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丨乇丕爻 丕賱賲丕亍
賱賲 兀噩乇丐 毓賱賶 丕賱匕賴丕亘 廿賱賶 丕賱賷賳亘賵毓 胤賵丕賱 爻亘毓丞 兀爻丕亘賷毓. 兀賲爻貙 兀丿乇鬲 賲賯亘囟 丨賳賮賷丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賮賷 丕賱賲賳夭賱貙 賵賵囟毓鬲 賮賲 賯乇亘丞 丕賱賲丕亍 毓賱賶 賮賲 丕賱丨賳賮賷丞 丕賱賲毓丿賳賷. 丨丕丿孬鬲賴丕 亘丨賱賵 丕賱賰賱丕賲 賵亘賯亘賷丨 丕賱賰賱丕賲貙 賵乇亘賲丕 氐乇禺鬲 賵丕賳鬲丨亘鬲貙 賱賰賳 丕賱賲丕亍 賱丕 賷毓亘兀 亘兀丨夭丕賳 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳. 廿賳賴 賷爻賷賱 丿賵賳 兀賳 賷亘胤卅 兀賵 賷爻乇毓 賲爻賷乇賴 賮賷 睾賷丕賴亘 丕賱兀乇囟 丨賷孬 丕賱氐禺賵乇 賵丨丿賴丕 賴賷 丕賱鬲賷 鬲爻賲毓賴貙 賵丨爻亘. 噩丕丿 丕賱兀賳亘賵亘 亘亘囟毓 賯胤乇丕鬲 賮賷 賯乇亘鬲賷貙 乇亘賲丕 亘賲賱亍 賲賱毓賯丞 賮賯胤貙 兀毓乇賮 賲丕 賷毓賳賷賴 匕賱賰...
"亘賷賳賲丕 賰賳鬲 兀賯乇兀 賲禺胤賵胤 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賱丕丨馗鬲 賰賷 鬲噩爻丿鬲 乇賮丿丞 賮毓賱賷 賮賷 賴賷卅丞 賲丕丿賷丞 賲賳 丌賳 賱丌禺乇. 賰賳鬲 兀噩賱爻 毓賱賶 丨丕賮丞 賲賯毓丿賷 賵賯丿 鬲賵鬲乇鬲 賰賱 毓囟賱丕鬲賷貙 賵睾賲乇鬲賳賷 賲卮丕毓乇 賰孬賷賮丞 賲賳 丕賱禺賵賮 賵丕賱兀賲賱貙 賷賰卮賮 匕賱賰 毓賳 亘乇丕毓丞 廿賷賲賷 廿賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 賮賷 廿賯丕賲丞 丕賱氐賱丞 丕賱毓丕胤賮賷丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賵卮禺氐賷鬲賴丕 丕賱乇卅賷爻賷丞" -噩賵丕賳丕 爻賷賳賷爻丕賱賵貙 賰丕鬲亘丞 乇賵丕卅賷丞.
"亘賷賳賲丕 賰賳鬲 兀賯乇兀 賲禺胤賵胤 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞貙 賱丕丨馗鬲 賰賷 鬲噩爻丿鬲 乇賮丿丞 賮毓賱賷 賮賷 賴賷卅丞 賲丕丿賷丞 賲賳 丌賳 賱丌禺乇. 賰賳鬲 兀噩賱爻 毓賱賶 丨丕賮丞 賲賯毓丿賷 賵賯丿 鬲賵鬲乇鬲 賰賱 毓囟賱丕鬲賷貙 賵睾賲乇鬲賳賷 賲卮丕毓乇 賰孬賷賮丞 賲賳 丕賱禺賵賮 賵丕賱兀賲賱貙 賷賰卮賮 匕賱賰 毓賳 亘乇丕毓丞 廿賷賲賷 廿賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 賮賷 廿賯丕賲丞 丕賱氐賱丞 丕賱毓丕胤賮賷丞 亘賷賳 丕賱賯丕乇卅 賵卮禺氐賷鬲賴丕 丕賱乇卅賷爻賷丞" -噩賵丕賳丕 爻賷賳賷爻丕賱賵貙 賰丕鬲亘丞 乇賵丕卅賷丞.
255 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,332 reviews
August 27, 2012
Imagine you鈥檙e listening to the radio. A song comes up you鈥檝e never heard before. You don鈥檛 know the band, but you like the quiet, melancholic melody. You stop to listen and the more you do, the more you like it. Except, you鈥檙e waiting for the song to take flight. You鈥檙e waiting for something to happen, something to take the song to the next level and surprise you. It never happens.
That鈥檚 what happened to me with this book. I wanted to like it better than I did.
It盲ranta writes beautifully, but her story also falters and stumbles on preachiness in the beginning. She uses repetition and a book ending for this small story that鈥攗nfortunately鈥攔emains small. I didn鈥檛 feel like It盲ranta made the oppression and horrors of a dry future awful and dejected enough to justify the lie told in the epilogue. I didn鈥檛 feel like she鈥檇 earned it.
I mentioned the preachiness. It seems to be contagious. Every (other or third) Finnish book that I pick up seems to somehow describe the horrors of natural disasters and a future we as a human race have squandered. That鈥檚 fine message to be told, but I don鈥檛 appreciate being forced to swallow the utter condemnation of men while turning the pages. After all, these are authors living in today鈥檚 world relying on peddling their wares to the very people burying their childrens鈥� children in plastic tombs if these authors are to be believed.
I love the fact that Finnish and Scandinavian authors in general seem to trust their readers鈥� intelligence, but I wish they trusted us a bit more. A refrain repeated endlessly is never as effective as a slow realisation coming from within.
If you鈥檝e read the book, you might think my review slightly contradictory, but it鈥檚 not. Part of it is criticising the what and a part of it is criticising the how. In both, I was expecting more than I got.
Still, this novel falls on the side of 鈥淥K鈥� rather than 鈥渂ad but didn鈥檛 hate it鈥� of my two star rating.
That鈥檚 what happened to me with this book. I wanted to like it better than I did.
It盲ranta writes beautifully, but her story also falters and stumbles on preachiness in the beginning. She uses repetition and a book ending for this small story that鈥攗nfortunately鈥攔emains small. I didn鈥檛 feel like It盲ranta made the oppression and horrors of a dry future awful and dejected enough to justify the lie told in the epilogue. I didn鈥檛 feel like she鈥檇 earned it.
I mentioned the preachiness. It seems to be contagious. Every (other or third) Finnish book that I pick up seems to somehow describe the horrors of natural disasters and a future we as a human race have squandered. That鈥檚 fine message to be told, but I don鈥檛 appreciate being forced to swallow the utter condemnation of men while turning the pages. After all, these are authors living in today鈥檚 world relying on peddling their wares to the very people burying their childrens鈥� children in plastic tombs if these authors are to be believed.
I love the fact that Finnish and Scandinavian authors in general seem to trust their readers鈥� intelligence, but I wish they trusted us a bit more. A refrain repeated endlessly is never as effective as a slow realisation coming from within.
If you鈥檝e read the book, you might think my review slightly contradictory, but it鈥檚 not. Part of it is criticising the what and a part of it is criticising the how. In both, I was expecting more than I got.
Still, this novel falls on the side of 鈥淥K鈥� rather than 鈥渂ad but didn鈥檛 hate it鈥� of my two star rating.
January 22, 2015
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Filled with philosophical themes, existentialism and moments of pure beauty, Memory of Water is a highly original, remarkably intelligent and infuriatingly teasing work of speculative fiction set in a dystopian world.
What we have here is a sad and hopeless world driven to the brink of extinction by its own inhabitants; humans. The global warming caused all the ice to melt, overflowing the oceans. The earth is scorched, the heat is almost unbearable, and the drinking water is almost impossible to get. Those who have access to it, hold all the power. The government is rationing the purified sea water, making sure people get only enough to survive, and executing those desperate enough to dig illegal wells and water pipes.
Memory of a Water tells the story of tea master's daughter, Noria, as she is charged with keeping a life-changing secret. A secret of a hidden fresh water spring, guarded by generations of tea masters.
The setting, the customs and the unique Scandinavian atmosphere make this story feel exotic and fresh. The characters - oddly calm and focused in times of such desperation and thirst - surprise the reader with their coldly calculated decisions and peaceful acceptance of their fates. The plot line flows lazily like a stream of arctic fresh water - it speeds up rarely, it offers very few twists and instead of smashing into a dam, it flows into the ocean, offering no definite ending or clear conclusion to the story. On top of all that, while this book is supposedly written with teen readers in mind, I would not dare categorize it as YA fiction. It's neighter YA nor adult story, it's simply its own thing. Frankly, I don't believe readers who are used to reading fast-paced, action-packed YA blockbusters will find this book to their taste. It's on the slower, more contemplative side, with no clearly marked boundaries and completely unconventional construction. I don't think I have ever read anything quite like it, but I think fans of Japanese fiction (Haruki Murakami, Yukio Mishima, Abe Kobo) , or, say, Paolo Coelho and Jos茅 Saramago, will have more luck with it. In other words, it's more of a book for those who appreciate non-commercial, lyrical, meditative part-contemporary, part-SciFi cautionary tales.
Reading Memory of Water was definitely an enriching experience for me. I was drawn to this bleak and yet somehow beautiful world. The gentle and evocative style of the prose and the fascinating tradition of the tea ceremony contrasted with the injustice, the cruelty and the suffering depicted in this story, made for a fascinating read. I am very upset that there will be no sequel, for there are so many questions demanding to be answered, it's almost maddening. And yet, in a way, I understand why Itaranta decided to leave an open ending and so many secrets left undiscovered. In the end, this story is like water itself, "it exists beyond all beginnings and ends".
May 31, 2019
鬲丨丿孬 賴匕賴 丕賱賯氐丞 賮賷 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱貙 賵丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 賷亘丿賵 兀賰孬乇 亘丿丕卅賷丞 賵鬲禺賱賮賸丕 賲賳 丕賱賲丕囟賷. 毓賳丿賲丕 賷賳囟亘 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱毓匕亘 賰賲賵乇丿貙 賷匕賵亘 丕賱噩賱賷丿 亘爻亘亘 丕賱丕丨鬲乇丕乇 丕賱賰賵賳賷貙 賵賷氐亘丨 丕賱賲丕亍 乇丿賷賮賸丕 賱賱賲丕賱貨 賵爻賷賱丞 賱賱丿賮毓 賵丕賱賲賯丕賷囟丞貙 賵丕賱賲賵乇丿 丕賱賵丨賷丿 丕賱匕賷 鬲鬲兀爻爻 丨賵賱賴 丕賱爻賱胤丞. 賮賴賳丕賰 "噩乇丕卅賲 賲丕亍"貙 賵兀卮禺丕氐 "賱賷爻 賱丿賷賴賲 賲丕 賷賰賮賷 賲賳 丕賱賲丕亍" 賵丌禺乇賵賳 賱丿賷賴賲 "兀賰孬乇 賲賲丕 賷噩亘" 賵賲氐胤賱丨丕鬲 兀禺乇賶 賲兀賱賵賮丞.
兀丨亘亘鬲購 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賳賴丕 丿卮賳鬲 毓丕賱賲賸丕 賲丐孬孬丕 亘丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賲賳 賮賰乇丞貙 賮乇囟賷丞 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷丞. 兀丨亘亘鬲購 丕賱賱睾丞貨 賰賱 噩賲賱丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘丿鬲 賲孬賱 賯氐賷丿丞貙 賳丕亘囟丞 賵賲賱賷卅丞 亘毓氐丕乇丞 丕賱賲毓賳賶. 賰丕賳 賷賰賮賷 兀賳 鬲賯賱亘 丕賱賰賱賲丞 賮賷 賮賲賰 賱賰賷 賷鬲賮噩乇 賲匕丕賯賴丕.
賱賳鬲禺賷賱 丕賱丌賳貙 亘毓丿 丌賱丕賮 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 (乇亘賲丕 兀賯賱責) 賮鬲丕丞 賲丕 鬲鬲爻丕亍賱 毓賳丕貙 賳丨賳 丕賱兀噩丿丕丿. 鬲鬲爻丕亍賱 毓賲丕 賰賳丕 賳賮毓賱賴 丕賱丌賳 (賮賷 賲丕囟賷賴賲) 賵毓賲丕 廿匕丕 賰賳丕 賮賰乇賳丕 亘賴賲 賱賱丨馗丞. 賵丕賱兀賲 鬲噩賷亘賴丕 亘兀賳 賲賳 丕賱賵丕囟丨 兀賳賳丕 賱賲 賳賮毓賱. 賵噩賵丿 賲賰丕賳 丕爻賲賴 "賲賯亘乇丞 丕賱亘賱丕爻鬲賷賰" 禺賷乇 丿賱賷賱 毓賱賶 乇毓賵賳鬲賳丕貙 賮賳丨賳 賳爻乇賮 賰賱 賷賵賲 賮賷 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲 賲賵丕丿 睾賷乇 賯丕亘賱丞 賱賱鬲丨賱賱 賵賲丐匕賷丞 賱賱兀乇囟.
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 乇賵丨賻賳賻鬲 丕賱賲丕亍 賵睾丕氐鬲 毓賲賷賯賸丕 賮賷 賮賱爻賮鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 亘丿鬲 毓賱丕賯丞 "賳賵乇賷丕" 丕亘賳丞 賲毓賱賾賲 丕賱卮丕賷貙 亘丕賱賲丕亍貙 兀卮亘賴 亘丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 丕賱氐賵賮賷丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賷爻鬲 毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 毓亘丿 賵乇亘貙 亘賯丿乇 賲丕 賴賷 毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 賲鬲兀賲賾賱 賲鬲氐賵賾賮貙 賵賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱賰賵賳 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賮馗 鬲賵丕夭賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲.
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賷囟賸丕 鬲鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱賮爻丕丿貙 賵毓賳 丨賰賲 丕賱毓爻賰乇貙 賵丕丨鬲賰丕乇 丕賱孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞貙 賵噩乇丕卅賲 丕賱鬲禺賵賷賳貙 賵毓賳 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 兀賷囟賸丕.
噩賲賷賱丞 噩丿賸丕 賵噩丿賷乇丞 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞.
兀丨亘亘鬲購 賮賷 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賳賴丕 丿卮賳鬲 毓丕賱賲賸丕 賲丐孬孬丕 亘丕賱鬲賮丕氐賷賱 賲賳 賮賰乇丞貙 賮乇囟賷丞 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷丞. 兀丨亘亘鬲購 丕賱賱睾丞貨 賰賱 噩賲賱丞 賮賷 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘丿鬲 賲孬賱 賯氐賷丿丞貙 賳丕亘囟丞 賵賲賱賷卅丞 亘毓氐丕乇丞 丕賱賲毓賳賶. 賰丕賳 賷賰賮賷 兀賳 鬲賯賱亘 丕賱賰賱賲丞 賮賷 賮賲賰 賱賰賷 賷鬲賮噩乇 賲匕丕賯賴丕.
賱賳鬲禺賷賱 丕賱丌賳貙 亘毓丿 丌賱丕賮 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 (乇亘賲丕 兀賯賱責) 賮鬲丕丞 賲丕 鬲鬲爻丕亍賱 毓賳丕貙 賳丨賳 丕賱兀噩丿丕丿. 鬲鬲爻丕亍賱 毓賲丕 賰賳丕 賳賮毓賱賴 丕賱丌賳 (賮賷 賲丕囟賷賴賲) 賵毓賲丕 廿匕丕 賰賳丕 賮賰乇賳丕 亘賴賲 賱賱丨馗丞. 賵丕賱兀賲 鬲噩賷亘賴丕 亘兀賳 賲賳 丕賱賵丕囟丨 兀賳賳丕 賱賲 賳賮毓賱. 賵噩賵丿 賲賰丕賳 丕爻賲賴 "賲賯亘乇丞 丕賱亘賱丕爻鬲賷賰" 禺賷乇 丿賱賷賱 毓賱賶 乇毓賵賳鬲賳丕貙 賮賳丨賳 賳爻乇賮 賰賱 賷賵賲 賮賷 丕爻鬲禺丿丕賲 賲賵丕丿 睾賷乇 賯丕亘賱丞 賱賱鬲丨賱賱 賵賲丐匕賷丞 賱賱兀乇囟.
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 乇賵丨賻賳賻鬲 丕賱賲丕亍 賵睾丕氐鬲 毓賲賷賯賸丕 賮賷 賮賱爻賮鬲賴貙 丨鬲賶 亘丿鬲 毓賱丕賯丞 "賳賵乇賷丕" 丕亘賳丞 賲毓賱賾賲 丕賱卮丕賷貙 亘丕賱賲丕亍貙 兀卮亘賴 亘丕賱毓賱丕賯丞 丕賱氐賵賮賷丞貙 賱賰賳賴丕 賱賷爻鬲 毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 毓亘丿 賵乇亘貙 亘賯丿乇 賲丕 賴賷 毓賱丕賯丞 亘賷賳 賲鬲兀賲賾賱 賲鬲氐賵賾賮貙 賵賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱賰賵賳 丕賱鬲賷 鬲丨賮馗 鬲賵丕夭賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲.
賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 兀賷囟賸丕 鬲鬲丨丿孬 毓賳 丕賱賮爻丕丿貙 賵毓賳 丨賰賲 丕賱毓爻賰乇貙 賵丕丨鬲賰丕乇 丕賱孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱賯賱賷賱丞貙 賵噩乇丕卅賲 丕賱鬲禺賵賷賳貙 賵毓賳 丕賱賲賯丕賵賲丞 兀賷囟賸丕.
噩賲賷賱丞 噩丿賸丕 賵噩丿賷乇丞 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞.
January 25, 2015
What鈥檚 It About
The novel is set years into the future where global warning and rising seas has seen the destruction of cities, the takeover of Europe by China and the scarcity of fresh water.
Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father which comes with its own responsibilities. One of which is knowledge of a hidden source of fresh water that used to supply the town but is now kept secret from the military. But for how long鈥�
It鈥檚 worth noting that Memory of Water was originally published in Finland in 2012. Emmi Itaranta took on the task of translating her own novel for its English-language publication.
Should I Read It?
Yes. If the gorgeous writing doesn鈥檛 pull you in, the compelling story will. Itaranta doesn鈥檛 shy away from the moral conundrum Noria faces once she becomes responsible for the spring. Does she keep it secret 鈥� and therefore keep it out of the clutches of the military 鈥� or does she reveal her secret, on possible pain of death, to support a village that is slowly dying from a lack of purified and desalinated water? This choice, and Noria鈥檚 eventual decision provides the novel with a real sense of danger and tension.
And did I mention that the prose is beautiful?
Representative Paragraph
Noria鈥檚 father reveals a hidden spring of fresh water鈥�
"Water rushed from inside the rock in strings and threads and strands of shimmer, in enormous sheets that shattered the surface of the pond at the bottom of the cave when they hit it. It twisted around the rocks and curled in spirals and whirls around itself, and churned and danced and unravelled again. The surface trembled under the force of the movement. A narrow stream flowed from the pond towards the shelf of stone that the doorway we had come through was on, then disappeared into the ground under it. I could see something that looked like a white stain on the rock wall above the surface of the water, and another lever in the wall further away. My father urged me on, to the edge of the pond.
鈥楾ry it,鈥� he said. I dipped my fingers in the water and felt its strength. It moved against my hand like breathing, like an animal, like another person鈥檚 skin. It was cold, far colder than anything I was used to. I licked my fingers carefully, like I had been taught to do since I was very young: never drink water you haven鈥檛 tasted first. 鈥業t鈥檚 fresh,鈥� I said. Lantern light folded on his face when he smiled, and then, slowly, the smile ran dry."
Commentary
I want to make it clear from the outset that I really liked Memory of Water. The writing is beautiful and Noria Kaitio is a likeable and well-rounded character. But I couldn鈥檛 help but wonder whether I was allowing Itaranta鈥檚 gorgeous, delicate prose to distract me from her hazy, nebulous world building. In particular, while the scarcity of water is blamed on climate change and rising seas, it鈥檚 not entirely clear how humanity pulled itself from the darkness that was the Twilight Century (the period that bridges the technological past with this post apocalyptic present). There鈥檚 also no explanation as to how or why China took over Europe or who they鈥檙e currently fighting.
There is the view that the true science fiction novel uses science to drive the narrative and not as window dressing. Post Apocalyptic fiction often struggles with this because the focus is often on the fight for survival rather than explaining how the world ended or more importantly finding a solution through science and engineering. Famously, Cormac McCarthy doesn鈥檛 bother to describe what led to the near destruction of humanity in his harrowing novel, The Road. As a result McCarthy鈥檚 book is less science and more survival fiction.
While Memory of Water has more science fictional flesh on the bone when compared to The Road, I鈥檓 sure there will be those who won鈥檛 class it as an SF novel. Justin Landon, in his positive review of the book for Tor.com, acknowledges this:
"鈥� There鈥檚 more story to tell in It盲ranta鈥檚 world, both about the how and why. Without these things it becomes less a science fiction than a literary character study with some odd parameters. Could this have been the story of a girl in desert culture, with no hints at our own imagined future? Most assuredly. Whether that detracts from the novel is a question for each reader to answer. For me, Noria鈥檚 journey was satisfying and poignant. Emmi It盲ranta鈥檚 novel recalls a memory of what鈥檚 important, not only to survive, but to actually live."
Like Landon, I was more than satisfied with the journey. But more than that, I don鈥檛 think Itaranta has been skimpy with her world building due to a lack of care or a different set of priorities. Rather, holding back on explanations 鈥� how did China takeover Europe? What happened during the Twilight Century? 鈥� are a feature of the novel, not a bug.
As the book is written in first person, we only know what Noria knows. Living in a secluded village coupled with a military that鈥檚 not keen on giving away secrets means that information about the past is hard to find. And it鈥檚 not like Noria isn鈥檛 interested. Her father鈥檚 decision to train her as a tea-master and show Noria the secret of the spring means that she鈥檚 more aware of the world around her, and with that awareness comes curiosity and an unwillingness to accept the status quo.
What鈥檚 brilliant, though, is how Itaranta tantalises Noria (and the reader) with the truth, with the possibility of learning more, and then pulls it away. For example, Noria鈥檚 mother is an academic and when the pressure increases at home 鈥� the military encroaching on the property looking for a source of fresh water 鈥� she decides to take a job in a University. Noria is offered the option to go with her mother or stay with her father and continue her tea-master studies. In the end she forgoes the possibility of knowledge to maintain the traditions set by her father and those that came before him.
It鈥檚 a selfless act.
This selflessness is a recurring theme in the novel. When Noria and Sanja discover a CD in the plastic grave detailing a secret, unsanctioned expedition into the Lost Lands to look for fresh water, both of them are overwhelmed with the need to know more. When the opportunity arises, Noria is prepared to leave her village, leave her responsibilities as the tea-master and protector of the spring and embark on a journey of discovery. And traditionally, we鈥檇 expect a character in this type of novel to venture forth, to spend multiple books discovering the secrets of the Twilight Century. However, Noria鈥檚 earlier decision to share water with the rest of the village rather than watch them suffer means that ultimately her chance to explore, to add more flesh to the bone, is taken away from her.
This novel is not an example of where the author has scribbled the world building on the back of an envelope. There鈥檚 enough evidence within Memory of Water to indicate that Itaranta has a clear idea of what brought about this particular apocalypse. But by holding back these details from Noria and the reader, Itaranta provides us with a book that鈥檚 less about the ongoing scarcity of water or the wars that China is fighting and more about Noria鈥檚 selfless attempts to keep her community and traditions alive. In the end then, the beautiful prose and the fantastic character work is not a distraction but enhances the power of this fantastic science fiction novel.
The novel is set years into the future where global warning and rising seas has seen the destruction of cities, the takeover of Europe by China and the scarcity of fresh water.
Noria Kaitio is learning to become a tea master like her father which comes with its own responsibilities. One of which is knowledge of a hidden source of fresh water that used to supply the town but is now kept secret from the military. But for how long鈥�
It鈥檚 worth noting that Memory of Water was originally published in Finland in 2012. Emmi Itaranta took on the task of translating her own novel for its English-language publication.
Should I Read It?
Yes. If the gorgeous writing doesn鈥檛 pull you in, the compelling story will. Itaranta doesn鈥檛 shy away from the moral conundrum Noria faces once she becomes responsible for the spring. Does she keep it secret 鈥� and therefore keep it out of the clutches of the military 鈥� or does she reveal her secret, on possible pain of death, to support a village that is slowly dying from a lack of purified and desalinated water? This choice, and Noria鈥檚 eventual decision provides the novel with a real sense of danger and tension.
And did I mention that the prose is beautiful?
Representative Paragraph
Noria鈥檚 father reveals a hidden spring of fresh water鈥�
"Water rushed from inside the rock in strings and threads and strands of shimmer, in enormous sheets that shattered the surface of the pond at the bottom of the cave when they hit it. It twisted around the rocks and curled in spirals and whirls around itself, and churned and danced and unravelled again. The surface trembled under the force of the movement. A narrow stream flowed from the pond towards the shelf of stone that the doorway we had come through was on, then disappeared into the ground under it. I could see something that looked like a white stain on the rock wall above the surface of the water, and another lever in the wall further away. My father urged me on, to the edge of the pond.
鈥楾ry it,鈥� he said. I dipped my fingers in the water and felt its strength. It moved against my hand like breathing, like an animal, like another person鈥檚 skin. It was cold, far colder than anything I was used to. I licked my fingers carefully, like I had been taught to do since I was very young: never drink water you haven鈥檛 tasted first. 鈥業t鈥檚 fresh,鈥� I said. Lantern light folded on his face when he smiled, and then, slowly, the smile ran dry."
Commentary
I want to make it clear from the outset that I really liked Memory of Water. The writing is beautiful and Noria Kaitio is a likeable and well-rounded character. But I couldn鈥檛 help but wonder whether I was allowing Itaranta鈥檚 gorgeous, delicate prose to distract me from her hazy, nebulous world building. In particular, while the scarcity of water is blamed on climate change and rising seas, it鈥檚 not entirely clear how humanity pulled itself from the darkness that was the Twilight Century (the period that bridges the technological past with this post apocalyptic present). There鈥檚 also no explanation as to how or why China took over Europe or who they鈥檙e currently fighting.
There is the view that the true science fiction novel uses science to drive the narrative and not as window dressing. Post Apocalyptic fiction often struggles with this because the focus is often on the fight for survival rather than explaining how the world ended or more importantly finding a solution through science and engineering. Famously, Cormac McCarthy doesn鈥檛 bother to describe what led to the near destruction of humanity in his harrowing novel, The Road. As a result McCarthy鈥檚 book is less science and more survival fiction.
While Memory of Water has more science fictional flesh on the bone when compared to The Road, I鈥檓 sure there will be those who won鈥檛 class it as an SF novel. Justin Landon, in his positive review of the book for Tor.com, acknowledges this:
"鈥� There鈥檚 more story to tell in It盲ranta鈥檚 world, both about the how and why. Without these things it becomes less a science fiction than a literary character study with some odd parameters. Could this have been the story of a girl in desert culture, with no hints at our own imagined future? Most assuredly. Whether that detracts from the novel is a question for each reader to answer. For me, Noria鈥檚 journey was satisfying and poignant. Emmi It盲ranta鈥檚 novel recalls a memory of what鈥檚 important, not only to survive, but to actually live."
Like Landon, I was more than satisfied with the journey. But more than that, I don鈥檛 think Itaranta has been skimpy with her world building due to a lack of care or a different set of priorities. Rather, holding back on explanations 鈥� how did China takeover Europe? What happened during the Twilight Century? 鈥� are a feature of the novel, not a bug.
As the book is written in first person, we only know what Noria knows. Living in a secluded village coupled with a military that鈥檚 not keen on giving away secrets means that information about the past is hard to find. And it鈥檚 not like Noria isn鈥檛 interested. Her father鈥檚 decision to train her as a tea-master and show Noria the secret of the spring means that she鈥檚 more aware of the world around her, and with that awareness comes curiosity and an unwillingness to accept the status quo.
What鈥檚 brilliant, though, is how Itaranta tantalises Noria (and the reader) with the truth, with the possibility of learning more, and then pulls it away. For example, Noria鈥檚 mother is an academic and when the pressure increases at home 鈥� the military encroaching on the property looking for a source of fresh water 鈥� she decides to take a job in a University. Noria is offered the option to go with her mother or stay with her father and continue her tea-master studies. In the end she forgoes the possibility of knowledge to maintain the traditions set by her father and those that came before him.
It鈥檚 a selfless act.
This selflessness is a recurring theme in the novel. When Noria and Sanja discover a CD in the plastic grave detailing a secret, unsanctioned expedition into the Lost Lands to look for fresh water, both of them are overwhelmed with the need to know more. When the opportunity arises, Noria is prepared to leave her village, leave her responsibilities as the tea-master and protector of the spring and embark on a journey of discovery. And traditionally, we鈥檇 expect a character in this type of novel to venture forth, to spend multiple books discovering the secrets of the Twilight Century. However, Noria鈥檚 earlier decision to share water with the rest of the village rather than watch them suffer means that ultimately her chance to explore, to add more flesh to the bone, is taken away from her.
This novel is not an example of where the author has scribbled the world building on the back of an envelope. There鈥檚 enough evidence within Memory of Water to indicate that Itaranta has a clear idea of what brought about this particular apocalypse. But by holding back these details from Noria and the reader, Itaranta provides us with a book that鈥檚 less about the ongoing scarcity of water or the wars that China is fighting and more about Noria鈥檚 selfless attempts to keep her community and traditions alive. In the end then, the beautiful prose and the fantastic character work is not a distraction but enhances the power of this fantastic science fiction novel.
November 17, 2015
Viimeinkin t盲m盲 on luettu. Varmaan vuoden verran olen yritt盲nyt saada aikaiseksi, mutta parempi my枚h盲盲n kuin ei milloinkaan. Odotukseni olivat ehk盲 hiukan liian korkealla, mutta pidin silti lukemastani. Etenkin milj枚枚 ja tunnelma lumosivat ja dystopinen asetelma on kammottavuudessaan uskottava. Romaanin alkupuoli oli mielest盲ni vahvempi kuin loppupuoli ja koin, ett盲 alun hienosti rakennettu j盲nnite ei onnistunut s盲ilym盲盲n samanlaisena loppuun asti. Kielest盲 sen sijaan nautin valtavasti ja It盲rannan toinen romaani on ehdottomasti lukulistalla.
December 24, 2014
丨乇丕爻 丕賱賲丕亍 乇賵丕賷丞 賲賳 兀丿亘 丕賱丿賷爻鬲賵亘賷丕 賵賴賵 兀丿亘 丕賱賲丿賷賳丞 丕賱賮丕爻丿丞 賵賴匕丕 丕賱賳賵毓 賷丨鬲賵賶 毓賱賶 丕賱禺賷丕賱 丕賱毓賱賲賷 賵賲夭賷噩 賲賳 丕賱爻賵乇賷丕賱賷丞 賵丕賱禺乇丕賮丞 賵賲孬丕賱賴 毓賱賶 匕賱賰 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賰丕鬲亘 丕賱亘丿賷毓 噩賵乇噩 兀賵乇賷賱 賵乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賵丕賴亘 賱賱賵賷爻 賱丕乇賷 貙 賮賴乇賳賴丕賷鬲 451 賱乇丕丿亘乇賷 賵 賲亘丕乇賷丕鬲 丕賱噩賵毓 賱賰賵賱賳夭 賵賵賰賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丕鬲 丌賳賮丞 丕賱匕賰乇 鬲毓賲賱 毓賱賶 賲賯丕賵賲丞 爻賱胤丞 丕賱賳馗丕賲 丕賱賮丕爻丿 賵丕賱賮賯乇 賵丕亘胤丕賱賴丕 卮毓亘賷賵賳 賷賳鬲賲賵賳 賱賱毓丕賲丞 ..
夭賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賵 夭賲賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷 賵賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 睾丕賲囟 賳賵毓丕 賲丕 丕賱亘賷卅丞 鬲賰賵賳鬲 亘毓丿 丨丕賱丞 丨乇丕乇賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 丕爻鬲丿毓鬲 匕賵亘丕賳 丕賱賯賲賲 丕賱噩賷賱賷丿賷丞 賵鬲睾賷乇 噩睾乇丕賮賷丞 丕賱兀乇囟
賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 賳丿乇丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賵賴賷 廿卮丕乇丞 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷丞 賱兀禺胤丕乇 鬲賴丿丿 丕賱亘賷卅丞 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱鬲睾賷乇丕鬲 丕賱賲賳丕禺 賵丕爻鬲賴鬲丕乇 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳
亘胤賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 賳賵乇賷丕 賵賴賵 丕爻賲 噩賲賷賱 兀賳 乇睾亘鬲賲 亘兀賳 鬲賵丕賮賯賵賳賳賷 丕賱乇兀賷 賷丿賱 毓賱賶 丨爻 賵匕丕卅賯丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞 賵丕賱鬲賷 兀丨爻亘 兀賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱丕 夭丕賴乇丕 賷賳鬲馗乇賴丕 賮賷 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱賲賯亘賱丞 .. 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲噩乇賷 賮賷 賲賰丕賳 賲丕 賮賷 丕賱廿鬲丨丕丿 丕賱兀爻賰賳丿賳丕賮賷 睾賷乇 兀賳 胤賯賵爻 賮賳 賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱卮丕賷 賵賲丿丕乇爻賴 賲爻鬲賵丨賶 賲賳 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賲賲丕賷噩毓賱賰 賮賷 丨丕賱丞 賲賳 丕賱丿賴卮丞 賱賰賳賴丕 鬲囟毓 兀賲丕賲賰 鬲賮爻賷乇丕 賵丨賷丿丕 賴賵 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳丿賲丕噩 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 賮賷 夭賲賳 賲丕
賵賳鬲噩 毓賳賴 丕禺鬲賮丕亍 兀噩夭丕亍 賲賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷賲丕 賷爻賲賶 亘丕賱兀乇囟 丕賱賲賮賯賵丿丞
賲丨賵乇 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賵 丕賱賲丕亍 賵兀丨爻亘 兀賳 乇賵丕賷丞 賷賰賵賳 賮賷賴丕 丕賱賲丕亍 賲賳丕賮爻丕 噩丿賷乇丕 賱兀亘胤丕賱賴丕 賱賴賷 乇賵丕賷丞 噩丿賷乇丞 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩亘 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 賲卮丕毓丕 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩亘 兀賳 賷亘賱睾 毓賳賴 賵兀賳 賷賰賵賳 鬲丨鬲 乇毓丕賷丞 丕賱毓爻賰乇 .. 賵賮賷 賲賮丕乇賯丞 胤乇賷賮丞 丨鬲賶 丕賱賲丕亍 賷氐亘丨 兀爻賷乇丕 賵賳賵乇賷丕 丨丕乇爻丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賱丿賷賴丕 兀爻乇丕乇賴丕 賵賰賳夭賴丕 丕賱賲丕卅賷 賵賱丿賷賴丕 爻丕賳賷丕 賵亘賷鬲 丕賱卮丕賷 賵鬲毓丕賱賷賲 丕賱賲毓賱賲.. 賳賵乇賷丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲卮亘賴 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賲乇丕賴賯丞 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賲鬲賲乇丿丞 賳賵乇賷丕 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱賮囟賵賱賷丞 賳賵乇賷丕 乇賲夭丕 賱賱鬲胤賴賷乇 賰賲丕 賴賷 丕賱爻賱胤丞 乇賲夭丕 賱賱賮爻丕丿 ..
卮丕毓乇賷丞 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 鬲賱賷賯 亘丕賱賲丕亍 鬲賱賷賯 亘賳賵乇賷丕 賱睾丞 鬲鬲丿賮賯 賲孬賱 噩丿賵賱 氐睾賷乇 毓賲賱鬲 廿賷賲賷 毓賱賶 丕爻鬲睾賱丕賱 賰賱 賲丕鬲亘賯賶 賲賳 丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 賱鬲毓胤賷 賱賴丕 兀氐賵丕鬲丕 鬲賱賷賯 亘睾乇丕卅亘賷丞 丕賱賳氐 禺賱賯鬲 賲噩鬲賲毓丕 賵丿賵賱丞 賵賳馗丕賲 毓爻賰乇賷 賵賲爻鬲賯亘賱丕 睾賷乇丕 賲亘卮乇丕 亘賱 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賰爻 鬲賲丕賲丕 賵賷亘丿賵 兀賳 賳馗乇丞 兀睾賱亘 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 鬲鬲卮丕亘賴 鬲噩丕賴 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賳馗乇丞 丕賱賯丕鬲賲丞 賵丕賱爻賵丿丕賵賷丞 賵廿賳 賰丕賳鬲 賮鬲丨鬲 卮亘丕賰丕 賲賳 丕賱兀賲賱 賮賷 丕賱禺鬲丕賲 廿賱丕 廿賳賳賷 兀賲賷賱 賱賲禺丕賱賮丞 賰賱 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 賵兀賳馗乇 丿丕卅賲丕 賱賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 亘毓賷賳 賲賱賷卅丞 亘乇賵丨 丕賱鬲賮丕丐賱 :)
賷噩亘 兀賳 賱丕 賳賳爻賶 兀賳 丕賱賲丐賱賮丞 賲賳 賮賱賳丿丕 賵丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 鬲賲孬賱 毓賳氐乇丕 賴丕賲丕 鬲賲孬賱 丨賷丕丞 賵丨賷丕丞 賲賴丿丿丞 亘賰賱 賲賱賵孬丕鬲 丕賱毓氐乇 賱匕賱賰 賵氐賮 丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 噩丕亍 賷丨賲賱 賯賷賲丞 兀禺乇賶 賱賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 .. 鬲賰鬲亘 廿賷賲賷 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘賴丿賵亍 賲禺賷賮 匕賱賰 丕賱賴丿賵亍 丕賱匕賷 賷噩賱亘 賱賰 丨丕賱丞 賲賳 丕賱鬲乇賯亘 賷爻亘賯賴丕 乇賯丞 丕賱丨乇賮 賵卮賮丕賮賷丞 丕賱賱睾丞貙 鬲夭丿丕丿 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲卮賵賷賯丕 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 鬲丨丿賷丿丕 亘毓丿 兀賳 毓乇賮鬲 丕賱氐丿賷賯丞 丕賱爻乇 賵賰丕賳 賲卮賴丿 丕爻鬲丨賲丕賲 丕賱賮鬲丕鬲賷賳 賮賷 丕賱賷賳亘賵毓 賲賳 兀噩賲賱 賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱賳氐
賰賲丕 廿賳 廿賷賲賷 賮賷 噩夭亍賴丕 丕賱兀禺賷乇 廿夭丿丕丿鬲 卮賮丕賮賷丞 賵卮丕毓乇賷丞 賰賱賲丕 丕賯鬲乇亘鬲 賲賳 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰賱賲丕 廿夭丿丕丿鬲 賴丿賵亍丕 賵乇賯丞 賲丨亘亘丞 禺丕氐丞 賵賳賵乇賷丕 鬲賰賲賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賵鬲賵丿毓 兀爻乇丕乇賴丕 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 廿卮丕乇丞 賱丕鬲禺賱賵 賲賳 匕賰丕亍 賱兀賴賲賷丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱賱兀噩賷丕賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲丞 .. 氐丿賯丕 兀丨亘亘鬲 賮賷 丕賱賳氐 兀卮毓丕乇 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱廿丨爻丕爻 丕賱亘丿賷毓 亘賯賷賲丞 丕賱賰鬲亘 賵亘賯賷賲丞 丕賱夭賲賳 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵賲丕 賷丿禺乇賴 賲賳 賰賳賵夭 賱賱兀噩賷丕賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲丞 賱賰賷 鬲亘賳賷 毓賱賷賴 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賯丕賲鬲 毓賱賶 賲賯亘乇丞 賲賳 丕賱亘賱丕爻鬲賷賰 .. 賯丕乇賶亍 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 賮賯胤 爻賷賮賴賲 賲丕匕丕 兀毓賳賷
賷賳亘睾賷 丕賱廿卮丕乇丞 廿賱賶 廿賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賵噩賴丞 賱賮卅丞 賲丨丿丿丞 賵賴賷 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賲賳 毓賲乇 丕賱賲乇丕賴賯丞 賲毓 匕賱賰 丕爻鬲賲鬲毓鬲 賰孬賷乇丕 亘丕賱鬲噩乇亘丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賮賳賱賳丿賷丞
夭賲賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賵 夭賲賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷 賵賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 睾丕賲囟 賳賵毓丕 賲丕 丕賱亘賷卅丞 鬲賰賵賳鬲 亘毓丿 丨丕賱丞 丨乇丕乇賷丞 賲毓賷賳丞 丕爻鬲丿毓鬲 匕賵亘丕賳 丕賱賯賲賲 丕賱噩賷賱賷丿賷丞 賵鬲睾賷乇 噩睾乇丕賮賷丞 丕賱兀乇囟
賲卮賰賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 賳丿乇丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賵賴賷 廿卮丕乇丞 賲爻鬲賯亘賱賷丞 賱兀禺胤丕乇 鬲賴丿丿 丕賱亘賷卅丞 賳鬲賷噩丞 賱鬲睾賷乇丕鬲 丕賱賲賳丕禺 賵丕爻鬲賴鬲丕乇 丕賱廿賳爻丕賳
亘胤賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賷 賳賵乇賷丕 賵賴賵 丕爻賲 噩賲賷賱 兀賳 乇睾亘鬲賲 亘兀賳 鬲賵丕賮賯賵賳賳賷 丕賱乇兀賷 賷丿賱 毓賱賶 丨爻 賵匕丕卅賯丞 賴匕賴 丕賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賱噩賲賷賱丞 賵丕賱鬲賷 兀丨爻亘 兀賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱丕 夭丕賴乇丕 賷賳鬲馗乇賴丕 賮賷 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱賲賯亘賱丞 .. 兀丨丿丕孬 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 鬲噩乇賷 賮賷 賲賰丕賳 賲丕 賮賷 丕賱廿鬲丨丕丿 丕賱兀爻賰賳丿賳丕賮賷 睾賷乇 兀賳 胤賯賵爻 賮賳 賲噩鬲賲毓 丕賱卮丕賷 賵賲丿丕乇爻賴 賲爻鬲賵丨賶 賲賳 丕賱賷丕亘丕賳 賲賲丕賷噩毓賱賰 賮賷 丨丕賱丞 賲賳 丕賱丿賴卮丞 賱賰賳賴丕 鬲囟毓 兀賲丕賲賰 鬲賮爻賷乇丕 賵丨賷丿丕 賴賵 賴匕丕 丕賱廿賳丿賲丕噩 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 賮賷 夭賲賳 賲丕
賵賳鬲噩 毓賳賴 丕禺鬲賮丕亍 兀噩夭丕亍 賲賳 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賮賷賲丕 賷爻賲賶 亘丕賱兀乇囟 丕賱賲賮賯賵丿丞
賲丨賵乇 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賴賵 丕賱賲丕亍 賵兀丨爻亘 兀賳 乇賵丕賷丞 賷賰賵賳 賮賷賴丕 丕賱賲丕亍 賲賳丕賮爻丕 噩丿賷乇丕 賱兀亘胤丕賱賴丕 賱賴賷 乇賵丕賷丞 噩丿賷乇丞 亘丕賱賯乇丕亍丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩亘 兀賳 賷賰賵賳 賲卮丕毓丕 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩亘 兀賳 賷亘賱睾 毓賳賴 賵兀賳 賷賰賵賳 鬲丨鬲 乇毓丕賷丞 丕賱毓爻賰乇 .. 賵賮賷 賲賮丕乇賯丞 胤乇賷賮丞 丨鬲賶 丕賱賲丕亍 賷氐亘丨 兀爻賷乇丕 賵賳賵乇賷丕 丨丕乇爻丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賱丿賷賴丕 兀爻乇丕乇賴丕 賵賰賳夭賴丕 丕賱賲丕卅賷 賵賱丿賷賴丕 爻丕賳賷丕 賵亘賷鬲 丕賱卮丕賷 賵鬲毓丕賱賷賲 丕賱賲毓賱賲.. 賳賵乇賷丕 丕賱鬲賷 鬲卮亘賴 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賲乇丕賴賯丞 賰賱 賮鬲丕丞 賲鬲賲乇丿丞 賳賵乇賷丕 丕賱賮鬲丕丞 丕賱賮囟賵賱賷丞 賳賵乇賷丕 乇賲夭丕 賱賱鬲胤賴賷乇 賰賲丕 賴賷 丕賱爻賱胤丞 乇賲夭丕 賱賱賮爻丕丿 ..
卮丕毓乇賷丞 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 鬲賱賷賯 亘丕賱賲丕亍 鬲賱賷賯 亘賳賵乇賷丕 賱睾丞 鬲鬲丿賮賯 賲孬賱 噩丿賵賱 氐睾賷乇 毓賲賱鬲 廿賷賲賷 毓賱賶 丕爻鬲睾賱丕賱 賰賱 賲丕鬲亘賯賶 賲賳 丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 賱鬲毓胤賷 賱賴丕 兀氐賵丕鬲丕 鬲賱賷賯 亘睾乇丕卅亘賷丞 丕賱賳氐 禺賱賯鬲 賲噩鬲賲毓丕 賵丿賵賱丞 賵賳馗丕賲 毓爻賰乇賷 賵賲爻鬲賯亘賱丕 睾賷乇丕 賲亘卮乇丕 亘賱 毓賱賶 丕賱毓賰爻 鬲賲丕賲丕 賵賷亘丿賵 兀賳 賳馗乇丞 兀睾賱亘 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 鬲鬲卮丕亘賴 鬲噩丕賴 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 鬲賱賰 丕賱賳馗乇丞 丕賱賯丕鬲賲丞 賵丕賱爻賵丿丕賵賷丞 賵廿賳 賰丕賳鬲 賮鬲丨鬲 卮亘丕賰丕 賲賳 丕賱兀賲賱 賮賷 丕賱禺鬲丕賲 廿賱丕 廿賳賳賷 兀賲賷賱 賱賲禺丕賱賮丞 賰賱 賴丐賱丕亍 丕賱兀丿亘丕亍 賵兀賳馗乇 丿丕卅賲丕 賱賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱 亘毓賷賳 賲賱賷卅丞 亘乇賵丨 丕賱鬲賮丕丐賱 :)
賷噩亘 兀賳 賱丕 賳賳爻賶 兀賳 丕賱賲丐賱賮丞 賲賳 賮賱賳丿丕 賵丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 鬲賲孬賱 毓賳氐乇丕 賴丕賲丕 鬲賲孬賱 丨賷丕丞 賵丨賷丕丞 賲賴丿丿丞 亘賰賱 賲賱賵孬丕鬲 丕賱毓氐乇 賱匕賱賰 賵氐賮 丕賱胤亘賷毓丞 噩丕亍 賷丨賲賱 賯賷賲丞 兀禺乇賶 賱賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 .. 鬲賰鬲亘 廿賷賲賷 兀丨丿丕孬賴丕 亘賴丿賵亍 賲禺賷賮 匕賱賰 丕賱賴丿賵亍 丕賱匕賷 賷噩賱亘 賱賰 丨丕賱丞 賲賳 丕賱鬲乇賯亘 賷爻亘賯賴丕 乇賯丞 丕賱丨乇賮 賵卮賮丕賮賷丞 丕賱賱睾丞貙 鬲夭丿丕丿 丕賱賯氐丞 鬲卮賵賷賯丕 賮賷 賳賴丕賷丞 丕賱氐賮丨丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 鬲丨丿賷丿丕 亘毓丿 兀賳 毓乇賮鬲 丕賱氐丿賷賯丞 丕賱爻乇 賵賰丕賳 賲卮賴丿 丕爻鬲丨賲丕賲 丕賱賮鬲丕鬲賷賳 賮賷 丕賱賷賳亘賵毓 賲賳 兀噩賲賱 賲卮丕賴丿 丕賱賳氐
賰賲丕 廿賳 廿賷賲賷 賮賷 噩夭亍賴丕 丕賱兀禺賷乇 廿夭丿丕丿鬲 卮賮丕賮賷丞 賵卮丕毓乇賷丞 賰賱賲丕 丕賯鬲乇亘鬲 賲賳 丕賱賳賴丕賷丞 賰賱賲丕 廿夭丿丕丿鬲 賴丿賵亍丕 賵乇賯丞 賲丨亘亘丞 禺丕氐丞 賵賳賵乇賷丕 鬲賰賲賱 丕賱賯氐丞 賵鬲賵丿毓 兀爻乇丕乇賴丕 賮賷 賰鬲丕亘 賮賷 廿卮丕乇丞 賱丕鬲禺賱賵 賲賳 匕賰丕亍 賱兀賴賲賷丞 丕賱賰鬲丕亘 賱賱兀噩賷丕賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲丞 .. 氐丿賯丕 兀丨亘亘鬲 賮賷 丕賱賳氐 兀卮毓丕乇 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱廿丨爻丕爻 丕賱亘丿賷毓 亘賯賷賲丞 丕賱賰鬲亘 賵亘賯賷賲丞 丕賱夭賲賳 丕賱賯丿賷賲 賵賲丕 賷丿禺乇賴 賲賳 賰賳賵夭 賱賱兀噩賷丕賱 丕賱賯丕丿賲丞 賱賰賷 鬲亘賳賷 毓賱賷賴 丨鬲賶 賵廿賳 賯丕賲鬲 毓賱賶 賲賯亘乇丞 賲賳 丕賱亘賱丕爻鬲賷賰 .. 賯丕乇賶亍 賴匕丕 丕賱賳氐 賮賯胤 爻賷賮賴賲 賲丕匕丕 兀毓賳賷
賷賳亘睾賷 丕賱廿卮丕乇丞 廿賱賶 廿賳 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賵噩賴丞 賱賮卅丞 賲丨丿丿丞 賵賴賷 丕賱爻賳賵丕鬲 丕賱兀禺賷乇丞 賲賳 毓賲乇 丕賱賲乇丕賴賯丞 賲毓 匕賱賰 丕爻鬲賲鬲毓鬲 賰孬賷乇丕 亘丕賱鬲噩乇亘丞 丕賱兀賵賱賶 賱賰丕鬲亘丞 賮賳賱賳丿賷丞
May 18, 2017
it could be such a brilliant book, but unfortunately it wasn't. I enjoyed it though, actually I enjoyed the writing, the era, the environment but the story has too many flaws, secrets, dark holes...
The story set in a dystopian world. Due to global warming all ices are melted and apparently contaminated. Now military control remaining water resources and having any secret well or spring or water pipe is a serious crime.
Noria is daughter of a tea master in a small village. Tea masters are watchers of water and normally the know of hidden springs. Noria is trained to be a tea master herself and everything looks normal until a new military commander set his foot for a Tea ceremony into their house and find the water too fresh to be coming from pipes.
The writing in this book is so beautiful that you want to continue reading and it's such a waste that this good idea, this good writing was weakened by details of the story.
The story set in a dystopian world. Due to global warming all ices are melted and apparently contaminated. Now military control remaining water resources and having any secret well or spring or water pipe is a serious crime.
Noria is daughter of a tea master in a small village. Tea masters are watchers of water and normally the know of hidden springs. Noria is trained to be a tea master herself and everything looks normal until a new military commander set his foot for a Tea ceremony into their house and find the water too fresh to be coming from pipes.
The writing in this book is so beautiful that you want to continue reading and it's such a waste that this good idea, this good writing was weakened by details of the story.
August 21, 2015
I read this because it was nominated one month for the Sword and Laser book club but lost to a book I had already read.
There are elements of this novel to like. The combination of Scandinavian and Chinese culture for the society of New Qian was really the best part, especially the section combining the northern lights with the Chinese festivals. Beautiful! Magical!
The theme of water scarcity is frequent these days, although having a teamaster in each village/town/city with the secrets of the water was a new twist.
I felt like much of the writing itself was repetitive, somehow separated from the true emotion of the story. Even in moments that I felt should have great despair, it felt like Noria was floating through life. Strange.
Discussed on .
There are elements of this novel to like. The combination of Scandinavian and Chinese culture for the society of New Qian was really the best part, especially the section combining the northern lights with the Chinese festivals. Beautiful! Magical!
The theme of water scarcity is frequent these days, although having a teamaster in each village/town/city with the secrets of the water was a new twist.
I felt like much of the writing itself was repetitive, somehow separated from the true emotion of the story. Even in moments that I felt should have great despair, it felt like Noria was floating through life. Strange.
Discussed on .
July 8, 2019
5 stars and more!
Do you know this feeling, when you close a book and all you can think of is 'Perfect!'?
Well this was one of those rare occasions. Every word where it is supposed to be, every sentence masterfully crafted. And to think that I only read the English translation and was told that the Finnish original was even better ... Kudos to the translator!
This book is about a dystopian world, a society after wars. It is about water, the most sought after good. Though melancholic and hopeless at times, the story about a young tea master (this idea alone deserves applaus) is written like said water: always flowing, seeking its way through the cracks and holes of a harsh reality. Every other page I wanted to stop and note a sentence or paragraph.
Absolutely beautiful!
Do you know this feeling, when you close a book and all you can think of is 'Perfect!'?
Well this was one of those rare occasions. Every word where it is supposed to be, every sentence masterfully crafted. And to think that I only read the English translation and was told that the Finnish original was even better ... Kudos to the translator!
This book is about a dystopian world, a society after wars. It is about water, the most sought after good. Though melancholic and hopeless at times, the story about a young tea master (this idea alone deserves applaus) is written like said water: always flowing, seeking its way through the cracks and holes of a harsh reality. Every other page I wanted to stop and note a sentence or paragraph.
Absolutely beautiful!
Read
August 11, 2014It盲ranta is a Finnish author, and as I understand it, she wrote the book in both Finnish and in English, and it鈥檚 been published in both languages. Speaking as an author, let me tell you, that鈥檚 pretty badass.
Here鈥檚 the publisher鈥檚 summary:
"In the far north of the Scandinavian Union, now occupied by the power state of New Qian, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio studies to become a tea master like her father. It is a position that holds great responsibility and a dangerous secret. Tea masters alone know the location of hidden water sources, including the natural spring that once provided water for her whole village. When Noria鈥檚 father dies, the secret of the spring reaches the new military commander 鈥� and the power of the army is vast indeed. But the precious water reserve is not the only forbidden knowledge Noria possesses, and resistance is a fine line. Threatened with imprisonment, and with her life at stake, Noria must make an excruciating, dangerous choice between knowledge and freedom."
This book was at times powerful and beautiful and tragic and depressing and triumphant. There鈥檚 not a great deal of action. The pace is almost leisurely at times, even as the tension ratchets every higher. Day by day Noira goes about her business, watching helplessly as the military imprison and execute others in the village for water crimes. The waiting builds suspense and fear far more effectively than any series of graphic action or violence would have. There鈥檚 also the contrast between the horrors Noira witnesses and the beauty of It盲ranta鈥檚 writing.
And then there鈥檚 the worldbuilding. The book is set in a post-apocalyptic Finland. Rising sea levels and other environmental catastrophes have eliminated most sources of fresh water and a serious, if uneven, regression in technology. We never get the full details about what happened, because Noria 鈥� like most people 鈥� doesn鈥檛 know the truth. She knows only the stories she鈥檚 been taught. But over the course of the book, she uncovers bits and pieces鈥�
I鈥檓 sure that aspect of the book will come across as preachy to some, and there鈥檚 certainly a message here about waste and overconsumption and the environment. But given that we don鈥檛 even know the full details of what happened, it felt like a reasonable example of 鈥淚f this goes on鈥︹€� to me.
There鈥檚 also beauty here. The way Noria contemplates every detail of the tea ceremony, and the ideas and philosophy behind it. I don鈥檛 know enough to say whether or not the author鈥檚 description is accurate, only that it was beautifully written. There鈥檚 love as well. Noria鈥檚 relationship with her friend Sanja, who works as a plastic smith (digging up and repairing old plastic for the village) is a powerful source of conflict. While they love one another, the secrets Noria guards and the struggles they both face just to survive would strain any relationship.
Here鈥檚 the publisher鈥檚 summary:
"In the far north of the Scandinavian Union, now occupied by the power state of New Qian, seventeen-year-old Noria Kaitio studies to become a tea master like her father. It is a position that holds great responsibility and a dangerous secret. Tea masters alone know the location of hidden water sources, including the natural spring that once provided water for her whole village. When Noria鈥檚 father dies, the secret of the spring reaches the new military commander 鈥� and the power of the army is vast indeed. But the precious water reserve is not the only forbidden knowledge Noria possesses, and resistance is a fine line. Threatened with imprisonment, and with her life at stake, Noria must make an excruciating, dangerous choice between knowledge and freedom."
This book was at times powerful and beautiful and tragic and depressing and triumphant. There鈥檚 not a great deal of action. The pace is almost leisurely at times, even as the tension ratchets every higher. Day by day Noira goes about her business, watching helplessly as the military imprison and execute others in the village for water crimes. The waiting builds suspense and fear far more effectively than any series of graphic action or violence would have. There鈥檚 also the contrast between the horrors Noira witnesses and the beauty of It盲ranta鈥檚 writing.
And then there鈥檚 the worldbuilding. The book is set in a post-apocalyptic Finland. Rising sea levels and other environmental catastrophes have eliminated most sources of fresh water and a serious, if uneven, regression in technology. We never get the full details about what happened, because Noria 鈥� like most people 鈥� doesn鈥檛 know the truth. She knows only the stories she鈥檚 been taught. But over the course of the book, she uncovers bits and pieces鈥�
I鈥檓 sure that aspect of the book will come across as preachy to some, and there鈥檚 certainly a message here about waste and overconsumption and the environment. But given that we don鈥檛 even know the full details of what happened, it felt like a reasonable example of 鈥淚f this goes on鈥︹€� to me.
There鈥檚 also beauty here. The way Noria contemplates every detail of the tea ceremony, and the ideas and philosophy behind it. I don鈥檛 know enough to say whether or not the author鈥檚 description is accurate, only that it was beautifully written. There鈥檚 love as well. Noria鈥檚 relationship with her friend Sanja, who works as a plastic smith (digging up and repairing old plastic for the village) is a powerful source of conflict. While they love one another, the secrets Noria guards and the struggles they both face just to survive would strain any relationship.
August 4, 2014
Blurb comparing a book to Ursula LeGuin? Gets me to read it every time...
Yes, I can see where the comparison came from. It probably reminds me most of the feel of LeGuin's 'Annals of the Western Shore' trilogy. The similarity is not so much in actual content, but in what is dwelled on; the themes and pace.
This will also appeal to those looking for post-apocalyptic YA who are interested in more thoughtful, character-oriented stories instead of just action.
The setting is a dystopian future Scandinavia, which has been under an oppressive Chinese (New Qian, that is) rule for generations. Water is mysteriously scarce, and controlled by the corrupt and brutal military junta. Noria is a young woman who has brought up in the tradition of the tea ceremony, a ritual that helps give peace and stability to people whose lives have too little of those elements. She has a secret. Her family knows the location of a secret fresh water spring. When she is left alone in the world, will she choose to keep her knowledge to herself, even as her friends and neighbors go thirsty?
The themes of secrets, knowledge, sharing and trust run through the story, contributing to a lovely and satisfying tale. No, the author is not as masterful as LeGuin - but few are.
I received a copy of this title through the 欧宝娱乐 First Reads giveaway. Much appreciation for the book.
Yes, I can see where the comparison came from. It probably reminds me most of the feel of LeGuin's 'Annals of the Western Shore' trilogy. The similarity is not so much in actual content, but in what is dwelled on; the themes and pace.
This will also appeal to those looking for post-apocalyptic YA who are interested in more thoughtful, character-oriented stories instead of just action.
The setting is a dystopian future Scandinavia, which has been under an oppressive Chinese (New Qian, that is) rule for generations. Water is mysteriously scarce, and controlled by the corrupt and brutal military junta. Noria is a young woman who has brought up in the tradition of the tea ceremony, a ritual that helps give peace and stability to people whose lives have too little of those elements. She has a secret. Her family knows the location of a secret fresh water spring. When she is left alone in the world, will she choose to keep her knowledge to herself, even as her friends and neighbors go thirsty?
The themes of secrets, knowledge, sharing and trust run through the story, contributing to a lovely and satisfying tale. No, the author is not as masterful as LeGuin - but few are.
I received a copy of this title through the 欧宝娱乐 First Reads giveaway. Much appreciation for the book.
January 20, 2019
Nez k膩p膿c ilgi atliku izlas墨拧anu, jo bija tak skaidrs, ka t膩 b奴s tie拧i man膩 gaum膿 - gudra, bet viegli las膩ma, anti utopija.
Somu autores jap膩nisk膩s v膿smas (t膿jas ritu膩l膩 un citur) mani nep膩rsteidza, jo, stud膿jot Somij膩, vair膩kk膩rt dzird膿ju no pa拧iem somiem, cik joc墨gi, ka vi艈u kult奴ra esot tik l墨dz墨ga jap膩艈u. Nu vai patie拧膩m ir, tas ir str墨d墨gs jaut膩jums, bet saskat墨t l墨dz墨bu bija mod膿 vismaz pirms p膩ris gadiem, ja t膩 ver teikt.
Protams, ka darb膩 par pasauli, kur膩 p膿c naftas kariem dzeramais 奴dens k募uvis par retumu, galvenais v膿st墨jums ir par ekolo模iju, par to, ko nodar膩m pasaulei jau tagad (nu ja nepaliek vien si啪eta l墨men墨, bet te ir gr奴tu palikt, ja t膩 apak拧doma ir tik ac墨mredzama) , ta膷u var aizdom膩ties ar墨 par to, cik viegli ir sagroz墨t v膿sturi. Bais膩kais, ka 拧is n膩kotnes scen膩rijs nav neiesp膿jams.
Kopum膩 tie拧膩m laba las膩mviela, ko tur daudz.
Somu autores jap膩nisk膩s v膿smas (t膿jas ritu膩l膩 un citur) mani nep膩rsteidza, jo, stud膿jot Somij膩, vair膩kk膩rt dzird膿ju no pa拧iem somiem, cik joc墨gi, ka vi艈u kult奴ra esot tik l墨dz墨ga jap膩艈u. Nu vai patie拧膩m ir, tas ir str墨d墨gs jaut膩jums, bet saskat墨t l墨dz墨bu bija mod膿 vismaz pirms p膩ris gadiem, ja t膩 ver teikt.
Protams, ka darb膩 par pasauli, kur膩 p膿c naftas kariem dzeramais 奴dens k募uvis par retumu, galvenais v膿st墨jums ir par ekolo模iju, par to, ko nodar膩m pasaulei jau tagad (nu ja nepaliek vien si啪eta l墨men墨, bet te ir gr奴tu palikt, ja t膩 apak拧doma ir tik ac墨mredzama) , ta膷u var aizdom膩ties ar墨 par to, cik viegli ir sagroz墨t v膿sturi. Bais膩kais, ka 拧is n膩kotnes scen膩rijs nav neiesp膿jams.
Kopum膩 tie拧膩m laba las膩mviela, ko tur daudz.
February 26, 2020
I went into this book blind, knowing nothing about it other than the title which screamed to me 鈥渆nvironmental apocalypse鈥�. That wasn鈥檛 far off, although I guess it鈥檚 more dystopian than apocalyptic. Water resources are limited as one would expect by the title, and access to them is strictly controlled by the military.
Sometimes these types of books feel tedious to me because they tend to have similar themes and plots. I really enjoyed this one, though. There were some gaps in the world-building that I wanted to see defined more clearly, and there were some plot points that were a stretch, but they didn鈥檛 hit any of my particular pet peeves. Since I was enjoying the story so much, I was mostly able to overlook them.
This book has the type of writing I imagine many would describe as 鈥渂eautiful鈥�, or 鈥減oetic鈥� maybe, or some such adjective. That isn鈥檛 something I really have a proper appreciation for, especially if the writing is so flowery that it鈥檚 not clear what the author is trying to convey. That wasn鈥檛 the case here, though. The writing was clear and the story was interesting. I also liked the characters and cared about what happened to them, although I didn鈥檛 necessarily identify with all their choices.
This is one of those books where the story begins with the almost-end and then goes back and spends the entire book telling about the events that led up to that point. Since the reader has that end in mind the whole time they鈥檙e reading the story, I think most people will know what鈥檚 going to happen long before it happens. (The following spoiler contains vague reactions to the end but no specific plot details.)
One great thing about this book was that it was very light on romance. There are some implications of one depending on how you read things, but it鈥檚 easily overlooked rather than the author hitting you over the head with it like many do. One can read as much or as little into it as they want to. I chose to read more into it than I might have otherwise because it helped me understand
So I guess it wasn鈥檛 a perfect book, but I found it easy to pick up and difficult to put down.
Sometimes these types of books feel tedious to me because they tend to have similar themes and plots. I really enjoyed this one, though. There were some gaps in the world-building that I wanted to see defined more clearly, and there were some plot points that were a stretch, but they didn鈥檛 hit any of my particular pet peeves. Since I was enjoying the story so much, I was mostly able to overlook them.
This book has the type of writing I imagine many would describe as 鈥渂eautiful鈥�, or 鈥減oetic鈥� maybe, or some such adjective. That isn鈥檛 something I really have a proper appreciation for, especially if the writing is so flowery that it鈥檚 not clear what the author is trying to convey. That wasn鈥檛 the case here, though. The writing was clear and the story was interesting. I also liked the characters and cared about what happened to them, although I didn鈥檛 necessarily identify with all their choices.
This is one of those books where the story begins with the almost-end and then goes back and spends the entire book telling about the events that led up to that point. Since the reader has that end in mind the whole time they鈥檙e reading the story, I think most people will know what鈥檚 going to happen long before it happens. (The following spoiler contains vague reactions to the end but no specific plot details.)
One great thing about this book was that it was very light on romance. There are some implications of one depending on how you read things, but it鈥檚 easily overlooked rather than the author hitting you over the head with it like many do. One can read as much or as little into it as they want to. I chose to read more into it than I might have otherwise because it helped me understand
So I guess it wasn鈥檛 a perfect book, but I found it easy to pick up and difficult to put down.
April 2, 2012
on aivan harvinainen esikoisteos.
脛idinkielen opettajani tapasi sanoa, ett盲 "kaunis" on sana, jota ihminen saa kirjoituksissaan k盲ytt盲盲 korkeintaan kymmenen kertaa el盲m盲ss盲盲n. T盲m盲n kirjan kohdalla minun on pakko k盲ytt盲盲 yksi kiinti枚st盲ni. Kirja on yksinkertaisesti uskomattoman kaunis. It盲rannan kieli on vedenkirkasta ja kuulasta, tarinaa kuljetetaan taitavasti kohti v盲ist盲m盲t枚nt盲 loppua. Kirjan maailma on lis盲ksi erilaisuudestaan huolimatta todenmakuinen ja sen henkil枚t moniulotteisia ja aidon tuntuisia. Voiko sen enemp盲盲 vaatia esikoisteokselta?
Teemestarin kirja on dystopia, joka tekee lukijaansa l盲htem盲tt枚m盲n vaikutuksen. Lukekaa, hyv盲t ihmiset!
脛idinkielen opettajani tapasi sanoa, ett盲 "kaunis" on sana, jota ihminen saa kirjoituksissaan k盲ytt盲盲 korkeintaan kymmenen kertaa el盲m盲ss盲盲n. T盲m盲n kirjan kohdalla minun on pakko k盲ytt盲盲 yksi kiinti枚st盲ni. Kirja on yksinkertaisesti uskomattoman kaunis. It盲rannan kieli on vedenkirkasta ja kuulasta, tarinaa kuljetetaan taitavasti kohti v盲ist盲m盲t枚nt盲 loppua. Kirjan maailma on lis盲ksi erilaisuudestaan huolimatta todenmakuinen ja sen henkil枚t moniulotteisia ja aidon tuntuisia. Voiko sen enemp盲盲 vaatia esikoisteokselta?
Teemestarin kirja on dystopia, joka tekee lukijaansa l盲htem盲tt枚m盲n vaikutuksen. Lukekaa, hyv盲t ihmiset!
March 8, 2017
Memory of Water is a slow story, a story which takes all the time it needs to unfold. Although it鈥檚 post-apocalyptic and dystopian, the focus is more on the emotional journey of the protagonist, who comes to understand her world and her place in it. The background is really fascinating, amalgamating a Finnish setting with Asian tea ceremonies. The prose and the pacing all echo those tea ceremonies: deliberate, considered, every movement relevant and part of the whole.
It鈥檚 not about dramatic clashes between armies and civilians, sudden revolutions or dramatic government takeovers. Instead, it鈥檚 about surviving day to day, about choosing who you betray, about making your own path despite the constraints around you. It鈥檚 a slow dying of thirst, not a brutal death at the hands of strangers. It鈥檚 about seeing the world change around you, but so slowly you鈥檙e almost lulled into not reacting.
It鈥檚 about humans wrecking the world, and then making it hard for other humans to live with the consequences. It鈥檚 introspective, slow. The main character might well annoy most readers because of that slow narration and its philosophical bent.
I thought it was gorgeous 鈥� and I鈥檓 extremely impressed that It盲ranta wrote it in both Finnish and English. In English, at least, it鈥檚 lyrical and beautiful and carefully crafted in a way that, yes, recalls that theme of the tea ceremony.
It鈥檚 not about dramatic clashes between armies and civilians, sudden revolutions or dramatic government takeovers. Instead, it鈥檚 about surviving day to day, about choosing who you betray, about making your own path despite the constraints around you. It鈥檚 a slow dying of thirst, not a brutal death at the hands of strangers. It鈥檚 about seeing the world change around you, but so slowly you鈥檙e almost lulled into not reacting.
It鈥檚 about humans wrecking the world, and then making it hard for other humans to live with the consequences. It鈥檚 introspective, slow. The main character might well annoy most readers because of that slow narration and its philosophical bent.
I thought it was gorgeous 鈥� and I鈥檓 extremely impressed that It盲ranta wrote it in both Finnish and English. In English, at least, it鈥檚 lyrical and beautiful and carefully crafted in a way that, yes, recalls that theme of the tea ceremony.
March 5, 2017
This book had truly beautiful prose and I loved that aspect of it. While I didn't get particularly attached to the characters I did enjoy the story. I really did not the heavy handed foreshadowing. Not only did it throw me out of the story, it made the things that happened late in the story lose their punch. It's hard for me to get really excited about an ending that's telegraphed from the start of the book.
The way this is written is beautifully evocative and it suits the feel of the tea ceremonies that happen throughout the book. I just wish I could have loved the story as much as the writing.
The way this is written is beautifully evocative and it suits the feel of the tea ceremonies that happen throughout the book. I just wish I could have loved the story as much as the writing.
March 11, 2021
This story is a slow burner in a future climate changed world, with portents dribbled out sparingly.
The writing is accomplished with fleshed out characters, but a bit drawn out in inundating one in thoughts of water, snow and ice of a distant past, heat, and insects; and the descriptive text is verbose more often than not.
Nevertheless, the story held my attention, at my point in life evoking a doleful feeling overall.
The writing is accomplished with fleshed out characters, but a bit drawn out in inundating one in thoughts of water, snow and ice of a distant past, heat, and insects; and the descriptive text is verbose more often than not.
Nevertheless, the story held my attention, at my point in life evoking a doleful feeling overall.
March 3, 2017
This is a book club read that I would probably never have heard of otherwise. It's a sort of post-apocalypse dystopia, but not quite like any I've read before.
For the first 200 pages, I was enjoying it quite a bit. The setting had some serious plausibility issues, but I was able to overlook them because I was engaged and curious about the world. Unfortunately in the latter half of the book, some things happened that started to really annoy me.
I see that this book is labeled "young adult" by some. I don't read much YA and it's never been clear to me what exactly makes a book "YA", but for the first half of the book I wasn't seeing it here. Now, I'm beginning to think "YA" actually means "young characters who act precisely as stupid as the plot requires of them at any given time".
After the protagonists start making bad decisions in order to carry the plot along, I lost my immersion in the story. When that happened, the problems with plausibility that I had ignored up to that point started to seem more and more ridiculous.
This is a 3-star book that should have been a 4-star book.
Now, for the spoilery rant:
Finally, Noria says about her mother's books:
Many of them spoke of temperatures and seasons and weather, drowned land and oceans that had pushed their shorelines inland, and all of them spoke of water, but the books didn't always agree on everything. I asked my mother once what this meant. She called herself a scientist. If scientists didn't agree with each other, I asked, did this mean that nobody really knew? She thought about this for a while and then said that there were different ways of knowing, and sometimes it was impossible to say which way was the most reliable.
What unscientific baloney.
There are many, many ways of believing, but there are actually very, very few ways of knowing, and precisely one of them is science, and it ONLY way of knowing the things within its magisteria. Scientists understand the difference between what they believe and what they know, and between what they know and what they hypothesize, and between what they hypothesize and what they theorize, and they understand varying degrees of certainty and degrees of probability. When two scientists disagree, it's not because they have competing methods of knowing the truth; it's because they have competing imperfect approximations of the truth. Either one or (almost always) both of them doesn't 100% know, but that doesn't mean they 100% don't know either. Scientists have to live in the gray area between knowing and not knowing, but should never wander into the realm of believing.
I'm not docking points for this paragraph, because it's not an important part of the book and I don't think the things characters say should necessarily be considered views of the author. I think it's important to mention, though, because this is a book about global warming, and Noria's mother's answer will likely be read as a commentary on science today. And it's nonsense.
For the first 200 pages, I was enjoying it quite a bit. The setting had some serious plausibility issues, but I was able to overlook them because I was engaged and curious about the world. Unfortunately in the latter half of the book, some things happened that started to really annoy me.
I see that this book is labeled "young adult" by some. I don't read much YA and it's never been clear to me what exactly makes a book "YA", but for the first half of the book I wasn't seeing it here. Now, I'm beginning to think "YA" actually means "young characters who act precisely as stupid as the plot requires of them at any given time".
After the protagonists start making bad decisions in order to carry the plot along, I lost my immersion in the story. When that happened, the problems with plausibility that I had ignored up to that point started to seem more and more ridiculous.
This is a 3-star book that should have been a 4-star book.
Now, for the spoilery rant:
Finally, Noria says about her mother's books:
Many of them spoke of temperatures and seasons and weather, drowned land and oceans that had pushed their shorelines inland, and all of them spoke of water, but the books didn't always agree on everything. I asked my mother once what this meant. She called herself a scientist. If scientists didn't agree with each other, I asked, did this mean that nobody really knew? She thought about this for a while and then said that there were different ways of knowing, and sometimes it was impossible to say which way was the most reliable.
What unscientific baloney.
There are many, many ways of believing, but there are actually very, very few ways of knowing, and precisely one of them is science, and it ONLY way of knowing the things within its magisteria. Scientists understand the difference between what they believe and what they know, and between what they know and what they hypothesize, and between what they hypothesize and what they theorize, and they understand varying degrees of certainty and degrees of probability. When two scientists disagree, it's not because they have competing methods of knowing the truth; it's because they have competing imperfect approximations of the truth. Either one or (almost always) both of them doesn't 100% know, but that doesn't mean they 100% don't know either. Scientists have to live in the gray area between knowing and not knowing, but should never wander into the realm of believing.
I'm not docking points for this paragraph, because it's not an important part of the book and I don't think the things characters say should necessarily be considered views of the author. I think it's important to mention, though, because this is a book about global warming, and Noria's mother's answer will likely be read as a commentary on science today. And it's nonsense.
February 27, 2017
"袣薪懈谐邪锟斤拷邪 薪邪 褔邪械薪懈褟 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉" 锌褉械写褋褌邪胁谢褟胁邪 芯褉懈谐懈薪邪谢薪邪 邪薪褌懈褍褌芯锌懈褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 锌褉械芯斜褉褗褖邪 锌芯胁械褔械褌芯 泻谢邪褋懈褔械褋泻懈 锌芯褏胁邪褌懈 薪邪 卸邪薪褉邪. 袠蟹锌褗谢薪械薪邪 械 褋 褉械褌褉芯褋锌械泻褑懈懈, 褋械褉懈芯蟹械薪 胁褗褌褉械褕械薪 屑芯薪芯谢芯谐 薪邪 谐谢邪胁薪邪褌邪 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 懈 邪泻芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褟 芯锌褉械写械谢褟 褋 械写薪邪 写褍屑邪, 褌褟 斜懈 斜懈谢邪 泻邪屑械褉薪邪.
小械褌懈薪谐褗褌 械 胁 斜褗写械褖械褌芯 斜械蟹 写邪 斜褗写械 褍褌芯褔薪械薪芯 褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯谐邪, 蟹械屑褟褌邪 械 锌褉械卸懈胁褟谢邪 锌褉懈褉芯写械薪 泻邪褌邪泻谢懈蟹褗屑, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 芯泻械邪薪懈褌械 褋邪 蟹邪谢械谢懈 褋褍褕邪褌邪, 邪 锌芯褋谢械 褋邪 锌褉械褋褗褏薪邪谢懈 懈 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 械 胁芯写懈谢芯 芯锌褍褋褌芯褕懈褌械谢薪懈 薪械褎褌械薪懈 胁芯泄薪懈. 袙芯写邪褌邪 胁械褔械 械 泻褉邪泄薪芯 薪械写芯褋褌邪褌褗褔薪邪 懈 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪褌邪 胁 褋泻褗锌芯褑械薪械薪 褉械褋褍褉褋 锌芯写 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢邪 薪邪 邪褉屑懈褟褌邪. 袚谢邪胁薪邪褌邪 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 袧芯褉懈褟 械 写褗褖械褉褟 薪邪 褔邪械薪 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈 褌褉邪写懈褑懈懈褌械 胁 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 写邪 褍褋胁芯懈 褌褗薪泻芯褋褌懈褌械 薪邪 褔邪械薪邪褌邪 褑械褉械屑芯薪懈褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 褋械 懈蟹锌褗谢薪褟胁邪 蟹邪 屑邪谢褑懈薪邪 懈蟹斜褉邪薪懈 胁褗锌褉械泻懈 谐谢芯斜邪谢薪懈褟 薪械写芯褋褌懈谐 薪邪 胁芯写邪.
袠 褌褍泻 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔胁邪褌 锌褉懈谢懈泻懈褌械 褋 褌懈锌懈褔薪懈褌械 邪薪褌懈褍褌芯锌懈褔薪懈 泻薪懈谐懈. 袙 薪懈泻邪泻褗胁 褋谢褍褔邪泄 薪械 芯褔邪泻胁邪泄褌械 写懈薪邪屑懈褔薪芯 写械泄褋褌胁懈械, 褌械卸泻懈 褋斜谢褗褋褗褑懈 懈谢懈 屑邪褖邪斜械薪 谐褉邪写械卸 薪邪 锌芯褋褌邪锌芯泻邪谢懈锌褌懈褔薪懈褟 褋胁褟褌. 袗褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 械 褌懈褏邪, 胁谐谢褗斜械薪邪, 薪褟泻邪泻褋懈 屑薪芯谐芯 褋泻邪薪写懈薪邪胁褋泻邪. 袚械褉芯懈褌械 褋褗褖芯 褋邪 褋褉邪胁薪懈褌械谢薪芯 屑邪谢泻芯, 邪 懈 褌邪泻邪 斜懈 褌褉褟斜胁邪谢芯 写邪 斜褗写械, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 薪邪 褋泻褉芯屑薪懈褌械 250 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 写褉褍谐芯 斜懈 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪谢芯 锌褉械褌褉褍锌邪薪芯. 袨褌泻褉芯胁械薪芯 泻邪蟹邪薪芯 薪械 褋褗屑 褔械谢邪 薪懈褖芯 锌芯写芯斜薪芯, 邪 懈屑邪屑 薪械屑邪谢褗泻 芯锌懈褌 褋 邪薪褌懈褍褌芯锌懈懈褌械.
袗泻芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋褉邪胁薪褟 褋 薪械褖芯 褑褟谢芯褋褌薪芯褌芯 褍褋械褖邪薪械 芯褌 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 褌芯 斜懈 斜懈谢芯 褋 褌芯胁邪 薪邪 褟锌芯薪褋泻邪褌邪 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 懈 胁 褔邪褋褌薪芯褋褌 褋 胁谐谢褗斜械薪懈褌械, 懈薪褌褉芯胁械褉褌薪懈 褋胁械褌芯胁械 薪邪 袦褍褉邪泻邪屑懈. 袧械 谐芯 锌褉懈械屑邪泄褌械 泻邪褌芯 斜褍泻胁邪谢薪芯 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈械, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 写褍褕械胁薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 褌械泻褋褌邪 蟹邪 屑械薪 械 斜谢懈蟹泻邪 写芯 褌邪蟹懈 薪邪 褟锌芯薪褋泻懈褟 锌懈褋邪褌械谢. 笑械谢懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 褋械 褉邪蟹谐褉褗褖邪 斜邪胁薪芯, 懈蟹褟褖薪芯 懈 锌谢邪胁薪芯 泻邪褌芯 泻谢邪褋懈褔械褋泻邪褌邪 褔邪械薪邪 褑械褉械屑芯薪懈褟. 袠 邪泻芯 薪械 褋褌械 谐芯褌芯胁懈 写邪 锌芯褌褗薪械褌械 胁 薪械褟 懈谢懈 懈褋泻邪褌械 写邪 锌褉械锌褍褋泻邪褌械 胁 薪褟泻邪泻胁芯 写懈胁芯 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈械 懈蟹 懈蟹褋褗褏薪邪谢懈褌械 蟹械屑懈 薪邪 斜褗写械褖械褌芯, 褌芯胁邪 薪械 械 胁邪褕械褌芯 褔械褌懈胁芯.
袥懈褔薪芯 邪蟹 褏邪褉械褋胁邪屑 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯胁械褔械 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻芯褌芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械 (A Memory of Water) 懈 泻芯褉懈褑邪, 薪邪 泻芯褟褌芯 械 懈蟹芯斜褉邪蟹械薪 褋懈薪懈褟褌 泻褉褗谐, 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 胁邪卸械薪 胁 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌邪 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪. 小屑褟褌邪屑 褔械 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻邪褌邪 泻芯褉懈褑邪 蟹邪 褋褗卸邪谢械薪懈械 褖械 写芯锌褉懈薪械褋械 "袣薪懈谐邪褌邪 薪邪 褔邪械薪懈褟 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉" 写邪 薪械 褋褌邪薪械 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪邪 褍 薪邪褋.
小械褌懈薪谐褗褌 械 胁 斜褗写械褖械褌芯 斜械蟹 写邪 斜褗写械 褍褌芯褔薪械薪芯 褌芯褔薪芯 泻芯谐邪, 蟹械屑褟褌邪 械 锌褉械卸懈胁褟谢邪 锌褉懈褉芯写械薪 泻邪褌邪泻谢懈蟹褗屑, 胁 泻芯泄褌芯 芯泻械邪薪懈褌械 褋邪 蟹邪谢械谢懈 褋褍褕邪褌邪, 邪 锌芯褋谢械 褋邪 锌褉械褋褗褏薪邪谢懈 懈 褔芯胁械褔械褋褌胁芯褌芯 械 胁芯写懈谢芯 芯锌褍褋褌芯褕懈褌械谢薪懈 薪械褎褌械薪懈 胁芯泄薪懈. 袙芯写邪褌邪 胁械褔械 械 泻褉邪泄薪芯 薪械写芯褋褌邪褌褗褔薪邪 懈 锌褉械胁褗褉薪邪褌邪 胁 褋泻褗锌芯褑械薪械薪 褉械褋褍褉褋 锌芯写 泻芯薪褌褉芯谢邪 薪邪 邪褉屑懈褟褌邪. 袚谢邪胁薪邪褌邪 谐械褉芯懈薪褟 袧芯褉懈褟 械 写褗褖械褉褟 薪邪 褔邪械薪 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉, 泻芯褟褌芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 锌褉芯写褗谢卸懈 褌褉邪写懈褑懈懈褌械 胁 褋械屑械泄褋褌胁芯褌芯 懈 写邪 褍褋胁芯懈 褌褗薪泻芯褋褌懈褌械 薪邪 褔邪械薪邪褌邪 褑械褉械屑芯薪懈褟, 泻芯褟褌芯 锌褉芯写褗谢卸邪胁邪 写邪 褋械 懈蟹锌褗谢薪褟胁邪 蟹邪 屑邪谢褑懈薪邪 懈蟹斜褉邪薪懈 胁褗锌褉械泻懈 谐谢芯斜邪谢薪懈褟 薪械写芯褋褌懈谐 薪邪 胁芯写邪.
袠 褌褍泻 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔胁邪褌 锌褉懈谢懈泻懈褌械 褋 褌懈锌懈褔薪懈褌械 邪薪褌懈褍褌芯锌懈褔薪懈 泻薪懈谐懈. 袙 薪懈泻邪泻褗胁 褋谢褍褔邪泄 薪械 芯褔邪泻胁邪泄褌械 写懈薪邪屑懈褔薪芯 写械泄褋褌胁懈械, 褌械卸泻懈 褋斜谢褗褋褗褑懈 懈谢懈 屑邪褖邪斜械薪 谐褉邪写械卸 薪邪 锌芯褋褌邪锌芯泻邪谢懈锌褌懈褔薪懈褟 褋胁褟褌. 袗褌屑芯褋褎械褉邪褌邪 械 褌懈褏邪, 胁谐谢褗斜械薪邪, 薪褟泻邪泻褋懈 屑薪芯谐芯 褋泻邪薪写懈薪邪胁褋泻邪. 袚械褉芯懈褌械 褋褗褖芯 褋邪 褋褉邪胁薪懈褌械谢薪芯 屑邪谢泻芯, 邪 懈 褌邪泻邪 斜懈 褌褉褟斜胁邪谢芯 写邪 斜褗写械, 蟹邪褖芯褌芯 薪邪 褋泻褉芯屑薪懈褌械 250 褋褌褉邪薪懈褑懈 胁褋懈褔泻芯 写褉褍谐芯 斜懈 懈蟹谐谢械卸写邪谢芯 锌褉械褌褉褍锌邪薪芯. 袨褌泻褉芯胁械薪芯 泻邪蟹邪薪芯 薪械 褋褗屑 褔械谢邪 薪懈褖芯 锌芯写芯斜薪芯, 邪 懈屑邪屑 薪械屑邪谢褗泻 芯锌懈褌 褋 邪薪褌懈褍褌芯锌懈懈褌械.
袗泻芯 褌褉褟斜胁邪 写邪 褋褉邪胁薪褟 褋 薪械褖芯 褑褟谢芯褋褌薪芯褌芯 褍褋械褖邪薪械 芯褌 锌褉芯褔懈褌邪 薪邪 泻薪懈谐邪褌邪, 褌芯 斜懈 斜懈谢芯 褋 褌芯胁邪 薪邪 褟锌芯薪褋泻邪褌邪 谢懈褌械褉邪褌褍褉邪 懈 胁 褔邪褋褌薪芯褋褌 褋 胁谐谢褗斜械薪懈褌械, 懈薪褌褉芯胁械褉褌薪懈 褋胁械褌芯胁械 薪邪 袦褍褉邪泻邪屑懈. 袧械 谐芯 锌褉懈械屑邪泄褌械 泻邪褌芯 斜褍泻胁邪谢薪芯 褋褉邪胁薪械薪懈械, 锌褉芯褋褌芯 写褍褕械胁薪芯褋褌褌邪 薪邪 褌械泻褋褌邪 蟹邪 屑械薪 械 斜谢懈蟹泻邪 写芯 褌邪蟹懈 薪邪 褟锌芯薪褋泻懈褟 锌懈褋邪褌械谢. 笑械谢懈褟褌 褉芯屑邪薪 褋械 褉邪蟹谐褉褗褖邪 斜邪胁薪芯, 懈蟹褟褖薪芯 懈 锌谢邪胁薪芯 泻邪褌芯 泻谢邪褋懈褔械褋泻邪褌邪 褔邪械薪邪 褑械褉械屑芯薪懈褟. 袠 邪泻芯 薪械 褋褌械 谐芯褌芯胁懈 写邪 锌芯褌褗薪械褌械 胁 薪械褟 懈谢懈 懈褋泻邪褌械 写邪 锌褉械锌褍褋泻邪褌械 胁 薪褟泻邪泻胁芯 写懈胁芯 锌褉懈泻谢褞褔械薪懈械 懈蟹 懈蟹褋褗褏薪邪谢懈褌械 蟹械屑懈 薪邪 斜褗写械褖械褌芯, 褌芯胁邪 薪械 械 胁邪褕械褌芯 褔械褌懈胁芯.
袥懈褔薪芯 邪蟹 褏邪褉械褋胁邪屑 屑薪芯谐芯 锌芯胁械褔械 邪薪谐谢懈泄褋泻芯褌芯 蟹邪谐谢邪胁懈械 (A Memory of Water) 懈 泻芯褉懈褑邪, 薪邪 泻芯褟褌芯 械 懈蟹芯斜褉邪蟹械薪 褋懈薪懈褟褌 泻褉褗谐, 懈蟹泻谢褞褔懈褌械谢薪芯 胁邪卸械薪 胁 泻芯薪褌械泻褋褌邪 薪邪 褉芯屑邪薪邪. 小屑褟褌邪屑 褔械 斜褗谢谐邪褉褋泻邪褌邪 泻芯褉懈褑邪 蟹邪 褋褗卸邪谢械薪懈械 褖械 写芯锌褉懈薪械褋械 "袣薪懈谐邪褌邪 薪邪 褔邪械薪懈褟 屑邪泄褋褌芯褉" 写邪 薪械 褋褌邪薪械 芯褋芯斜械薪芯 锌芯锌褍谢褟褉薪邪 褍 薪邪褋.
April 24, 2020
弄dens ir viena no liel膩kaj膩m m奴su m膩jas Zemes d膩van膩m mums visiem, par br墨vu. Bet cilv膿ki pa拧i ar savu r墨c墨bu laika gait膩 拧o d膩vanu un privil膿模iju ir izkrop募oju拧i.
Somu autore 拧aj膩 virzien膩 ir g膩jusi v膿l t膩l膩k - vi艈as pied膩v膩taj膩 (ne)t膩laj膩 n膩kotn膿 t墨ra dzeram膩 sald奴dens dabiska ieguve tikpat k膩 jau vairs nav iesp膿jama un ir liels retums.
Man bija gr奴ti ielas墨ties 拧膩d膩 pasaul膿, kur b奴t墨b膩 ir 墨stenojies viens no visslikt膩kajiem pasaules scen膩rijiem, kur Eiropas gaismu neso拧膩s civiliz膩cijas v膿rt墨bas ir zaud膿ju拧as 膧zijai, noticis savstarp膿js rietumu un austrumu trad墨ciju neizprotams sajaukums, turkl膩t tas viss milit膩r膩s diktat奴ras un re啪墨ma apst膩k募os, kas b奴t墨b膩 jau ir l膿nas beigas visam ... Man to bija gr奴ti pie艈emt, lai gan j膩atz墨st - somu ciema iedz墨vot膩ji, protams, rais墨ja simp膩tijas un vi艈u neapskau啪am膩 st膩vok募a l墨dzju拧anu.
Zil膩 ap募a k膩 simbola izv膿le (gan tekst膩, gan uz v膩ka) - manupr膩t, 募oti veiksm墨ga un ieder墨ga jeb sav膩 墨staj膩 viet膩.
Nu, ko - atliek tikai godam nov膿rt膿t, cik mums 拧eit - dz墨vojo拧ajiem Latvij膩 - ir 募oti paveicies, ka t墨ra sald奴dens ieguves probl膿ma nav aktu膩lajos jaut膩jumos, ...jo citur t膩 jau ir realit膩te.
Somu autore 拧aj膩 virzien膩 ir g膩jusi v膿l t膩l膩k - vi艈as pied膩v膩taj膩 (ne)t膩laj膩 n膩kotn膿 t墨ra dzeram膩 sald奴dens dabiska ieguve tikpat k膩 jau vairs nav iesp膿jama un ir liels retums.
Man bija gr奴ti ielas墨ties 拧膩d膩 pasaul膿, kur b奴t墨b膩 ir 墨stenojies viens no visslikt膩kajiem pasaules scen膩rijiem, kur Eiropas gaismu neso拧膩s civiliz膩cijas v膿rt墨bas ir zaud膿ju拧as 膧zijai, noticis savstarp膿js rietumu un austrumu trad墨ciju neizprotams sajaukums, turkl膩t tas viss milit膩r膩s diktat奴ras un re啪墨ma apst膩k募os, kas b奴t墨b膩 jau ir l膿nas beigas visam ... Man to bija gr奴ti pie艈emt, lai gan j膩atz墨st - somu ciema iedz墨vot膩ji, protams, rais墨ja simp膩tijas un vi艈u neapskau啪am膩 st膩vok募a l墨dzju拧anu.
Zil膩 ap募a k膩 simbola izv膿le (gan tekst膩, gan uz v膩ka) - manupr膩t, 募oti veiksm墨ga un ieder墨ga jeb sav膩 墨staj膩 viet膩.
Nu, ko - atliek tikai godam nov膿rt膿t, cik mums 拧eit - dz墨vojo拧ajiem Latvij膩 - ir 募oti paveicies, ka t墨ra sald奴dens ieguves probl膿ma nav aktu膩lajos jaut膩jumos, ...jo citur t膩 jau ir realit膩te.
October 31, 2015
丨乇丕爻 丕賱賲丕亍
賮賷 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 賲馗賱賲 賵鬲爻賵丿賴 丕賱廿囟胤乇丕亘丕鬲 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賮賳賱賳丿賷丞 丕賷賲賷 丕賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 .
賮賷 夭賲賳 丕爻鬲賳夭賮鬲 賮賷賴 孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱兀乇囟 賵丕賳丿孬乇鬲 丕賱丨囟丕乇丞 賵鬲賱丕卮鬲 丕賱丨丿賵丿 : 賮賱丕 賵噩賵丿 賱賱丿賵賱 亘丕賱卮賰賱 丕賱賲鬲毓丕乇賮 毓賱賷賴 賵賱丕 丕賱孬賯丕賮丕鬲 賵賱丕 賱賱鬲賰賳賵賱賵噩賷丕 貙 賵毓丕丿賻 丕賱亘卮乇 廿賱賶 丕賱賳賯胤丞 氐賮乇貙 廿賱賶 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱爻賱賲 .
賵丕爻鬲亘丿賱鬲 丨乇賵亘 丕賱賳賮胤 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿丞 亘丨乇賵亘 丕賱賲賷丕賴.
賮賭 丕賱賲丕亍 毓氐亘 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賴賵 亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱 貙 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱匕賷 賷爻賷胤乇 毓賱賷賴 丕賱賳馗丕賲 丨賷孬 賷氐乇賮 亘丨氐氐 賯賱賷賱丞 賱兀賮乇丕丿 丕賱卮毓亘 貙 匕賱賰 賱賳丿乇丞 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱氐丕賱丨 賱賱卮乇亘 .
賵丕毓鬲丕丿 丕賱噩賲賷毓 毓賱賶 爻賲丕毓 " 賲噩乇賲賵 賲賷丕賴" 賵賴賵 賲丕 賷胤賱賯 毓賱賶 兀賵賱卅賰 丕賱匕賷賳 賷賳鬲賴賰賵賳 丕賱賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱禺丕氐丞 亘丨氐氐 丕賱賲賷丕賴 .
亘胤賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賳賵乇賷丕 丕亘賳丞 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 賵賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 兀爻鬲丕匕丞 噩丕賲毓賷丞
( 賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 毓丕丿丞 氐賷賳賷丞 睾丕乇賯丞 賮賷 丕賱賯丿賲 貙賵鬲禺鬲氐 亘毓丕丿丕鬲 氐賳毓 丕賱卮丕賷 賵鬲賯丿賷賲賴 )
丨丕賱賷丕賸 兀氐亘丨鬲 賴賷 丕賱兀禺乇賶 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 : 賵賰賱 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 賷丨鬲賮馗 亘賭 爻乇 賲鬲賵丕乇孬 賲賳
丕賱賲毓賱賲 賱鬲賱賲賷匕賴 貙 賵賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 賷毓鬲亘乇賵賳 兀賳賮爻賴賲 丨賲丕丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賵丨乇丕爻賴 .
賳賵乇賷丕 乇賮賯丞 氐丿賷賯鬲賴丕 爻丕賳賷丕 : 鬲賰鬲卮賮丕賳 兀爻乇丕乇丕賸 賯丿 鬲丨賱 賱睾夭 "賰賷賮賻 賵氐賱賻 毓丕賱賲賳丕 廿賱賶 賴賳丕責 賲丕 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 丨賯丕賸責" 貙 兀噩賵亘丞 賱賭 兀爻卅賱丞 鬲購賳爻賶 兀賳 鬲爻兀賱 賮賷 禺囟賲 丕賱禺賵賮 賵丕賱賷兀爻 .
賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 賵賵氐賮 毓丕丿丕鬲賴賲 貙 兀囟丕賮 兀氐丕賱丞 賵卮丕毓乇賷丞 賱賱噩賵 丕賱毓丕賲 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 .
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘卮賰賱 噩賷丿 貙 丿賷爻鬲賵亘賷丕 賲馗賱賲丞 亘賭 賳賴丕賷丞 囟毓賷賮丞 賵亘賲孬丕亘丞 賳匕賷乇 賲賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 賷爻賵丿賴 丕賱毓胤卮 賵丕賱毓丿賲 .
兀乇噩賵 兀賳 鬲鬲乇噩賲 兀毓賲丕賱 兀禺乇賶 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賷賲賷 丕賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 .
賮賷 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 賲馗賱賲 賵鬲爻賵丿賴 丕賱廿囟胤乇丕亘丕鬲 鬲丿賵乇 兀丨丿丕孬 乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱賮賳賱賳丿賷丞 丕賷賲賷 丕賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 .
賮賷 夭賲賳 丕爻鬲賳夭賮鬲 賮賷賴 孬乇賵丕鬲 丕賱兀乇囟 賵丕賳丿孬乇鬲 丕賱丨囟丕乇丞 賵鬲賱丕卮鬲 丕賱丨丿賵丿 : 賮賱丕 賵噩賵丿 賱賱丿賵賱 亘丕賱卮賰賱 丕賱賲鬲毓丕乇賮 毓賱賷賴 賵賱丕 丕賱孬賯丕賮丕鬲 賵賱丕 賱賱鬲賰賳賵賱賵噩賷丕 貙 賵毓丕丿賻 丕賱亘卮乇 廿賱賶 丕賱賳賯胤丞 氐賮乇貙 廿賱賶 亘丿丕賷丞 丕賱爻賱賲 .
賵丕爻鬲亘丿賱鬲 丨乇賵亘 丕賱賳賮胤 丕賱賲毓鬲丕丿丞 亘丨乇賵亘 丕賱賲賷丕賴.
賮賭 丕賱賲丕亍 毓氐亘 丕賱丨賷丕丞 賴賵 亘胤賱 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 丕賱兀賵賱 貙 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱匕賷 賷爻賷胤乇 毓賱賷賴 丕賱賳馗丕賲 丨賷孬 賷氐乇賮 亘丨氐氐 賯賱賷賱丞 賱兀賮乇丕丿 丕賱卮毓亘 貙 匕賱賰 賱賳丿乇丞 丕賱賲丕亍 丕賱氐丕賱丨 賱賱卮乇亘 .
賵丕毓鬲丕丿 丕賱噩賲賷毓 毓賱賶 爻賲丕毓 " 賲噩乇賲賵 賲賷丕賴" 賵賴賵 賲丕 賷胤賱賯 毓賱賶 兀賵賱卅賰 丕賱匕賷賳 賷賳鬲賴賰賵賳 丕賱賯賵丕賳賷賳 丕賱禺丕氐丞 亘丨氐氐 丕賱賲賷丕賴 .
亘胤賱丞 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賳賵乇賷丕 丕亘賳丞 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 賵賵丕賱丿鬲賴丕 兀爻鬲丕匕丞 噩丕賲毓賷丞
( 賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 毓丕丿丞 氐賷賳賷丞 睾丕乇賯丞 賮賷 丕賱賯丿賲 貙賵鬲禺鬲氐 亘毓丕丿丕鬲 氐賳毓 丕賱卮丕賷 賵鬲賯丿賷賲賴 )
丨丕賱賷丕賸 兀氐亘丨鬲 賴賷 丕賱兀禺乇賶 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 : 賵賰賱 賲毓賱賲 卮丕賷 賷丨鬲賮馗 亘賭 爻乇 賲鬲賵丕乇孬 賲賳
丕賱賲毓賱賲 賱鬲賱賲賷匕賴 貙 賵賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 賷毓鬲亘乇賵賳 兀賳賮爻賴賲 丨賲丕丞 丕賱賲丕亍 賵丨乇丕爻賴 .
賳賵乇賷丕 乇賮賯丞 氐丿賷賯鬲賴丕 爻丕賳賷丕 : 鬲賰鬲卮賮丕賳 兀爻乇丕乇丕賸 賯丿 鬲丨賱 賱睾夭 "賰賷賮賻 賵氐賱賻 毓丕賱賲賳丕 廿賱賶 賴賳丕責 賲丕 丕賱匕賷 丨丿孬 丨賯丕賸責" 貙 兀噩賵亘丞 賱賭 兀爻卅賱丞 鬲購賳爻賶 兀賳 鬲爻兀賱 賮賷 禺囟賲 丕賱禺賵賮 賵丕賱賷兀爻 .
賲毓賱賲賵 丕賱卮丕賷 賵賵氐賮 毓丕丿丕鬲賴賲 貙 兀囟丕賮 兀氐丕賱丞 賵卮丕毓乇賷丞 賱賱噩賵 丕賱毓丕賲 賱賱乇賵丕賷丞 .
丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 賲賰鬲賵亘丞 亘卮賰賱 噩賷丿 貙 丿賷爻鬲賵亘賷丕 賲馗賱賲丞 亘賭 賳賴丕賷丞 囟毓賷賮丞 賵亘賲孬丕亘丞 賳匕賷乇 賲賳 賲爻鬲賯亘賱 賷爻賵丿賴 丕賱毓胤卮 賵丕賱毓丿賲 .
兀乇噩賵 兀賳 鬲鬲乇噩賲 兀毓賲丕賱 兀禺乇賶 賱賱賰丕鬲亘丞 丕賷賲賷 丕賷鬲賵乇丕賳鬲丕 .
September 24, 2017
Hieno kirja: mielenkiintoinen tarina ja upeaa kielt盲. Vaikka tarina ja kieli olivat 盲盲rimm盲isen nautittavia, samalla ahdistuin lukemastani todella paljon. T盲m盲 tulevaisuus voi olla yksi mahdollinen, enk盲 ikin盲 tahtoisi kenenk盲盲n joutua kokemaan sit盲.
October 22, 2022
This was lovely. A dystopian clifi that mirrored the discrimination to access to natural resources to the holocaust. Was it heavyhanded? Yes. Was it beautiful? Also yes.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The prose. Slow and beautiful.
-The contemplation of the past. Thoughtful and layered.
-The friendship. It's so rare to see platonic love as the mover in a story. Here it is!
Things that detracted for me:
-The tea bit. The central element has tea ceremonies as a venerated thing, which is true in some present day cultures. However, it didn't seem to be part of the daily life of townfolks, and it used a LOT of scarce resources. I didn't understand how this fit in with the story when it seemed anathema to it. Again, I get that it was supposed to be about tradition and stewardship of resources, but it didn't contend with its own hypocrisy (in translation, anyway!) so I spent a lot of time wondering about this rather than following the story.
-The catalyst. I mean freakin' DUH. This was painful to watch because it would be foremost in the minds of the characters if it actually happened.
In the end I'm so glad to have read it, and the detractors are smaller than the benefits. Worth a read!
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-The prose. Slow and beautiful.
-The contemplation of the past. Thoughtful and layered.
-The friendship. It's so rare to see platonic love as the mover in a story. Here it is!
Things that detracted for me:
-The tea bit. The central element has tea ceremonies as a venerated thing, which is true in some present day cultures. However, it didn't seem to be part of the daily life of townfolks, and it used a LOT of scarce resources. I didn't understand how this fit in with the story when it seemed anathema to it. Again, I get that it was supposed to be about tradition and stewardship of resources, but it didn't contend with its own hypocrisy (in translation, anyway!) so I spent a lot of time wondering about this rather than following the story.
-The catalyst. I mean freakin' DUH. This was painful to watch because it would be foremost in the minds of the characters if it actually happened.
In the end I'm so glad to have read it, and the detractors are smaller than the benefits. Worth a read!
April 26, 2015
Teemestarin kirja on hieno, vakava romaani. Oloni on nyt jotenkin harras ja hiljainen. En tied盲, mit盲 sanoisin, miten sanoisin.
Se on ainakin varmaa, ett盲 ajattelen vett盲 useammin kuin aikaisemmin.
Se on ainakin varmaa, ett盲 ajattelen vett盲 useammin kuin aikaisemmin.
July 27, 2017
A fairly quick read, not sure how to rate it yet. I mostly liked the writing but found descriptions a little confusing sometimes, and my attention wandered occasionally.
July 22, 2019
4.5猸�
賳馗乇丞 爻丕丨乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱. 丿賷爻鬲賵亘賷丕 賴丕丿卅丞 噩丿賸丕
丕禺鬲賮丕亍 丕賱賲丕亍 賵賯賷丕賲 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賱兀噩賱賴 亘丿賱賸丕 賲賳 丕賱賳賮胤 賴丕噩爻賷 丕賱兀賰亘乇貙 賲賳 賷鬲禺賷賱 兀賳 鬲睾賷囟 丕賱賷賳丕亘賷毓 賷賵賲賸丕貙 兀賵貙 兀賵 鬲賯賮乇 丕賱兀乇丕囟賷 賵丕賱賳禺賷賱 丕賱匕賷 毓賱賶 丕賱卮胤丌賳責
賷禺鬲賮賷 丕賱賲丕亍貙 賮鬲賳賮賯 丕賱兀爻賲丕賰貙 賵鬲賲賵鬲 丕賱兀毓卮丕亘 賵丕賱兀卮噩丕乇貙 賵鬲鬲卮乇丿 丕賱丨賷賵丕賳丕鬲 賵鬲賲賵鬲. 丕禺鬲賮丕亍 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩乇 賵乇丕卅賴 爻賱爻賱丞 賲賳 丕賱丕禺鬲賮丕亍丕鬲 賵丕賱賲賵鬲 鬲賳鬲賴賷 亘丕賳鬲賴丕亍 丕賱丨賷丕丞 亘亘爻丕胤丞.
毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賱丿賶 廿賳爻丕賳 賲賳丕 氐丕賱丞 賰亘賷乇丞 賲賱賷卅丞 毓賳 丌禺乇賴丕 亘丕賱匕賴亘 賵丕賱丨賱賶貙 賱丕 鬲鬲爻毓 賱賱賴賵丕亍 丨鬲賶貙 賱賳 賷賱鬲賮鬲 賱賱毓賲賱丕鬲 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲丿丨乇噩 禺丕乇噩丞 賰賱賲丕 賮鬲丨 丕賱亘丕亘.
丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 兀賳賳丕 賳噩毓賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賲賰丕賳賸丕 兀爻賵兀 卮賷卅賸丕 賮卮賷卅賸丕貙 亘賰賱 兀賳丕賳賷丞貙 賳毓丕賲賱 賳毓賲 丕賱賱賴 丕賱賵丕賮乇丞 賰兀賳賴丕 丨賯 賲爻鬲丨賯貙 賱丕 鬲賮乇賷胤 賮賷賴貙 賵賱丕 丨賯 賱兀丨丿 亘賵囟毓 丨丿賵丿 賱賴貙 賵賱賷爻 賲賳 賵丕噩亘賳丕 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 賮賷 睾賷乇賳丕 賲賲賳 爻賷賱丨賯賵賳 亘賳丕 兀賵 丨鬲賶 賲賲賳 賲毓賳丕 賮賷 丕賱丌賳 賮賷 亘賱丕丿 兀賯氐賶 兀丨賱丕賲賴丕 亘卅乇 賲丕亍 賳馗賷賮貙 賱賷爻 賴匕丕 賲賳 卮兀賳賳丕. 廿賳 乇卮丿賳丕 賳丨賳 丕賱丕爻鬲賴賱丕賰 賮毓卮乇丕鬲 睾賷乇賳丕 爻賷賴丿乇賵賳 賲丕 賰丕賳 亘廿賲賰丕賳賳丕 廿賴丿丕乇賴. 賱賷爻 賮賷賴賲 賲丨鬲丕噩 賵丕丨丿 賲賲賳 鬲賳丕卮丿賵賳 廿賳氐丕賮賴賲. 爻賷丕賳.
"賱丕 噩丿賵賶 賲賳 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 亘賴賲貙 賳賵乇賷丕貙 賴賲 賱賲 賷賮賰乇賵丕 亘賳丕貙 兀賷囟賸丕"
賮賱爻賮丞 丕賱卮丕賷 丕賱乇丕卅賯丞 丕賳睾賲爻鬲 賮賷賴丕 噩丿賸丕貙 禺氐賵氐賸丕 兀賳賴 賲卮乇賵亘賷 丕賱爻丕禺賳 丕賱賲賮囟賱貙 爻賵丕亍 丕賱卮丕賷 丕賱兀丨賲乇 兀賵 丕賱兀禺囟乇貙 賲毓 丕賱賳毓賳丕毓 亘丕賱胤亘毓. 賴匕丕 丕賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲 亘丕賱卮丕賷 賵毓丕丿丕鬲 卮乇亘賴 鬲乇賲夭 賮賷 賳馗乇賷 廿賱賶 亘賯丕亍 丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿貙 賵丕賱賯賷賲貙 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 鬲禺鬲賮賷 賵丕賱毓丕賱賲 賷鬲睾賷乇貙 賱賰賳 胤賯賵爻賳丕 賵丨囟丕乇丕鬲賳丕 賵兀丿賷丕賳賳丕 賵毓丕丿丕鬲賳丕 賱丕 賷噩亘 兀賳 鬲鬲睾賷乇貙 丕禺鬲賮丕丐賴丕 兀賵 鬲睾賷乇賴丕 賷毓賳賷 賵賯賵毓 賲氐賷亘丞貙 丕賳賴賷丕乇 卮賷亍 毓馗賷賲貙 丕賳賰爻丕乇 卮賷亍 賲丕 賮賷 賳賮賵爻賳丕.
乇賵丕賷丞 丨賷賻賾丞 賵賲賳毓卮丞 噩丿賸丕. 噩毓賱鬲賳賷 賱賷賵賲賷賳 兀卮乇亘 丕賱賲丕亍 亘亘胤卅貙 賵兀丨丕賵賱 丕賱鬲賱匕匕 亘胤毓賲賴 丕賱毓匕亘 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷匕賵亘 賮賷 噩賵賮賷. 賷噩亘 兀賳 兀丨鬲賮賷 亘賰賱 賰賵亘 賲丕亍 兀卮乇亘賴 賰賲丕 兀丨鬲賮賷 亘賰賵亘 毓氐賷乇 賲孬賱噩 賮賷 賷賵賲 丨丕乇賺 賰賴匕賴 丕賱兀賷丕賲.
丕賱卮丕賷 兀賷囟賸丕 囟乇賵乇賷 賱丕賰鬲賲丕賱 丕賱賲鬲毓丞.
賱賵 賵氐賮鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘卮賷亍 丨賯賷賯賷貙 爻賷賰賵賳 氐賵鬲 氐賮賷乇 丕賱乇賷丕丨 賵賴賷 鬲丨鬲賰 亘丕賱兀睾氐丕賳貙 賲孬丕賱賷丞 噩丿賸丕 賱丕爻鬲毓丕丿丞 丕賱賴丿賵亍 賮賷 丨囟乇丞 丕賱賲兀爻丕丞.
賳馗乇丞 爻丕丨乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱賲爻鬲賯亘賱. 丿賷爻鬲賵亘賷丕 賴丕丿卅丞 噩丿賸丕
丕禺鬲賮丕亍 丕賱賲丕亍 賵賯賷丕賲 丕賱丨乇賵亘 賱兀噩賱賴 亘丿賱賸丕 賲賳 丕賱賳賮胤 賴丕噩爻賷 丕賱兀賰亘乇貙 賲賳 賷鬲禺賷賱 兀賳 鬲睾賷囟 丕賱賷賳丕亘賷毓 賷賵賲賸丕貙 兀賵貙 兀賵 鬲賯賮乇 丕賱兀乇丕囟賷 賵丕賱賳禺賷賱 丕賱匕賷 毓賱賶 丕賱卮胤丌賳責
賷禺鬲賮賷 丕賱賲丕亍貙 賮鬲賳賮賯 丕賱兀爻賲丕賰貙 賵鬲賲賵鬲 丕賱兀毓卮丕亘 賵丕賱兀卮噩丕乇貙 賵鬲鬲卮乇丿 丕賱丨賷賵丕賳丕鬲 賵鬲賲賵鬲. 丕禺鬲賮丕亍 丕賱賲丕亍 賷噩乇 賵乇丕卅賴 爻賱爻賱丞 賲賳 丕賱丕禺鬲賮丕亍丕鬲 賵丕賱賲賵鬲 鬲賳鬲賴賷 亘丕賳鬲賴丕亍 丕賱丨賷丕丞 亘亘爻丕胤丞.
毓賳丿賲丕 賷賰賵賳 賱丿賶 廿賳爻丕賳 賲賳丕 氐丕賱丞 賰亘賷乇丞 賲賱賷卅丞 毓賳 丌禺乇賴丕 亘丕賱匕賴亘 賵丕賱丨賱賶貙 賱丕 鬲鬲爻毓 賱賱賴賵丕亍 丨鬲賶貙 賱賳 賷賱鬲賮鬲 賱賱毓賲賱丕鬲 丕賱亘爻賷胤丞 丕賱鬲賷 鬲鬲丿丨乇噩 禺丕乇噩丞 賰賱賲丕 賮鬲丨 丕賱亘丕亘.
丕賱丨賯賷賯丞 兀賳賳丕 賳噩毓賱 丕賱毓丕賱賲 賲賰丕賳賸丕 兀爻賵兀 卮賷卅賸丕 賮卮賷卅賸丕貙 亘賰賱 兀賳丕賳賷丞貙 賳毓丕賲賱 賳毓賲 丕賱賱賴 丕賱賵丕賮乇丞 賰兀賳賴丕 丨賯 賲爻鬲丨賯貙 賱丕 鬲賮乇賷胤 賮賷賴貙 賵賱丕 丨賯 賱兀丨丿 亘賵囟毓 丨丿賵丿 賱賴貙 賵賱賷爻 賲賳 賵丕噩亘賳丕 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 賮賷 睾賷乇賳丕 賲賲賳 爻賷賱丨賯賵賳 亘賳丕 兀賵 丨鬲賶 賲賲賳 賲毓賳丕 賮賷 丕賱丌賳 賮賷 亘賱丕丿 兀賯氐賶 兀丨賱丕賲賴丕 亘卅乇 賲丕亍 賳馗賷賮貙 賱賷爻 賴匕丕 賲賳 卮兀賳賳丕. 廿賳 乇卮丿賳丕 賳丨賳 丕賱丕爻鬲賴賱丕賰 賮毓卮乇丕鬲 睾賷乇賳丕 爻賷賴丿乇賵賳 賲丕 賰丕賳 亘廿賲賰丕賳賳丕 廿賴丿丕乇賴. 賱賷爻 賮賷賴賲 賲丨鬲丕噩 賵丕丨丿 賲賲賳 鬲賳丕卮丿賵賳 廿賳氐丕賮賴賲. 爻賷丕賳.
"賱丕 噩丿賵賶 賲賳 丕賱鬲賮賰賷乇 亘賴賲貙 賳賵乇賷丕貙 賴賲 賱賲 賷賮賰乇賵丕 亘賳丕貙 兀賷囟賸丕"
賮賱爻賮丞 丕賱卮丕賷 丕賱乇丕卅賯丞 丕賳睾賲爻鬲 賮賷賴丕 噩丿賸丕貙 禺氐賵氐賸丕 兀賳賴 賲卮乇賵亘賷 丕賱爻丕禺賳 丕賱賲賮囟賱貙 爻賵丕亍 丕賱卮丕賷 丕賱兀丨賲乇 兀賵 丕賱兀禺囟乇貙 賲毓 丕賱賳毓賳丕毓 亘丕賱胤亘毓. 賴匕丕 丕賱丕賴鬲賲丕賲 亘丕賱卮丕賷 賵毓丕丿丕鬲 卮乇亘賴 鬲乇賲夭 賮賷 賳馗乇賷 廿賱賶 亘賯丕亍 丕賱鬲賯丕賱賷丿貙 賵丕賱賯賷賲貙 丕賱兀卮賷丕亍 鬲禺鬲賮賷 賵丕賱毓丕賱賲 賷鬲睾賷乇貙 賱賰賳 胤賯賵爻賳丕 賵丨囟丕乇丕鬲賳丕 賵兀丿賷丕賳賳丕 賵毓丕丿丕鬲賳丕 賱丕 賷噩亘 兀賳 鬲鬲睾賷乇貙 丕禺鬲賮丕丐賴丕 兀賵 鬲睾賷乇賴丕 賷毓賳賷 賵賯賵毓 賲氐賷亘丞貙 丕賳賴賷丕乇 卮賷亍 毓馗賷賲貙 丕賳賰爻丕乇 卮賷亍 賲丕 賮賷 賳賮賵爻賳丕.
乇賵丕賷丞 丨賷賻賾丞 賵賲賳毓卮丞 噩丿賸丕. 噩毓賱鬲賳賷 賱賷賵賲賷賳 兀卮乇亘 丕賱賲丕亍 亘亘胤卅貙 賵兀丨丕賵賱 丕賱鬲賱匕匕 亘胤毓賲賴 丕賱毓匕亘 賯亘賱 兀賳 賷匕賵亘 賮賷 噩賵賮賷. 賷噩亘 兀賳 兀丨鬲賮賷 亘賰賱 賰賵亘 賲丕亍 兀卮乇亘賴 賰賲丕 兀丨鬲賮賷 亘賰賵亘 毓氐賷乇 賲孬賱噩 賮賷 賷賵賲 丨丕乇賺 賰賴匕賴 丕賱兀賷丕賲.
丕賱卮丕賷 兀賷囟賸丕 囟乇賵乇賷 賱丕賰鬲賲丕賱 丕賱賲鬲毓丞.
賱賵 賵氐賮鬲 賴匕賴 丕賱乇賵丕賷丞 亘卮賷亍 丨賯賷賯賷貙 爻賷賰賵賳 氐賵鬲 氐賮賷乇 丕賱乇賷丕丨 賵賴賷 鬲丨鬲賰 亘丕賱兀睾氐丕賳貙 賲孬丕賱賷丞 噩丿賸丕 賱丕爻鬲毓丕丿丞 丕賱賴丿賵亍 賮賷 丨囟乇丞 丕賱賲兀爻丕丞.
January 29, 2015
This is a lovely, lyrical novel. It takes place long after a water shortage. The reader doesn't see the wars or the chaos, just the new world that has emerged. The traditions and cultures that underpin the new society are at once recognizable and new. The main characters are capable and inquisitive teenagers who never act more heroic than is believable. I loved that the author didn't ever pander to the tropes of current teen lit. There's connection and conflict between characters, but no boy to moon over. There's nothing staged either: no Lottery, no Games, no test that everyone must pass. Just people trying to figure out how to live their lives. Even the antagonists are given complexity and nuance. And I'll return again to the language, which was absolutely delicious.
"鈥 looked anyway, and wished I hadn't. That was what we did nowadays: tried to avert our gaze from the things that were happening, and failed, and then tried to live on as if we had not seen them. All the while those things stayed with us, made their home under our skin, in the thrumming, dark-red space of the chest, their unbending slivers scratching the soft, wet heart. When I walked on the streets, I could see people carrying these sights within: buried, but not deep enough not to cast an afterthought across their faces, altering them as a slow shift in light."
This will definitely be one of my Norton nominees.
"鈥 looked anyway, and wished I hadn't. That was what we did nowadays: tried to avert our gaze from the things that were happening, and failed, and then tried to live on as if we had not seen them. All the while those things stayed with us, made their home under our skin, in the thrumming, dark-red space of the chest, their unbending slivers scratching the soft, wet heart. When I walked on the streets, I could see people carrying these sights within: buried, but not deep enough not to cast an afterthought across their faces, altering them as a slow shift in light."
This will definitely be one of my Norton nominees.
September 13, 2012
Emmi It盲rannan "Teemestarin kirja" (Teos, 2012) on hieno esikoisteos dystopisesta tulevaisuuden yhteiskunnasta, jossa ihmiskunta on onnistunut sotien ja kuluttaen suistamaan itsens盲 tuhon partaalle, ja jossa sotilashallinto pit盲盲 ihmisi盲 tiukasti otteessaan. Suurin pula on puhtaasta vedest盲, ja tilanteen muuttuessa pahemmaksi joutuu vuosisatoja kest盲nytt盲 teeseremoniaa yll盲pit盲v盲 Noria p盲盲tt盲m盲盲n mit盲 tehd盲 salaisuudelle, jonka is盲 on h盲nelle uskonut.
Emmi It盲ranta kirjoittaa harvinaisen kauniisti, vaikka h盲nen tulevaisuudenvisionsa onkin hyyt盲v盲. "Teemestarin kirjassa" ei selitet盲 asioita puhki, mutta siit盲 huolimatta - tai ehk盲 siit盲 johtuen - romaanissa kuvattu maailma tuntuu uskottavalta. Yhteiskuntakriittisi盲 teemojakaan ei alleviivata tarpeettomasti, vaan asia tulee selv盲ksi hienovaraisemmallakin volyymilla.
L盲ht枚kohtaisesti kirja on kai suunnattu aikuisille, mutta kyll盲p盲 t盲t盲 kelpaisi lukiolaisille ja fiksummille yl盲koululaisillekin suositella.
Emmi It盲ranta kirjoittaa harvinaisen kauniisti, vaikka h盲nen tulevaisuudenvisionsa onkin hyyt盲v盲. "Teemestarin kirjassa" ei selitet盲 asioita puhki, mutta siit盲 huolimatta - tai ehk盲 siit盲 johtuen - romaanissa kuvattu maailma tuntuu uskottavalta. Yhteiskuntakriittisi盲 teemojakaan ei alleviivata tarpeettomasti, vaan asia tulee selv盲ksi hienovaraisemmallakin volyymilla.
L盲ht枚kohtaisesti kirja on kai suunnattu aikuisille, mutta kyll盲p盲 t盲t盲 kelpaisi lukiolaisille ja fiksummille yl盲koululaisillekin suositella.
July 24, 2021
It's more of a 3.7 star book for me. It's very intruiging and interesting book. But very calm in its story telling, never really dramatic even though its setting and topics discussed. I can't decide if the pace was perfect for the book or if I wanted more speed or similar. But I enjoyed it nevertheless
May 8, 2017
3,5 zvaigznes. P膩rsteidzo拧i lirisks fantastikas rom膩ns. Ar墨 beigas drusku sav膩d膩kas k膩 ierasts.
Piln膩 atsauksme:
Piln膩 atsauksme:
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