The hype for The Vanished Birds is absolutely deserved

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#scifi #books

[@danielaweberdani]

😵 "I'm not gonna tell you the reasons": what a genius sherazade way to get people who feel too dumb for sci-fi to give it just another try! seriously, thank you for your effort, your talent to engage amazes me in every video. 💡

[@sobarino]

I've been following your channel for some time and your reviews always make me very excited to read the books you recommend. Thanks so much and keep up the good work!

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Wow, thank you so much!

[@Shelf_Improvement]

I only recently heard of Simon Jimenez. Apparently I've been living under a rock, but I shall crawl out from under my igneous bungalow read something by him.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Igneous bungalow LOL

[@gamewrit0058]

11:00 LOL, Willow talking about how wonderfully ADHD the story structure is - and the camera battery dies. Classic. 😆🙌❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🌈

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Omg slain 😭

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

I am so happy to see that you loved The Vanished Birds! The first chapter reads like a short story because it actually started as a short story during Jimenez’s master’s program. Nakajima’s introductory chapter gives me so much anxiety no matter how many times I have read, and no matter how times I will read, the novel. Incredible idea about the Earth being a starting point-that’s much more hopeful than my more pessimistic view (maybe blinding focus) on its exploration of capitalism and colonialism (hence the anxiety): your thought makes me think of The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (in title only since I have not yet read it and don’t know the actual premise!) as Jimenez cited it as a favorite in an interview (I think for Locus Magazine?). Sorry for the ramble. I’m very passionate about Simon Jimenez’s books and get very excited when I see others gushing about them.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I love your passion, and I fully agree! I’ll read his next book soon and definitely also check out the Bester novel :)

[@SheWasOnlyEvie]

@@WillowTalksBooks The way that The Vanished Birds is the best of what science fiction is and can be, I see The Spear Cuts Through Water as the best of what fantasy is and can be. I hope you adore it as much as, if not more than, The Vanished Birds! I will look forward to hearing your thoughts when you do get around to reading it.

[@cosyreadingtimes8857]

Finally!!!!!!!!!! I've waited dfor this review for so long. I read the book 2 years ago, when barely anyone on the Internet was talking about it. The popularity is so well earned. Simon Jimenez and Robin Hobb share the title of my favourite author

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I love Robin Hobb as well. Easily my favourite fantasy author :)

[@lyllistrata3903]

This book is truly phenomenal and his second novel, The Spear Cuts Through Water, is just as good (but quite different). Simon Jimenez has become an auto buy author for me now 🙏

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Yeah I’m really looking forward to picking that up!

[@kayceeg5464]

Just being the silly first comment ❤

[@Vic-mc6tb]

Willow! You've done it again 👏.

[@heatherbocks]

I may be the only person who disliked The Spear Cuts Through Water. I mean, I can’t say it’s bad, but I hated almost every second of it. I actually counted the pages I enjoyed reading and it was only five. And I was high for two of those. I kind of feel like it was made unnecessarily convoluted to seem smart and unique, but it just made it impossible for me to stay immersed and invested. Also I thought the ending sucked. Pure enjoyment-wise it was maybe a 1 or a 2, but I gave it a 3 cause I can respect the craft. But everyone else seems to love it so 🤷🏼‍♀️ On a positive note though- currently reading Children of Time and thoroughly enjoying myself.

[@moontst]

Thanks so much for this recommendation. Normally, I dont gravitate toward Sci fi, but you do have an amazing ability to infuse your audience with your enthusiasm when you review books, so I picked it up. Sure enough, this was a great read. Keep up the great work. 😊

[@groofay]

I heavily agree. This is one of my favorite reads of this year, this gorgeous, surreal work of art. I'm simultaneously looking forward to and holding off reading The Spear Cuts Through Water, because I want to be able to taste and savor every sentence of it.

[@cassandrahaymanfugal6337]

I started this on audio and never finished it. I was enjoying it but I think I need to switch to a physical copy. I did enjoy his other novel, A Spear Cuts Through Water.

[@user-ny1wo1vp9r]

Im reading Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jiminez right now, and its really good. Im looking forward to reading this onr as well.

[@camiloflores1592]

Currently reading The Spear Cuts Through Water by Jimenez and wow, one of the most intense fantasy reading experience i've ever had

[@MonikaBury]

this book left me with a broken heart, sadness held me for a long time

[@Gen-yh1jz]

Thank you for the recommendation.

[@PaloukaMan]

Are you joining Parade in London tomorrow ❤

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Unfortunately not, it’s too far for me now but I’ll be at the one in Glasgow in a few weeks :)

[@mariareadsssf]

Wish I loved as much as everyone else. I think I went into it with the wrong expectations. The constant headhopping stoped me from having enough time with a character in order to get fully invested. I donated my copy and I hope it will reach a reader who will really love it. Maybe "The Spear Cuts Trough Water" will work better for me.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

I totally understand the issues you have with it

[@ReadBecca]

As much as I adore The Spear Cuts... If you didn't get along with format in Vanished Birds, its incredibly unlikely you will not have the same issues to 11 with Spear. Its got many perspective characters, is told in first, second, and third person - sometimes nested within one another, and there are frequent brief pov shifts to random background charcters mid paragraph.

[@Agonyrate]

Hows your relationship with your father.

[@WillowTalksBooks]

Better than yours to every single woman