A review by thoughtsontomes
The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente

funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I actually wasn't expecting to like this, because I traditionally haven't gotten on with Valente's other work, but I was pleasantly surprised by this. I listened to the audio, which I think helped, but I do wish the narrator had made the MC's voice age with time since we follow her up into adulthood and she sounds like a child the whole time. This was an interesting climate change sci-fi that leans into some of the ridiculousness of people living on a pile of garbage in the ocean while really painting a complex world. This is mostly us following our MC and being in her head, so it's less action based and the resolution may feel unsatisfying. But that's great about her is her hopefulness in the face of everything, which I'd say is a good trait for a character in a climate change novel, especially during out current times when people get very nihilist about it. 
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