Three for three from Nalo Hopkinson, what a writer. Mar 05, Allison rated it really liked it. This was utterly unique, a quick read, with lots of unexpected turns. I appreciated how the author did not stop the story to do an exposition dump somewhere in the first few chapters, but I did wish that I had a cast of characters, or that it was based on an easily-recognizable to me set of myths that I could do internet research on. Basically, I wanted to know more. However, that said, I always knew enough to follow what was going on, and discovering the various characters, their relationships, and the structure of the world they lived in as the story unfolded was part of the fun.
I would definitely read a sequel, or another novel set in this world, were Hopkinson to write one. I recommend this to any fans of urban fantasy Sep 01, Ginny rated it it was ok Shelves: I feel bad for not really liking this book, but I didn't really like this book.
Mojo, Music And Semi-Divine Sibling Rivalry In 'Sister Mine'
The interesting characterization of all the enthralling literally demigods was the highlight of the book for me. The humans, however, I could have done without. The protagonist was annoyingly juvenile for a woma I feel bad for not really liking this book, but I didn't really like this book. The protagonist was annoyingly juvenile for a woman in her 20s, which would make sense for a coming of age story, except I didn't feel she really developed much or grew less juvenile by the end.
Her sister was also annoying and the love interest was A lot of the dialogue fell flat for me. The plot overall was kind of a hot mess. Lots of subplots that don't really go anywhere, characters thoroughly introduced then abandoned, the device driving the narrative changes every few pages. Which, I guess another more positive way to describe that would be "complexity" but instead of complexity, I experienced it as dizzyness. I gather Hopkinson doesn't tend to tie her plots up in a neat bow at the end, which I can usually live with, but I was still annoyed at the particular loose ends left flapping in the breeze in this story.
One note on some of the reviews I've seen: In many many mythological traditions, gods don't have any taboo agaisnt incest at all and have rather libertine attitudes toward sex generally, which is accurately depicted here.
And if you think this feature is particular to African mythological traditions, take a look at the Greeks some time. That guy is just one of the rich cast of characters—most of them people of colour and some sort of variation on human—in this Toronto-set novel See the full review on my blog: Nov 09, Aiyana rated it it was amazing Shelves: Talk about compelling writing. I picked this up on a whim and then couldn't, and I mean couldn't, put it down. Technically, this novel is contemporary urban fantasy, but it's more than that-- it's mythological, hip, edgy, out there, vivid, and startling there's got to be something about Canada that brings out a certain talent for creative description in authors!
It's a fast read, but complex all the same, with a rich collection of characters-- most of them not-quite-human! Butler , and Spider Robinson. It manages to combine unbelievable events with down-to-earth human truths, strange worlds with everyday details. There's rhythm and music to Hopkinson's words. There's also a casual inclusion of differences in this book that I really appreciate-- various races, cultures, languages, sexual identities, disabilities-- they all exist as plain facts of life. Her characters treat their disabilities believably-- by turns matter of fact, bitter, humorous, conflicted.
This book isn't always comfortable to read, and I like that about it. And a special gold star for the first non-problematic passing reference to autism I've ever seen! I need to read more of this author's work; that much is clear. Like the other Nalo Hopkinson books that I've read, this was surreal and amazing. I didn't always understand what was happening, but I always enjoyed the ride.
As for queer content: So Makeda and Abby the twin sisters used to be a couple. In her human life, though, Makeda doesn't seem interested in women? So I don't know how to categorize that.
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Apr 03, Olga Godim rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Originally posted at http: A totally original modern fantasy with a unique, exotic perspective. Her twin sister Abby has a double share, in addition to being gifted by an unearthly musical talent. While Abby creates beautiful music and earns money for the family by performing, Makeda is trying to make sense of her directionless life. As Originally posted at http: She is trying to take control of her life.
If only her godly cousins would set her free, stop ordering her around and interfering in her every move. She might even discover her own magic at last. Makeda is much more accepting of her twisted reality than I would have been in her place. May 22, Bridget Mckinney rated it really liked it Shelves: However, in the second half of the book everything came together and things got really exciting This is the first novel I've read by Nalo Hopkinson, whose work I discovered through her short stories in a couple of recent anthologies After and Unnatural Creatures.
Jan 20, Sumayyah rated it really liked it Shelves: Abby and Makeda Joli were born as conjoined twins. Surgery separated them, but left Abby with a shortened leg and limo and Makeda with no mojo. Tired of being different from the rest of the Family, Makeda moves I to a building with Shine. There, she meets a motley cast of characters, gets chased by a dangerous spirit, and learns the Truth about her birth.
- SUPER DOLCI FATTI IN CASA (Italian Edition).
- Monsters?
- La llamada de la Habana (Lola Lago, detective) (Spanish Edition)!
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- Sister Mine?
- Kyrathaba Rising (Kyrathaba Chronicles Book 1).
Plot twists keep the reader guessing in this magical and moving novel. Some familiarity with African Traditional Religions might be helpful to recognize the Family members, but isn't necessary. Points off for mentions of incest eww! In any case, loved this book, and recommend it for people with a love of ATR, magical realism, non-European based fantasy, and or stories that feel like home. Feb 26, Colin rated it liked it Shelves: This was pretty good--I didn't find it as compelling as Brown Girl in the Ring, Midnight Robber, or The Salt Roads, but it's pretty awesome to read a world with disabled-queer-poc central characters.
Jan 11, Carolyn rated it really liked it. The bond between sisters and especially twins is exceedingly strong. Conjoined twins, having shared even more than the womb, might have an even closer bond but still disaster can strike. Add to that mixed parentage human and demigod , missing mojo, and a whole slew of magical, musical happenings and you've got a marvelous tale that moves right along.
I enjoyed these characters so much that I hope there might be another look into their lives in a future book. I'm a Charming, lyrical, enchanting!
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I'm also looking forward to reading more of Nalo Hopkinson. Jun 25, K. Lincoln rated it it was amazing. Part of the fun of reading Sister Mine is digging deeper and deeper into Makeda and Abigail's story to find out what truly happened when they were born, how their mother disappeared, and where there daddy is. Not to mention who their daddy is. And who their uncle is. Because Makeda and Abigail were born into a family where some of the members usher humans into life and death.
They are Shiny, in Makeda's words, and what Makeda wants more than anything else in the world is to find her own mojo; jus Part of the fun of reading Sister Mine is digging deeper and deeper into Makeda and Abigail's story to find out what truly happened when they were born, how their mother disappeared, and where there daddy is.
CONTINUE TO BILLING/PAYMENT
They are Shiny, in Makeda's words, and what Makeda wants more than anything else in the world is to find her own mojo; just like her sister Abigail. She starts out looking just for independence from her Shiny sister in a battered old loft in a converted industrial building. But her new digs house a band, and a boy, who are more than they seem.
Now if only Makeda can escape the haint following her around, find enough money to make rent, and somehow deal with daddy's wandering This is an urban fantasy, and the tight-but-rich writing weaves a first layer of Toronto over Makeda's Orisha family, and as you discover more about Uncle Flash, Grandma Ocean and the others and more of their secrets, the more you dig deeply into human fears and foibles.
These are gods and demi-gods we are reading about, and while some of their antics are not ones modern society approves of, they are based in the deepest parts of human history and psyche. This is a story to bathe yourself in, not to enjoy for intricate plots or clever action. This Book's Snack Rating: Kiss Trinidad Fruit Cake for the rich, delicious characters containing sweet nuggets of universal human truth Aug 09, Jalilah rated it really liked it Shelves: Sister Mine is a throughly enjoyable, quirky and imaginative coming of age story!
As the blurb goes, the main storyline is Abby and Makeda are ex-conjoined twin daughters of a mortal woman and a demi god. At their separation Abby got all the mojo, where as Makeda is the family outcast with no powers. As punishment for their forbidden union, their mother is turned into a sea monster residing in Lake Ontario! Now susceptible to illness, he develops Alzheimer's. T Sister Mine is a throughly enjoyable, quirky and imaginative coming of age story! In fact, Sister Mine shines most in its quiet glimpses of the cosmic illuminated through the personal.
Magical Abby and occasionally obtuse Makeda are the ex-conjoined twin daughters of a human woman and a god — and as punishment for their forbidden union, their father was made mortal himself, and their mother turned into a sea monster. Despite the humble beginnings they've never been allowed to forget, the sisters have been warily accepted into the family pantheon. It's a peculiar set of relatives who give the Greeks a run for their money in terms of keeping it in the family, adding a layer of tension to family reunions on the cosmic plane.
Book Review: 'Sister Mine' By Nalo Hopkinson : NPR
And nowhere is this tension better painted than in the relationship between Abby and Makeda, a sisterly bond that runs the gamut from sniping about voicemail habits to a casual history of comfort sex I wasn't kidding about keeping it in the family. The godly-twin archetype neatly frames a much more personal and human set of conflicts between one sister who has all the assurance that comes with recognized talent and place, and one who's still searching for home.
There is a tendency, when straying from the family circle, for the book to get lost in its own subplots. Hopkinson's attempts to impose a magic system of checks and balances suffers the more concretely the lines are drawn; a piece of animate fabric art ends up being such a hairpin-turn MacGuffin that the entire third act becomes an oddly halfhearted whodunit, at a time when the real narrative lies entirely elsewhere.
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That the novel veers crazily from one to another like a drunk motorcyclist seems both a weakness and a strength. The trouble with this proliferation is that the novel ends up lacking a certain focus; it is a loose collection of threads rather than a tightly woven tapestry.
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- Journey to Rome: Hadrian and Reisha - Book One?
All the more surprising is that this is a problem in a novel by Hopkinson, who is normally one of the tightest and most effective plotters in the genre. Hopkinson is gifted with both a fertile imagination and the ability to pull off absurdity, so that a flying carpet held aloft over downtown Toronto by hundreds of tiny metal birds elicits delight rather than a groan.
Finally, it is important to note, I think, the treatment of race in Sister Mine, because it is so matter-of-fact and so powerful in its matter-of-factness. Race is not the point of the novel; it is important, rather, because of its effect on the characters and their relationships with the world around them. In Anansi Boys , Gaiman dealt with race by very deliberately never mentioning it; Hopkinson takes a different and more effective tack here.
It is, after all, about dualities and the tension in which they are always held, and about the attraction of opposites, and about the ways in which we are defined as much by what we are not as by what we are.