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11 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Are we critical enough? · 1 reply · +2 points

I think there's a difference between people who are doing the reviews for themselves/friends, and those who are aiming for a wider audiences and actually giving insight into the book. So I don't mind snark, sometimes - in fact there are some gif-laden reviews that I've thought were very funny. But then I'm not the author... :)

In terms of your own critique, I wouldn't have thought that you were pulling punches. There's a difference between a reserved review - that points out some issues but doesn't spend 1000 words explaining why it's eeeevil - and one that doesn't both to mention problems, or worse whitewashes them. Me, I'm with Maree - I don't tend to write reviews of unenjoyable books because I don't finish them (...or start them). Which I'm sure makes me sound like a gushing fangirl who is completely star-eyed, but that's the price I pay for enjoying my reading (ok, mostly).
My recent post Galactic Suburbia 89

12 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - The Subjects – a... · 0 replies · +1 points

mmmm sleeeeep. I am unwilling to do much that takes away sleep. Except for getting up at 3am to travel to Abu Simbel... but that was exceptional :D
My recent post Request for comment: review books

12 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - The Subjects – a... · 1 reply · +2 points

This may be one of the crazier experiments I've heard of recently, and I'll be fascinated by the outcomes... and it surprises me not a whit to learn that Sean is taking part in it :)

12 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Adventures of a Bookon... · 1 reply · +2 points

I loooove Helen's book - thanks for getting her to talk about it. I too could listen to her all day...

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Endings and Beginnings · 1 reply · +1 points

Relief teaching must be the pits. It's bad enough to take an extra in a school where you work but the kids don't know you. Sympathies extended!

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Book Review–Exis... · 1 reply · +2 points

Pretty close to my own experience, there. I don't WANT this to be what we mean when we say science fiction, though! There are ways of doing an ensemble and even a big messy plot that still manage to be engaging - even enthralling - rather than this... full of loose ends.

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Continuum 8 There and ... · 1 reply · +2 points

Oh yes - the food at the Greek place wasn't overwhelming, but they were certainly at least moderately accommodating, for which I am thankful... the not getting orders right was a bit sad.

I read the first half of Song of Earth and got irritated by its depiction of the church, and the fact that she didn't really even bother to hide what she was doing. Have no intention of going back :)

You own points on why the concentration on Christianity are spot on, and relate I think to Mondy's question about why there are no/few orthodox Jews in space. Also, Christianity's perceived history of connection to colonialism and oppression also helps to make it an easy target.

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Continuum 8 There and ... · 1 reply · +1 points

As an evangelical (Bible reading/believing, with all the usual caveats about understanding that there are different genres within it), I do absolutely believe that Christianity has at its core a solid cohesion: it's Christ as Son, sent by the Father to be fully human and God, to save humans from their sins. However, at the same time I know sinful humanity has splintered in its understanding of that, and how it is/can/should be lived out. That said, I don't think that misrepresentations of Christianity can overall be taken as an attack on all of Christianity. I think sometimes it's an attack on Catholicism, as still the most obvious representatives of Christianity to many non-Christians (the number of times I've had to explain Christian/Catholic/Protestant to teenagers is amazing) and also the most obvious group from history, and sadly in the modern media. As much as there is a lack of Jews in space, to use Mondy's phrase, you don't often find Anglicans in space either! I think sometimes 'Christian' is sometimes used as a placeholder for 'religious', too, particularly by white Western authors who would feel uncomfortable about attacking 'superstition' via Islam or Judaism for (rightful) fear of judgement.

Wasn't The Moat and the Greek brilliant?? (well, the company anyway)

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Continuum 8 There and ... · 1 reply · +2 points

Pretty sure there are few bellies as big as I saw that night on the Melbourne football team. At least, there ought not to be.

13 years ago @ http://bookonaut.blogs... - Continuum 8–Ther... · 1 reply · +2 points

As a resident I like Myki, but as a resident I am also in despair at the shortsightedness that seems to have accompanied phasing out paper met cards full stop. Anyway - glad the first day was basically a good one!

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