soph (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sophia_sol) wrote2019-12-18 07:54 pm
sophia_sol) wrote2019-12-18 07:54 pm
A Civil Campaign, by Lois McMaster Bujold
Some time ago a kind soul (![[tumblr.com profile]](https://www.tumblr.com/favicon.ico)
heckofabecca) gave me a brief run-down of the events of chapter 9's dinner party, in preparation for the day when I'd finally get to this book in my read-through of the Vorkosigan Saga. And I am so very grateful, because it means I could just skip that entire chapter to miss all the embarrassment-squick, while still being able to understand the fall-out.
Other than that one chapter (and, okay, a couple pages' worth of misunderstanding in an earlier chapter...and watching Miles make terrible choices in his plans to secretly court Ekaterin), this book is a delight!
I don't know if I 100% believe the resolution to the romantic arc between Miles and Ekaterin. Possibly it's in large part just that, as captivating as Miles is, I don't really think he would make a good husband? But whatever, I love them both, and presumably they figure out how to be happy together.
Lord Dono comes into existence in this book, and I was so pleased to finally read that storyline. I'm so curious about Donna-Dono's gender identity feelings though. We don't get any of that person's inner life, just see the situation from the outside and from what Dono says to other people in not-very-private conversations. There are many possibilities and I would be interested in all of them. I loved what Dono said though about how after the various masculinizing procedures, on Beta he felt basically the same as he had before - but as he came closer and closer to Barrayar the more strikingly different it became to experience the world through being perceived as a man instead of a woman. BARRAYAR.
But also: Byerly! Ivan! The Koudelka sisters! Gregor and Nikki! More Ekaterin! Lots of great stuff in this book.
Other than that one chapter (and, okay, a couple pages' worth of misunderstanding in an earlier chapter...and watching Miles make terrible choices in his plans to secretly court Ekaterin), this book is a delight!
I don't know if I 100% believe the resolution to the romantic arc between Miles and Ekaterin. Possibly it's in large part just that, as captivating as Miles is, I don't really think he would make a good husband? But whatever, I love them both, and presumably they figure out how to be happy together.
Lord Dono comes into existence in this book, and I was so pleased to finally read that storyline. I'm so curious about Donna-Dono's gender identity feelings though. We don't get any of that person's inner life, just see the situation from the outside and from what Dono says to other people in not-very-private conversations. There are many possibilities and I would be interested in all of them. I loved what Dono said though about how after the various masculinizing procedures, on Beta he felt basically the same as he had before - but as he came closer and closer to Barrayar the more strikingly different it became to experience the world through being perceived as a man instead of a woman. BARRAYAR.
But also: Byerly! Ivan! The Koudelka sisters! Gregor and Nikki! More Ekaterin! Lots of great stuff in this book.
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And as you're a fan, I highly recommend Alive in your blood now. Helen Natalia's story and it's brilliant.
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