How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

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I had an amazing time reading a digital copy of the book. I was expecting something related to aliens, because there was mentions to it since the first chapter, but I never thought the "aliens" would end up being the creators of Earth itself, I really enjoyed that twist. I loved the connections throughout the chapters, it really helped visualize the world. I also really liked that we could basically read all chapters as separate stories and still get a full story and meaning behind each one.

What I loved most about the story was the "sense of impending doom" I felt while reading it, because this could actually happen to us, in the real world. Besides the defrosting, which is already a huge catastrophe, who knows what can be released when the ice starts melting? I am not saying I love catastrophes and the thought of humanity ending with a super virus!! But I love reading about stuff that we can still relate to (with all the science behind it) and not feel completely unrealistic, while still keeping an eerie and fantastical vibe.

I loved that it was out there but it wasn't so strange that it was hard for me to stay grounded in what the author was trying to put forward. I loved it even more as my version came with a sort of behind-the-scenes extract about what it was like writing this novel both pre-pandemic and during. Unfortunately for everyone this book is now on the list of books I might need to fight people if they trash it. This book is both tragic, hopeful, a rumination on capitalism, connections, traditions, grief, love and what it means to be human. It's so heavy and wonderful. It's a compassionate book. It took me so long to read this because I both needed time to compose myself and also because like a little rodent when I enjoy a book fully I eke out chapters as little treats so I can make it last longer.

The writing style took me just perfectly and the length of the stories were just right. The insights into the various characters in different points in time did not outstay their welcome, said what they wanted to put forward and moved forward. Finding out that the Grandmother in Grave Friends was the baby that was saved during Through The Garden Of Memory? GOD THE LITTLE CONNECTIONS GOT ME. And the way my skin tingled in the final chapter? I was worried admittedly that the origins of the virus would either A. be looked over and not acknowledged further or B. would sadly not be all the interesting outside of 'an alien I guess'. I'm so so happy I was wrong.

I can safely say that there was no chapter that I didn't enjoy but it's really difficult to pick my favourites. I loved how every character in the book is connected in some ways. I loved how the extra little sciency text made it feel like I'm a distant human after the whole pandemic and climate disasters and I just found an ancient journal. Honestly, I got a little lost and distracted when it was about the alien, outerspace part. One of my favourite stoies was the city of laughter for how much pain it caused me. I would imagine being able to let a person die humanely in a time where death is in every corner brought at least a second of peace to the victims and the families and friends. I also loved how the book shows various sides of the effect of the virus, especially in different industries. I think when they pointed out that funeral industries are thrivingin a time like this almost made it weird how we capitalise on death. Anyways, very nice read and very glad that I finally read it .I'm going to tentatively put forward: Pig Son, Speak, Fetch, Say I Love You, Melancholy Nights in a Tokyo Virtual Reality Café, Songs of Your Decay and The Scope of Possibility as my favourite chapters.

Overall what I appreciated most about this book though is how human the characters are. They all have flaws and a lot of them could be considered just flat out bad people but they're so much more nuanced than that and I love that in books. People and characters who are perfect or just straight good people are somewhat boring to me.

As you know, today is the Hive Powerup Day, and here's a screenshot of me powering up 64 Hive:

I joined Hive about a year ago, but only in the last two months, I've spent a lot of time here to grow my account by posting, commenting. Huge thanks everyone for helping to grow my account, I really appreciate it!