Samuel R. Delany

This is a very good novel. It is more of a character study of someone who is an unreliable narrator of their own life convincing themself they are one way when people around them perceive them very differently. Triton is billed as an interplanetary war but really this is the background that enables Delaney to construct a particular kind of utopia to contrast it somewhat with Earth. But more than that it enables Delaney to consider how someone can be so dissatisfied with their life despite living in a utopia. How many of us are like that in the developed world who have all of their creature comforts yet are still dissatisfied with their lives? There are two appendices at the end of the story which provide a sort of commentary or context. In the first Delaney problematizes science fiction and makes the case that cataloguing a novel as such should not box it in as dealing only with science or technology. It is more obtuse than that but that is what I got from the first appendix. The 2nd appendix, I am really not sure about in that it comments on one of millions of people that died as a casualty in the interplanetary war.

But then, I think there was much more in this novel that went over my head. I wouldn’t be surprised if after thinking about it some more I come back to this review and increase its rating from 3.5 to 4 or 4.5 stars. It was interesting and thought provoking.… (meer)

Distant Stars was an unexpected surprise. It has been awhile since I’ve seen or read a new YA Christian contemporary so I was super excited to start this one.
Of course, the first thing I noticed was the cover, and wow. It is eye-catching and perfectly showed the mood of the story.
This book is not realistic, BUT it was so entertaining that I did not care. I was flipping pages as fast as I could and ended up reading it in one sitting. The characters really grew as the book progressed and I was especially please with Will’s character arc.
One thing that I liked was that this book does not have a perfect ending. Yes, the characters all experienced growth, however, a relationship was not the magic fix to life’s problems, and they were still working through issues.
I appreciated how faith was woven throughout the whole story and remained a central part of the plot.

5 Stars

Content: (past) abusive father, kidnapping, gunshot wound, lots of ogling, kissing, death of sibling

Note: This book straddles the line between YA and NA but remains appropriate for 15 (characters aged 18-20 and already graduated school)

*I received a copy of this book from the author. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.… (meer)