Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
This is very clearly one of those its not you, its me situations. Bacigalupi is a great writer. He can come up with a unique dystopian premise, lay it out in all its entirety, and still proceed to shock readers with the depth of emotions he can conjure up for the characters and their predicaments. A less squeamish reader would probably appreciate the brilliance and magnitude of this impressive story. But I squirm over stories about featuring war, violence, and heartless characters.
It is an intriguing feature of Ship Breaker, and now THE DROWNED CITIES, that I don't think readers are ever supposed to like the main characters very much. They're not lovable: a hard childhood has taught Mahlia to be humorless and untrusting, while Mouse, in comparison, is scrawny and cowardly. I guess we're supposed to empathize with the characters and their predicament: they are once-innocent victims of a depraved, dangerous, and corrupt society turned not-so-innocent from the hardships of life. But, as much as I admire Bacigalupi for what he's done, not yielding to literary conventions of having sympathetic main characters, well... that is a literary convention that I like in my books.
THE DROWNED CITIES moves at a slow pace, but is mesmerizing in terms of how it imagines the future. Unlike the majority of YA dystopias published these days, Bacigalupi's vision of the future unsettles and upsets me precisely because it forces us to admit that there are a lot of things wrong in our current world that could very well make the future what Bacigalupi imagines.
Is THE DROWNED CITIES amazing? Yes. Should people read it as an example of what a dystopian should be like, as well as to reflect on the many things we should address in our world in order to prevent such a future from happening? Yes. Did I like it? Not quite. But it's one of those cases where that's okay.
It is an intriguing feature of Ship Breaker, and now THE DROWNED CITIES, that I don't think readers are ever supposed to like the main characters very much. They're not lovable: a hard childhood has taught Mahlia to be humorless and untrusting, while Mouse, in comparison, is scrawny and cowardly. I guess we're supposed to empathize with the characters and their predicament: they are once-innocent victims of a depraved, dangerous, and corrupt society turned not-so-innocent from the hardships of life. But, as much as I admire Bacigalupi for what he's done, not yielding to literary conventions of having sympathetic main characters, well... that is a literary convention that I like in my books.
THE DROWNED CITIES moves at a slow pace, but is mesmerizing in terms of how it imagines the future. Unlike the majority of YA dystopias published these days, Bacigalupi's vision of the future unsettles and upsets me precisely because it forces us to admit that there are a lot of things wrong in our current world that could very well make the future what Bacigalupi imagines.
Is THE DROWNED CITIES amazing? Yes. Should people read it as an example of what a dystopian should be like, as well as to reflect on the many things we should address in our world in order to prevent such a future from happening? Yes. Did I like it? Not quite. But it's one of those cases where that's okay.
This is the sequel to Ship Breaker, its set in the same world as Ship Breaker but with different main characters. I didnt like this book quite as much as Ship Breaker...it was just too bleak and I had trouble engaging with the characters.
Mahlia and Mouse have fled the war torn Drowned Cities and live in a small town in the outskirts of a jungle. Mahlia works in the town helping the doctor there and does well, despite her lack of a hand. Mahlia dreams of a day when she will be able to escape these outskirts of the Drowned Cities and head North. When a dog man draws soldiers near their small town their lives change forever.
This book is set in an extremely bleak post-apocalyptic setting on the East Coast of the US. There are little hints throughout that eventually let the reader figure out what portion of the US this book is set in.
The is an incredibly violent and incredibly depressing read. So if you are offended by graphic torture and violence I recommend steering clear. It is even more violent and depressing than Ship Beaker was.
That being said it does a pretty darn good job of portraying the suffering of people living within a long and constant war. As to whether or not this is appropriate for young adults...I think it is okay but beware that the graphic violence in this book makes The Hunger Games look like a Disney Fairy Tale.
I had trouble relating to any of the characters. None of them are good and all of them make a large series of poor decisions. They are very human, but I mostly despised them. All of them kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Mahlia comes off as incredibly selfish throughout. Mouse and others are incredibly naive despite their violent upbringing.
The most intriguing of the bunch is Tool, the dog-faced man. Tool is complex and simple at the same time; he is a tool of war yet he follows simple philosophies that make a surprising amount of sense. He was pretty much the only part of this book I found intriguing and enjoyable.
The world-building is absolutely fantastic. If you have read The Windup Girl or Ship Breaker, you know that this world is absolutely incredibly creative. The number one strength of this book is this fantastic, dreary world that Bacigalupi has created. The book is fast-paced and fairly engaging.
Overall this is a decent story. I just had trouble maintaining a lot of interest in these brutalized characters and I found the level of violence and bleak outlook depressing. Bacigalupi always has to take things just a bit too far for me, and it takes away a lot of the enjoyment of reading the story for me. I guess I would tentatively recommend to those who are interested in absolutely brutal post-apocalyptic reads of war torn lands.
Mahlia and Mouse have fled the war torn Drowned Cities and live in a small town in the outskirts of a jungle. Mahlia works in the town helping the doctor there and does well, despite her lack of a hand. Mahlia dreams of a day when she will be able to escape these outskirts of the Drowned Cities and head North. When a dog man draws soldiers near their small town their lives change forever.
This book is set in an extremely bleak post-apocalyptic setting on the East Coast of the US. There are little hints throughout that eventually let the reader figure out what portion of the US this book is set in.
The is an incredibly violent and incredibly depressing read. So if you are offended by graphic torture and violence I recommend steering clear. It is even more violent and depressing than Ship Beaker was.
That being said it does a pretty darn good job of portraying the suffering of people living within a long and constant war. As to whether or not this is appropriate for young adults...I think it is okay but beware that the graphic violence in this book makes The Hunger Games look like a Disney Fairy Tale.
I had trouble relating to any of the characters. None of them are good and all of them make a large series of poor decisions. They are very human, but I mostly despised them. All of them kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. Mahlia comes off as incredibly selfish throughout. Mouse and others are incredibly naive despite their violent upbringing.
The most intriguing of the bunch is Tool, the dog-faced man. Tool is complex and simple at the same time; he is a tool of war yet he follows simple philosophies that make a surprising amount of sense. He was pretty much the only part of this book I found intriguing and enjoyable.
The world-building is absolutely fantastic. If you have read The Windup Girl or Ship Breaker, you know that this world is absolutely incredibly creative. The number one strength of this book is this fantastic, dreary world that Bacigalupi has created. The book is fast-paced and fairly engaging.
Overall this is a decent story. I just had trouble maintaining a lot of interest in these brutalized characters and I found the level of violence and bleak outlook depressing. Bacigalupi always has to take things just a bit too far for me, and it takes away a lot of the enjoyment of reading the story for me. I guess I would tentatively recommend to those who are interested in absolutely brutal post-apocalyptic reads of war torn lands.
In a dark time beyond today violence, terror, and grief touch everyone in America. Mahlia and Mouse left the war-torn Drowned Cities and escaped into the jungle. When they find a wounded half-man named Tool hunted by soldiers their safety fades. The soldiers catch one while the other must decide whether to vanish or risk all to save a friend. These key characters become a team. Tool is a genetically engineered soldier who is created with animal parts and human DNA making him almost unbeatable. Mahlia and Mouse are the children of a war where the soldiers are children themselves, brainwashed to seek cruelty and violence. If not, they become victims, too.
The novel seems like a futuristic/dystopian novel in which one encounters war and more war that threatens the characters, forces them forward, and challenges them to make difficult decisions. The details are at times horrific and like much what has occurred and is happening in our world today. Who suffers most - probably the children. Mahlia is a victim having only a stump of her right arm because it was severed by cruel soldiers.
The novel could be a look at our own future where natural resources are scarce, global warming causes climate change and the world endures extensive flooding. In this plot the US is torn by civil war. China emerges as a peacemaking power. Genetically enhanced individuals serve wealthy patrons for war combat and sexual services alike.
The author describes the failure of peacekeeping attempts and the effects of civil war. What should one do? Fight to survive at any cost, ignore it or try to escape. Like many other readers I think the message is what happens to children in war. Victims or soldiers, the will survive. How can we forget the tragedy that during war children are forced into a life of fear and how will it affect their future.
The novel seems like a futuristic/dystopian novel in which one encounters war and more war that threatens the characters, forces them forward, and challenges them to make difficult decisions. The details are at times horrific and like much what has occurred and is happening in our world today. Who suffers most - probably the children. Mahlia is a victim having only a stump of her right arm because it was severed by cruel soldiers.
The novel could be a look at our own future where natural resources are scarce, global warming causes climate change and the world endures extensive flooding. In this plot the US is torn by civil war. China emerges as a peacemaking power. Genetically enhanced individuals serve wealthy patrons for war combat and sexual services alike.
The author describes the failure of peacekeeping attempts and the effects of civil war. What should one do? Fight to survive at any cost, ignore it or try to escape. Like many other readers I think the message is what happens to children in war. Victims or soldiers, the will survive. How can we forget the tragedy that during war children are forced into a life of fear and how will it affect their future.
Kristin K. (escapeartistk) -
Having read and enjoyed 'The Wind-up Girl' and (really enjoyed) 'Ship Breaker' by the same author, I was very disappointed in 'The Drowned Cities,' particularly since I read it precisely because its a companion to 'Ship Breaker.' However, besides the drowned cities connection (which was referenced but not elaborated in 'Ship Breaker'), the similarity pretty much ends. Even though Tool, a lesser character from 'Ship Breaker,' becomes a significant character in 'The Drowned Cities,' the characterization is different, such that Tool comes off less humane and sympathetic in the latter. What really dragged the story down for me, though, was the lack of story: Bacigalupis protagonist spends much of the book in redundant deliberations over her ethical dilemmas, which creates the effect of overt moralizing on the authors part. Similar issues were crafted much more deftly in the first book.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Drowned Cities (Ship Breaker, Bk 2) on + 1714 more book reviews
This was fast paced from the beginning to the end. You are introduced to new main characters and have a one from Ship Breakers-Tool.
This story gives a different angle on the world and how the cities are in ruin and at war with the different groups struggling for power.
Shows the loyalty and love people can have for each other despite the classes and circumstances they are in.
Great read, looking forward to #3
This story gives a different angle on the world and how the cities are in ruin and at war with the different groups struggling for power.
Shows the loyalty and love people can have for each other despite the classes and circumstances they are in.
Great read, looking forward to #3
Kristin K. (escapeartistk) -
"Having read and enjoyed 'The Wind-up Girl' and (really enjoyed) 'Ship Breaker' by the same author, I was very disappointed in 'The Drowned Cities,' particularly since I read it precisely because it's a companion to 'Ship Breaker.' However, besides the "drowned cities" connection (which was referenced but not elaborated in 'Ship Breaker'), the similarity pretty much ends. Even though Tool, a lesser character from 'Ship Breaker,' becomes a significant character in 'The Drowned Cities,' the characterization is different, such that Tool comes off less humane and sympathetic in the latter. What really dragged the story down for me, though, was the lack of story: Bacigalupi's protagonist spends much of the book in redundant deliberations over her ethical dilemmas, which creates the effect of overt moralizing on the author's part. Similar issues were crafted much more deftly in the first book."
