Ecofiction Roundup no. 1: Flight

Hello, friends, it's been a while! While I was living in Peru for six months, I let this dear blog fall by the wayside. Again. I have since started up a new blog, Enough, and the following is cross-posted there. But never fear! I plan to continue publishing bookish things and poetry here.

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Recently, I discovered the genre of "ecofiction," and I've been wanting to shout the titles I've read from the rooftops, because they are simultaneously terrifying and inspiring. Ecofiction ranges from contemporary fiction to sci-fi but with environmental or nature-oriented themes. Although the name may sound new, the idea is not - if you've read anything by Barbara Kingsolver, you've read ecofiction.

As I began compiling titles for this Ecofiction Roundup, I began to notice a theme: flight. Whether they're attached to bees or dragons, these books all have wings.

Flight Behavior | Barbara Kingsolver

One of Kingsolver's many excellent novels, this book contains themes of relationships, conservation, nature, science, rural communities, and church. Nothing has an easy answer, and no one is perfect - life is complex and messy. Everyone has a story. Everything is connected.

The Crows of Beara | Julie Christine Johnson

This contemporary novel contains beautiful Irish landscapes, refreshingly believable characters, and a poetic story. It is a narrative of both people and place, and I love the relationships, the struggles, and the openness to the voice of the land.

The History of Bees | Maja Lunde

Three very different stories, ranging from historical fiction to dystopia, weave together beautifully by the end in barely more than subtle ways. The suggested possibilities are horrifyingly realistic, and yet hope has a place as well. This is a beautiful tale of bees, family, and humanity.

The Dragon Quartet | Marjorie B. Kellogg

This fantasy/sci-fi crossover is both entertaining and relevant. It has compelling characters, interesting cultures and landscapes, a brilliant weaving together of times and places, and settings eerily parallel to our own. And dragons, of course!

Where to Buy

Interested in reading any (or all!) of these wonderful books? Here are a few suggestions of where to find them:

1. The library

2. A local bookstore

3. A big box bookstore (think Barnes & Noble)

4. Better World Books

5. Alibris

Like this post?

Read more about sustainable and ethical living on my new blog, Enough!

Worlds Beneath {blog tour + giveaway!}

I read K. A. Emmons' first book, The Blood Race, after winning it in a giveaway last year, and it was amazing. So naturally, when asked if I would participate in the blog tour for Worlds Beneath, I enthusiastically signed up! Read on for my thoughts on this powerful sequel, followed by a chance to win your own paperback copy of The Blood Race (believe me, this is a journey you want to take).

I used to think that seeing was believing, but now, as I struggle to stay alive below the ravine, I begin to realize that - good or bad - I will see whatever I believe.

“Who are you, Icarus, that the earth opens its mouth to receive your blood?” Sensei’s words were my last thoughts before I fell into the bottomless ravine, plunging toward my own death, and bringing about Hawk’s at the same time. Or so I thought.

I woke up underwater. I awoke in a strange and unfamiliar world, filled with maze-like forest, shadows, and nightmares seemingly as vivid and dangerous as reality. I had no idea who I was, or how I got there - I couldn’t remember anything, until I remembered her: Hawk. The other half of my soul. 
--from Goodreads

Book Review

In a word: powerful. Worlds Beneath picks up right where the first book left off, and it's at least as good - no "soggy middle syndrome" that many trilogies suffer from! It's a gripping, nail-biting story with beautiful prose. I found it to be rather unpredictable, like a puzzle that slowly, haltingly came together. Themes of faith, hope, and finding courage support a beautiful, subtle allegory that contrasts human nature with the seemingly upside-down love of God.

The plot is brilliantly woven and full of vibrant, real characters with wonderful depth and raw emotion. Amid the tense action, thought-provoking dialogue and text often had me slowing down to savor the book. The characters remain much the same as in the first novel, with Hawk still mysterious and yet familiar, though we are given a more complete backstory for some of them. I love it.

Powerful, gripping, thought-provoking, beautiful.

5/5 leaves

About the Author: K. A. Emmons

When she’s not hermiting away in her colorfully-painted home office writing her next science fiction, passionate story-teller and adventurer Kate Emmons is probably on the road for a surf or hiking trip, listening to vinyls, or going for a power run. Emmons’ debut novel The Blood Race is the first book in her YA science fiction/fantasy thriller series. Get connected with Kate on your favorite social platform, and be sure to check out kaemmons.com!

facebook | goodreads | instagram | twitter

Giveaway Time!

If you haven't yet read book one, The Blood Race, and would like a chance to win a paperback copy, enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below! Both books are also available for purchase at the following links: The Blood Race and Worlds Beneath.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to Livy for coordinating this awesome blog tour!

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

by Veronica Roth

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I just realized that I never actually posted this review that I wrote weeks ago, probably because it is sadly lacking in content. Nevertheless, I feel you must know how much I absolutely adore Veronica Roth in all her brilliance. Even though she made me cry.

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from the back cover
The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered--fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature--and of herself--while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

my rating

my review
This is by far the best conclusion to a book series that I have ever read--and I do not say that lightly. If you haven't already, go read Divergent and Insurgent so that you can read this masterpiece (and because they're just good books).

Honestly, I've just written and deleted three or four different sentences consecutively, so I'm going to give up on reviewing this book now (the best parts are the surprises, and I really don't want to spoil those for you). Which I hate to do, because I always ignore book reviews that don't give me a reason why the person liked the book so much. In light of this dilemma, if you are interested in more reasons to read this series than just my flailing recommendation, please take a look at my reviews for Divergent and Insurgent.

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth

from the cover

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

my rating

my review
This second novel was at least as good as the first, but with more character depth. The black-and-whiteness of Divergent became a muddled grey which, though it made my brain hurt, I loved.

"...our society is not divided into 'good' and 'bad.' Cruelty does not make a person dishonest, the same way bravery does not make a person kind. [This person] is not good or bad, but both."

One thing I disliked, though: Tobias and Tris have multiple melodramatic episodes throughout, which just seem awkwardly and immaturely handled. It almost seemed out of character at times.

the movie
IT WAS HORRID. They took all that was good in the book and did the opposite. Whereas Tris should have been struggling with grief and guilt to the point of not being able to touch a gun without going into shock, the movie Tris is a killing machine. Not to mention the entire plot was mutilated almost beyond recognition. I'm ok with a few changed and/or omitted details, but I can count on one hand the things the movie producers got right. If you still want to see Insurgent, wait a few months and rent it. It's not worth the cost of a movie ticket.

Divergent

by Veronica Roth

from goodreads
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. (Read the full description here.)

my rating

my review
This is one of those rare books that would keep me up reading all night except for that silly thing called "work" that requires waking fairly early each weekday morning.

I found Beatrice to be a well-developed, extremely relatable, and very realistic character, although the rest, including Four (to an extent), were unfortunately quite flat. Christina has the personality of every other YA or chick-flick best friend: quick wit, ready encouragement, a hint of independent thought... but not much else.

However, the premise of the book is fascinating. The factions in and of themselves are not an evil system (compared to your typical dystopian, anyway), and the government, rather than being an elite group, is comprised of members from the most selfless faction. And although the aptitude test offers a strong suggestion, people are ultimately free to choose which faction they belong to. Yes, the factionless are unjustly left without community, but not without jobs or or a caring source of aid. It's not a perfect system--I'm not saying I'd want to live there--but it's not exactly oppressive, either. (If you've read the book, feel free to argue with me here. I'm still figuring it out.)

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that Veronica Roth is a Christian author, and that does shine through not only in some of the themes, but also in that prayer is mentioned three times under three entirely different circumstances (not huge, I realize, but this book is geared towards a broad audience).

I love Beatrice's internal struggles and thought processes. For example: Dauntless, perhaps, was not always so bad, the initiation not always so brutal. In fact, their manifesto speaks of more nobel ideals. Perhaps they're not so different from Abnegation after all. Ethics have a place in this book; the necessity of violence is questioned rather than blindly accepted.

I like weak characters who find their strength without losing themselves. I like books with morals. I like tragic characters who rip my heart out, because it means that I have an attachment to the story and that the author is willing to lose some of the "good guys" because that's what happens. I like this book.

(Also, the only thing about the movie adaptation that made me angry is that they changed Tris' reaction to her final fear in the initiation simulation. Why did they do that. It was completely unnecessary. Why.)

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

by Suzanne Collins

This was definitely a re-read, but after seeing the movie I just had to drop everything else and rip through it again. Catching fire provides a wonderful follow-up to The Hunger Games, and despite being the second book in a trilogy it does not fully consist of fluff. In fact, there is no fluff.

The first two-thirds of the book overflows with glorious character development, though at the same time the plot continues to move forward at a comfortable pace and there is no time or reason to be bored. Warning: make sure you have a few spare consecutive hours before you begin part three in this book. It may be divided into chapters, but you won't even notice. It's full of action and some very intense scenes.

The ending. Oh my goodness the ending. "It won't be as bad, since I'm expecting it," I thought, "I've already read it once AND seen the movie." Nope. It's bad every time. The epitome of CLIFFHANGER (yes, in all caps). On the positive side, the third book has already been published--just make sure you have a copy handy before you finish Catching Fire.

Just a note about the movie, since some of you may be wondering. I loved it, my husband loved it and even my brother loved it (who is studying film and is a pretty reliable movie critic). Naturally, there were a few parts it left out that I wish it hadn't, but otherwise it stayed pretty true to the book. And the cinematography was sooo much better than in the first movie.

5/5 leaves