddle should be solved. (I used to be an adventurer like you! Nice reference!)
  • Why do gnomes not have their own coffee shops? Feels a bit weird to just take their ‘national’ drink? Marketing also plays into exoticism / othering?
  • “working gents and ladies” –> working class only in this world?
  • Why does Viv not take more money to start her business?
  • We want to know more about university
  • We want to know more about the succubae in this world
  • What is going on with the ley lines?

Rate the book in ominous categories:

  • 4 cinnamon buns – 4.5: pacing sometimes awkward, some dialogue, meh, “was a good book and I enjoyed it very much”
  • 4.5 eaten cinnamon buns: “really wholesome, I liked reading it, I loved the story, I loved the character” –> better pacing, better motivation for the antagonist –> “half a cinnamon bun because you have to try it”
  • 5 cinnamon buns because “it made me crave coffee and I hate it”
  • 5 cinnamon buns because it makes the person happy, it was wholesome
  • 3.5 cinnamon buns: “I really enjoyed it, it was peaceful” –> “but now I can put it aside”, “do not feel the need to go back to it”
  • 5 cinnamon buns: “just wholesome, I just enjoyed”; “I loved the romance story which doesn’t happen often with me”

This meeting took place at Pie Me Café (Vorgebirgsstraße) and they have the most divine cinnamon rolls (and great matcha latte). Thanks!