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love in the time of global warming by francesca lia blockWhat: Love in the Time of Global Warming (Love in the Time of Global Warming #1) by Francesca Lia Block

Who: Henry Holt and Co.

When: August 27th 2013

How: Borrowed from library.

Her life by the sea in ruins, Pen has lost everything in the Earth Shaker that all but destroyed the city of Los Angeles. She sets out into the wasteland to search for her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer’s Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead. On her voyage, Pen learns to tell stories that reflect her strange visions, while she and her fellow survivors navigate the dangers that lie in wait. In her signature style, Francesca Lia Block has created a world that is beautiful in its destruction and as frightening as it is lovely. At the helm is Pen, a strong heroine who holds hope and love in her hands and refuses to be defeated.

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This is one of those times where my logical brain pisses me off. For some reason, the blurb of this book made me think that perhaps the fantastical goings on in Love in the Time of Global Warming were not real – that they were a story Pen was telling. And I was wrong. But I couldn’t accept this fact until halfway through reading, and by then my enjoyment of the story had been greatly reduced because I had spent so much time going WTF? Is this real OR NOT? So if you think it’s not: it is. IT FREAKING IS, OKAY?

So, once I got over myself, I was able to really enjoy Love in the Time of Global Warming. Like, four star enjoy it. But I won’t get into my irritation at myself again. But yeah, it was lovely once I realised that everything that was happening was happening.

All of Block’s other books that I have read haven’t really followed a true storyline (more like prose, I suppose), but Love in the Time of Global Warming is told like a normal book (albeit with flashbacks). And I really liked her style; it was very easy to read and yet quite lovely with its prose-like qualities in places, as well.

The four main characters in this book are pretty adorable, not gonna lie. And they’re all diverse (in terms of sexuality, gender, and race), which just makes everything about them amazing. Pen was not a very vivid character to me, but I liked her nonetheless. My favourite aspect of her character was her love for Hex, and her complete acceptance of who he was. Which brings me to Hex. I just. I cannot even with Hex. I absolutely adored him from the moment he stepped onto the page. He’s freaking divine in so many ways, and I just. *nods furiously* HEX. Ash and Ez were pretty likeable, too. Although I must say I likes Ash a little better than Ez. I always like the musicians. >.>

There wasn’t a lot of urgency to the plot, but I wasn’t averse to that. I kind of wish I knew The Odyssey a little better because everything was new to me in Love in the Time of Global Warming, and I’m sure that knowing the parallels between the two texts would have made for an even more enjoyable read but hey. I haven’t picked up an ancient book, and I may never.

I was really happy with the ending of Love in the Time of Global Warming, and I am a little surprised that there is a sequel, since I think it could have been left as a pretty agreeable standalone novel. But I can see that there was room for a sequel, so that relationships would be explored even more, as well as the whole “end of the earth” theme. I haven’t heard very good things about the sequel, but I’m willing to give it a try anyway. Even if only to revisit one of my all time favourite characters in any book ever (HEXXXX).

© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

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Posted on: January 24, 2015 • By: Chiara

6 Responses to Review: Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block

  1. Cayce says:

    I quite liked The Odyssey, but am not too big on these retelling type of stories… and since I don’t really want to start a new series, unless I feel like I MUST, I don’t see myself picking this one up anytime soon.

    • Chiara says:

      I don’t know how MUCH of a retelling this one was, or whether it just had elements from The Odyssey in it. I know what you mean about series, though! Although this one only has two books so far, and the first one was a really quick read.

  2. Shannelle says:

    I love that cover, ad I’m always up for a little weird! I’m so interested in this one because it sounds so interesting. I mean, I’m always up for destruction!

    • Chiara says:

      I KNOW. I want to frame this cover and put it on my wall I like it so much. I love silhouettes.

      If you want weird and destruction, I suggest you read this one, Shannelle!

  3. I started this book and got about 80 pages in before I put it down. Nothing was making a whole lot of sense and I didn’t know if it was real or not, like you mentioned. I guess I should have pushed through the uncertain beginnings but I didn’t. Maybe I’ll try this book again. I love the cover so much–it is what got me curious about Love in the Time of Global Warming in the first place!

    • Chiara says:

      Awh, no! That’s such a shame, Mallory. But I know what you mean. I wasn’t sure if it was real, or not. But it is! So maybe a re-read would be worth it. I really did end up liking it :D

      And yes, that cover is all kinds of perfect, isn’t it?

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