Reading "The City We Became" 🏙 || Reading Vlog

[@perpetualpages]

⚠️ CONTENT WARNINGS FOR TCWB: ⚠️ - Incurred bigotry and racism - Use of slurs by racist characters - Brief references to alchohlism - Brief references to parental manipulation

[@ShadeTreeReads]

100% agree with you on everything you said at 5:40 about the audiobook for this particular piece of Jemisin‘s work!

[@ShadeTreeReads]

16:50 💯💯 All facts

[@ShadeTreeReads]

I loved this review and this book! I can’t wait for the second installments of both!

[@perpetualpages]

The audiobook experience for this story is honestly never gonna leave me, it was so next level. I can't WAIT to see which cities NKJ brings into the mix in the next installment!!

[@RoganShannon13]

Thanks to this, I remembered that I'd put a hold on _How Long 'til Black Future Month?_ and went to check for how long until it was available. IT WAS READY TO BORROW YESSSS. (I fucked up and didn't have the notifications set up, so I could've been moved down to the bottom of the list.) Okay, back to the video!

[@RoganShannon13]

D a m n. I NEED TO READ THIS ASAP!! It looks aaaaamazing! I just checked my library, and there's already an approximately 14-week wait for the ebook 😩They have four copies, so hopefully people read and return before the due dates quickly! Orrrr I'll just buy it 👀

[@perpetualpages]

I fully support panic buying this book lol But omg yesss, I hope you enjoyed _How Long Til Black Future Month_ because it's truly an amazing collection!

[@RoganShannon13]

perpetualpages I did!! It really is amazing.

[@cassandre8503]

🏙️ Definitely wants to read it 🤩 Thank you for your video

[@perpetualpages]

Thank you for watching! I hope you get a chance to read it in the future 📚💕

[@cassandre8503]

@@perpetualpages Yes I do, I'm glad it has been translated in French few month ago! By the way, thanks for your works on this channel, I especially fell in love with NK Jemisin's books thanks to your advice 📚 ❤️ (sorry for my English ..) I wish you a beautiful day 🌞

[@emmakanne1760]

Thank you for such an amazing review!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

🏙🌃🌇 I just finished the book 30 minutes ago and was so happy I had this to watch cause my brain wasn’t ready to let it go yet. My thoughts are not cohesive yet but I loved it, specifically how vibrant the characters were and the balance of representing a neighborhood but also being themselves. Her storytelling speaks to me and I just loved every second I was reading this book ❤️

[@perpetualpages]

The characters are honestly THE BEST. So distinctive, so much heart, so many wonderful perspectives and energies. We do not deserve NKJ and all she gives to us on the daily!!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

perpetualpages I am so happy I randomly was looking at what book my friend read at board game night cause that is how I found The Fifth Season and a new favorite author ❤️

[@halimamuslimah]

Yay for NYC!

[@hyemiyah]

I love love love your reading vlogs. you're so articulate and so wise♡

[@perpetualpages]

Thank you so much! 📚💕

[@laisespacini9208]

your reading vlogs are always so superior 🏙

[@perpetualpages]

Awwww thank you! I enjoy making them when I can 😊📖💕

[@WhereintheworldisLeahJane]

I haven't binged videos on KZbin in a long while, but I'm on my fourth video from you. I love the way you analyze and talk about books, so succinct and incisive. Like, honestly, just brilliant and the time goes by so fast when I'm watching. I've yet to read The City We Became-- it's my reward for finishing a big work project-- but it doesn't surprise me at all that she would execute this idea with the complexity and nuance it deserves. Hearing you talk about it makes me even more excited to finally read it.

[@perpetualpages]

Aww thank you so much for saying that and for watching! I really hope you finish your project soon because the sumptuous feast that is this book and its prose will be thE BEST reward 📖💕📖💕📖

[@stace_d]

Awesome video. I can't wait to read this. Also, I love the way you speak

[@TheBoyWhoCriedBooks]

Omg cameo 😇 this book sounds wild, I’ll look into picking it up!!!

[@perpetualpages]

It really is in the best way!!! And I love our AC cameo 😘

[@jackyc6919]

I love the way you express yourself and really talk about every aspect of the book. Just bought the audiobook. It'll be my first N.K.Jemisin book so i'm excited.

[@perpetualpages]

I'm so excited for you!! I hope you enjoy the audio experience 📚💕

[@bethannebruninga-socolar]

I don't know how to get a city emoji on my laptop....I'm a failed millennial. :) But I loved your vlog/review - fantastic job and really excellent points. I just finished this book 11pm Monday night and couldn't sleep until after 2am because I was so wired. I NEED the next book!! Two points you made that I especially loved: 1) the people who are chosen as avatars have all already had to fight to survive, and come from lineages that have been doing that for centuries, and there's incredible power in that. 2) emotion and sense of self as having power, and the power of claiming your right to exist and belong (I think I might be combining two of your points here). For me, this book is like an anthem of 2020 in a way. In the story, we've got NYC struggling under the weight of a spreading, possibly uncontrollable contamination. Outside the story, we have a phenomenal book from a bestselling author punching through to the heart of some of our most pressing political issues (racism, anti-immigration, homophobia, transphobia, persecution of indigenous people).

[@Lilli626]

I really want to start reading N. K. Jeminsin's book but I'm not sure whether I should start with this one or the fifth season? After watching your review I can't decide 😆

[@perpetualpages]

There's no right or wrong answer, just depends on what you're in the mood for! If you want more high fantasy, then check out _The Fifth Season_ or if you feel like urban fantasy, check out _The City We Became_ ! I suggest reading the synopses for both and seeing which appeals to you most in the moment 😊

[@Lilli626]

@@perpetualpages ooo OK putting it thay way I think I will go with the fifth season for now. I just finished house of earth and blood so I want a change of pace vis-a-vis genres! Thank youuuu!

[@sirJenr]

Oh man this is great! And you got a signed copy!! I love all the themes that N.K Jemisin incorporates and explores in their stories. Honestly The City We Became sounds like it'd make a great TV show.

[@perpetualpages]

THIS!!!!! The whole time I was reading, no joke, I could see it playing out as a TV show in my mind. It's so episodic and action-packed, and Hollywood would be FOOLS not to make it. (And yet, we still don't have an NKJ adaptation, so they ARE indeed fools of the worst kind.)

[@sirJenr]

@@perpetualpages The fact there is no Broken Earth screen adaptation is crazy (but not surprising) to me. Here's hoping we get some visual NK Jemisin soon!

[@goddessdster]

🏙 I am halfway through!

[@perpetualpages]

I hope you enjoyed it!!

[@goddessdster]

@@perpetualpages I'm still working on it (about 100 pages from the end). I'm reading it slowly on purpose. Mostly because I know it will be another year at least before we get another Jemisin, but also because whenever inter-dimensional stuff is involved in a story, my brain tends to go pick flowers and I want to try to understand the concepts being introduced as much as possible. I'm loving it so much.

[@iamrainbou]

love this vlog so much!! i said in every single one of your blogs but like i love them all. i can’t wait to read this book! i just put on hold the audio for my library ☺️ 🏙

[@sgaston3969]

🗽I truly enjoyed your discussion of this novel, I finished reading it last week and like you was very satisfied with her storytelling 📚

[@perpetualpages]

N.K. Jemisin is truly second to none! I'm glad you enjoyed this one as well 📚💕

[@SageReads]

I CANNOT WAIT TO READ THIS

[@perpetualpages]

IT'S SO GOOD, SAGE. A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL OF JEMISIN GENIUS.

[@BeautifullyBookishBethany]

The Broken Earth Trilogy is one of my favorite series, but I've been a little apprehensive about how I would get on with this one because it's so different. I am now much more interested. Thank you for the great review!

[@perpetualpages]

I actually think it could work as a great starting point for new readers or readers who have only read one of her series! The unique magic system really invites you into the fold, and her love of New York City absolutely comes through 💕

[@ThatsSoPoe]

Yay!! I've been looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Really insightful analysis, as always. I also loved the way that each borough's power came from owning their own truth, and how diverse they were in terms of ages (I love getting middle aged & older female main characters, who so rarely get to be the heroes). The first 2/3 of the book was just fantastic and filled with so much excitement for me, but I did feel like the last third slowed down and got a bit bogged down with filling in info about the world (although, it's a super neat world). The ending was also a little more unresolved than I prefer given how long we're going to have to wait for the next books in the series to come out! I just hope it'll be soon. 🏙️

[@perpetualpages]

Ugh yes I don't even want to think about how long it will take for book two to a) be announced, b) be promoted, c) actually get released. I can't wait!! I need more magic cities now!

[@Tia_MB]

🌇🌆 I finished reading The City We Became a few days ago & I loved it!!! I am finished The Broken Earth Trilogy recently & N.K. Jemisin became my fave author! I am so excited for the rest of the Trilogy!! And I have the book tabbed just like yours!

[@perpetualpages]

Ugh I love that for you so much! Honestly, The Broken Earth trilogy on its own is enough to solidify NKJ as the actual best among us, but I'm glad you have more of her works to look forward to!!

[@knittingwhilewalking]

🏙 definitely interested in the audiobook for this now

[@perpetualpages]

Yes!! I support!

[@TheBookFinch]

I can't wait to inject this book into my eyeballs.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

The Book Finch thank you for suggesting this! I just finished and loved it and need this kind of content in my life after that ☺️

[@perpetualpages]

It's gonna be one hell of an injection, I'll tell ya that

[@TheBookFinch]

@@perpetualpages I just received my copy a couple days ago! Going to dedicate May for some Jemisin reading.

[@perpetualpages]

@@TheBookFinch what a good idea!!!!!!

[@BriMiKie]

I’ve only read the Hundred Thousand Kingdom trilogy and it’s exciting that I have so much more of her work to look forward to! 🚏🏢🏫🏥🗽

[@perpetualpages]

I love that for you!! You have so many exciting series ahead of you 📖💕

[@KappaBooks]

Im planning on making this my first NK Jemison after reading The City Born Great! As soon as my library gets it online, im reading it! 🏙🏙🏙

[@moonbook12]

I hope it will be soon 4 you

[@perpetualpages]

That's such a good idea and I fully support! I hope your library gets it in soon so you can enjoy 💕

[@dwan_herself]

🌃

[@JenniMReads]

🌇 I went ahead and bought the audiobook while watching this video.

[@perpetualpages]

We love a smart consumer!!

[@moonbook12]

I want to read N.K Jemisin, where should start reading books form? (I want to start with this one)

[@cecily5614]

You should probably start with her most popular series, The Broken Earth Trilogy. That's what I started when I first went through all her books! Sooo good!

[@moonbook12]

At 14:35 cute dog

[@perpetualpages]

Agreed! I started with THE FIFTH SEASON, then the Dreamblood Duology. But you can't go wrong with any of her books!

[@moonbook12]

🏗️🏙️🌆🌃🗽

[@moonbook12]

@@perpetualpages and Coco Cloud thanks:)

[@Laliejones]

🏙 My book just came in today! I'm trying to read it as soon as I'm done with City of Bones!

[@perpetualpages]

So glad to hear that! Hope you're able to read it soon 📚💕

[@Mmonday__yy]

Wow. The story sounds complicated. The ending is open but not cliffhanging? I hate that in a book with sequel lol. If it’s cliffhanging, i’m gonna wait.

[@perpetualpages]

It's really not that complicated! I never said it was a cliffhanger ending (which it isn't), just that NK Jemisin leaves some unanswered questions, which makes sense since this is the first book in a series 📚

[@Mmonday__yy]

perpetualpages thanks for ur prompt reply! I will definitely read it!

[@perpetualpages]

@@Mmonday__yy No problem! NK Jemisin's worldbuilding is effortless, so she definitely takes care to guide the reader through the story. It has the ideal ending IMO where you get issues from book 1 resolved with a clear opening for book 2, so I wouldn't want anyone to miss out on it!

[@chance757]

i really wanted to get into one of nk’s books but i wasn’t sure where to start. i’d finally settled on ‘the hundred thousand kingdoms’ but now you’ve got me backtracking lol. would you say her latest book is the way to go? also, is the book from all 6 of the avatar’s povs? loved this reading vlog!!

[@perpetualpages]

Yes, all six avatars have POV chapters! Honestly you can't go wrong with any of her books. I started with The Fifth Season, then the Dreamblood duology, then her debut trilogy, but they're all phenomenal. Since this world stands on its own, you could even start with this latest book if you wanted! It just depends on what kind of story you're in the mood for. So I'd say read all her synopses and see which series interests you most!

[@chance757]

@perpetualpages thank you!!

[@firewhiskeyreader8257]

I have the audiobook and I really need to get to it! I'm just in a weird place where Idk what I'm in the mood to read and it kind of seems like the answer might be nothing. -_- Regardless, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!

[@perpetualpages]

Totally understandable! It's definitely one to go into when you know you can fully invest in the story. We're living in weird times, so try to be kind to yourself and listen to your reading moods 😊

[@irenebanuelos5315]

🌆

[@OUTSIDER40]

🌃