The Book I Read Twice in 2020 || A Memory Called Empire Review and Chat || January 2021 [CC]

[@ToriMorrow]

Love love this book! The politics & the way Martine handles the concept of memory was fascinating. Your enthusiasm really makes me want to reread it this year. Great review as usual ☺️

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

It was such a fulfilling re-read and I have an arc for Desolation called Peace that I CANNOT wait to get to.

[@MargaretPinard]

That's exactly how Amrita phrased it--it's not spoon-fed, you've got to engage with this book to 'get it' SO GOOD!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Thanks for watching. So glad you also enjoyed this book!!

[@kittymachine3798]

My Honey and I just finished re-listening to the audiobook! We first listen to it about a year ago but wanted to refresh ourselves for the sequel. We had the exact same experience as you as far as the details and revelations at the very end. How could we forgotten?! Still it was a joy to revisit. I really appreciated your analysis, and I specially loved that you caught the parallels between this culture's method of memory preservation, and the kind of ancestral knowledge within Dune. Have you read past the first book of Dune? I always recommend reading the first four books from Dune to God Emperor because it is an astonishing epic, and really puts the first book into an entirely different perspective.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I am so glad I re-read this close to reading the sequel! I have currently only read Dune but am slowly being convinced to read the sequels based on my friends experience reading them right now so maybe one day but its not a priority right now. I am really excited for the movie though and have the newest board game so I do love the material!

[@umituysal9127]

Hello from Turkey. I'm currently reading a memory called empire. And I definitely have to say it is one of the most amazing books I've ever read. Thank you for your review

[@perpetualpages]

Already wanted to read this book and you made me want to read it more 😩💕 I'll definitely be referring back this review once I get a chance to read it! Fantastic work as always 👌🏼

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

It means so much to me that this got you more excited ☺️

[@seankillian4414]

Thanks for your review and enthusiasm. I chose your video while looking to refresh myself on the story before reading A Desolation...Do you have any recommendations from other channels that dive a bit more into spoilers on plot and theme? I'm jealous of the kindle word look up function...I needed that for the characters, always getting them mixed up because of the difficulty internalizing the number noun naming convention. Great job getting new and finished readers excited for the series!

[@yogiwithabook]

I love your reviewing style! you’re making me want to reread just for the feels, which is probably smart since I’m sure Desolation is going to be just as layered

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

You and Adri saying I am good at reviews means so much ❤ but yes I am so happy I re-read it because I forgot ALOT about the political situation, which who knows what will matter in the sequel but I am happy to have it fresh in my mind 😊

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

Three Seagrams was the whole reason I kept reading it the first time. I hope we get more of her and our MC’s interactions together 😉

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Minor Spoilers for Memory Called Empire: I really hope so too!! Although that was another thing I liked, that they had this chemistry but it was complicated because of Three Seagrass's prejudice towards stationers.

[@TheNerdyNarrative]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance I just realized what my autocorrect did to Three Seagrass 😂😂😂😂 You have me excited for Desolation Called Peace after this today

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

@@TheNerdyNarrative then I have done my job!

[@elenathegreat]

This is such a great review and the themes sound sooo interesting. I think you’ve recommended this to me before and I totally see now why hearing you describe it

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Yea with how you like to engage with the literature you read it feels perfect for you, so when you were talking about not knowing scifi you would connect with this instantly came to mind! I really hope you pick it up cause I would love to see your thoughts and watch your recently reads or review for it!

[@storieswithc]

I got this on audible after hearing you discuss it on worldhoppers and I'm sooooo happy I did. I really enjoyed the themes and philosophical questions 🚀 Just started the audiobook for the sequel!

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Yesss this makes my day!! Hope you also enjoy the sequel 😊

[@ThatsSoPoe]

Loved hearing your thoughts!! I agree about the themes in this being fantastic. I had such a fun time with them, especially everything about language and culture and belonging. I differed from you, though, in that I found it a really fast and action based read, probably because of the whole mystery and intrigue aspects (unlike, for example, Children of Time, which I found a slower, more philosophical read). I also love complex and flowery language, so perhaps that just didn't slow it down for me. 🤷 I'm so excited about the sequel and can't wait to hear your thoughts on that one! 😆

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

The same part got really slow for me both reads. Spoilers for the book below: Its right after they have a private meeting with the empire. From there until they come back for the attempted coup that is WAY slower for me for some reason. Cause lots of things happen, like assassination attempt and getting illegal brain surgery but for some reason it was hard to keep my focus there both times thru. But CANNOT wait for the sequel, I need to know what these creatures that threaten civilization are up to.

[@ToddsBookTube91]

Todd here. I saw this book on the shelf at Barnes & Noble. I read the back of the book and it seemed interesting.

[@bretgrandrath2935]

Great review, you articulated everything I thought about the book. Since you made me reread Foundation I have to mention how much the city of Teixcalaan reminded me of Trantor. 🚀

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

That's not a bad comparison, although this capital has WAY more flowers lol

[@bretgrandrath2935]

True, but I would be afraid to "stop and smell the roses". 🌹

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

@@bretgrandrath2935 I see what you did there 😉

[@Wats06071]

Excellent review! I am ready to re-read the book :) This was my best book of 2020. I loved Mahit's inner thoughts, and her dialogues with 3 Seagrass about Culture, and Empire. The inner struggles of Mahit and her Love/Hate relationship with Taxicallan was such a pleasure to read. I personally couldn't get enough of her introspection and her verbal swashbucklings, especially with 3 Seagrass. I wouldn't have minded if this was a play. For me Mahit with Misaki (Sword of Kaigen) were best SFF female characters in 2020.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

It was up there for me in 2020 too! Misaki is my favorite of 2020 for sure and if you like that introspection I think you will have a blast with the sequel!!

[@Wats06071]

​@@LiteratureScienceAlliance Misaki is hands down one of the best badass mothers lol. However, I liked Mahit & 3 Seagrass for that matter, because they were strong female protagonists without killing anybody. I am happy to hear this about the sequel. I have pre-ordered it and I have the 4th circled :), but I must admit that part of me was/is worried. The first book was excellent, and I was rather satsfied with how it ended.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

@@Wats06071 Based of what you have commented on other videos I think there is a good chance you will really enjoy the sequel. But I totally understand always worrying about a sequel living up to your love of the original. I think the first is a bit stronger thematically but the second was a better story over all for me. You will have to tell me what you think once you finish!

[@Wats06071]

@@LiteratureScienceAlliance I will certainly do that :)

[@lauras9071]

I really enjoyed the themes behind this book, although sometimes it was a bit slow for me and i know i definitely missed some of the smaller details. I am glad I read when I had time and brain power to devote to it. I think the discussions it had around colonization both violently and through soft power and the combination of them together that forces pieces of empire into every way you see things. i didn't even really consider the concept of memory as being a mainline, but now i feel like re-reading it a second time.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

I agree, I think 50-70% was probably the slowest part for me but man when I was liking it I was LOVING it. And love how you are describing the way colonization was done, never would have thought to phrase it as soft power. And I do think its really great on re-read, I just got to have so much fun picking things a part and seeing these character interactions!

[@rouxellereads]

Omg this book sounds like it’s going to be a book I’ve been looking for. My favorite books have heavy themes and all these questions I love exploring.

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

If you like heavy theming then yes you have to try out this book and see if the writing works for you cause if it does I bet it will be an amazing experience for you!

[@niebieskie2]

Great review. This book is on my TBR

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Would be really interested to see what your experience is with this one!

[@MargaretPinard]

And your review was spot-on! :D

[@DeadGoodBookReviews]

yessss I probably shouldn't have watched this before writing my video so If I just end up quoting you that'll be fun! Do you have the sequel on NG? if so buddy read???

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Messaged you on voxer for buddy read details! And honestly imitation is flattery, I won’t be upset! So excited to watch it

[@MargaretPinard]

Loved this book!

[@CookieR1272]

🚀

[@IvoDiasdeSousa]

Cool review. Thanks

[@RobertPoulin38]

I also loved the book! By the way, you pronounced Teixcalaan the same way as the audiobook. 🙂 🚀

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

Oh yay!! I just found a thing from twitter that Arkady Martine posted and tried and decided it sounded close enough 😆

[@RobertPoulin38]

As an audiobook listener, I had to google spelling. 🙂

[@LiteratureScienceAlliance]

@@RobertPoulin38 when editting the captions google really liked spelling it as “text colon” 😂