‘The City We Became’ Book Review
A quick glimpse into N.K. Jemisin’s novel. No spoilers.
‘… she had a gentle soul wrapped in razor wire, but the sharp edges are not her fault. The world trained her to violence, to ferocity, because it hates so much of what she is.’
How to effectively describe this book without giving away spoilers or pushing my own perception of it onto others?
Cities that have avatars? City Avatars. Or humans who represent cities with a demigod-like prowess? Cities with human souls? So many possible analogies, but all of them don’t do it justice, but will hopefully provide an inkling into what to expect.
A city as fruitful, largely populated, and diverse as New York requires multiple avatars for different regions (burrows? Excuse my very obvious ignorance), and each person, unique, fresh, and real. I could picture each character in my mind, and laughed out loud with each quip made, often times relating to racism or sexism.
And that’s what I really adored most about this book; Current social justice issues artfully and comically attacked by the author. From the overt standpoints against such heinous views (so many views that still hold firm in our societies) to the subtle undertones provided in scene setting or character monologue, I devoured them all.
N.K. Jemisin’s signature style of writing — observant, yet whip cracker sharp and integrous — is still there, it’s just enhanced with each character’s own voice and personality. As a non-American, non-New Yorker, I had no trouble imagining each of the avatars, hearing their accents or forms of speech, how they walked, drove, or ran. A great thanks to Hollywood movies providing a baseline. But this book actually makes me want to see New York for myself. The real New York.
You end The City We Became and run straight into the author’s thank you section, and I highly recommend reading this extra section. It offers a delightful insight into N.K. Jemisin’s inspiration and love for the city. It’s a welcomed far cry from Hollywood’s depiction of New York, with authentic places and faces for readers.
A unique fantasy story told in a real, vibrant and sometimes harsh city with as real as real can get characters. And the great news is that it’s the first of a series!
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