Review of Coming Full Circle
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Rachel Mohan
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- Latest Review: Coming Full Circle by Budd Titlow
Review of Coming Full Circle
[Following is a volunteer review of "Coming Full Circle" by Budd Titlow.]
Coming Full Circle imagines an instantly recognizable world because it is mostly ours. The twist runs throughout the book as we follow a lineage of people, beginning in the 18th century and continuing to the present. While the world this family moves through progresses just like the one we know, the family members often buck the prevailing beliefs and approaches to the environment.
Each generation takes up the biodiversity and environmentalist torch in unique ways. And despite setbacks, resistance, and the seemingly inexorable greed of powerful industries, there is a sense of undying hope and unshakeable faith in the value of doing what is right, regardless of others.
It's easy to get caught up in each generation's fight to right the environmental ship. The characters' perennial hope is inspiring, and their setbacks are frustrating. Their world mirrors ours, so as each generation is born, we know what they will be born into. But their hope and conviction to keep going and continue caring could ultimately be the things that finally tip the scales.
The version I received via the OBC Reader was filled with errors. Some errors may have resulted from formatting, while others were purely editorial issues. A significant portion also included notes from Mariah, missing sections, word strings, and omissions.
There were a few other issues that sometimes clouded the central message. The story begins with Native Americans, but it quickly moves to follow a lineage of mostly white, mostly male people. I would have liked more of a connection or continuation of the first story with the rest of the books. Later in the more modern part of the story, the authors mention overpopulation as a critical problem but do not discuss the how or why of the problem nor how to mitigate the potential effects. This omission and the relative wealth and access to resources most of the book characters have feels a bit classist. Finally, much of the dialogue is stiff and doesn't flow well.
The central theme and periods of excellent storytelling will help you carry through the rougher areas. The lengthy story avoids any salacious or scandalous plot points, which is refreshing. This book's polished and complete version would likely result in an uplifting, hopeful call to keep working, trying, and connecting for the Earth and everything that lives within it. I rate this version of the book as a 3 out of 5. I would recommend a finished version of this book and would rate it more highly.
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Coming Full Circle
View: on Bookshelves
Coming Full Circle imagines an instantly recognizable world because it is mostly ours. The twist runs throughout the book as we follow a lineage of people, beginning in the 18th century and continuing to the present. While the world this family moves through progresses just like the one we know, the family members often buck the prevailing beliefs and approaches to the environment.
Each generation takes up the biodiversity and environmentalist torch in unique ways. And despite setbacks, resistance, and the seemingly inexorable greed of powerful industries, there is a sense of undying hope and unshakeable faith in the value of doing what is right, regardless of others.
It's easy to get caught up in each generation's fight to right the environmental ship. The characters' perennial hope is inspiring, and their setbacks are frustrating. Their world mirrors ours, so as each generation is born, we know what they will be born into. But their hope and conviction to keep going and continue caring could ultimately be the things that finally tip the scales.
The version I received via the OBC Reader was filled with errors. Some errors may have resulted from formatting, while others were purely editorial issues. A significant portion also included notes from Mariah, missing sections, word strings, and omissions.
There were a few other issues that sometimes clouded the central message. The story begins with Native Americans, but it quickly moves to follow a lineage of mostly white, mostly male people. I would have liked more of a connection or continuation of the first story with the rest of the books. Later in the more modern part of the story, the authors mention overpopulation as a critical problem but do not discuss the how or why of the problem nor how to mitigate the potential effects. This omission and the relative wealth and access to resources most of the book characters have feels a bit classist. Finally, much of the dialogue is stiff and doesn't flow well.
The central theme and periods of excellent storytelling will help you carry through the rougher areas. The lengthy story avoids any salacious or scandalous plot points, which is refreshing. This book's polished and complete version would likely result in an uplifting, hopeful call to keep working, trying, and connecting for the Earth and everything that lives within it. I rate this version of the book as a 3 out of 5. I would recommend a finished version of this book and would rate it more highly.
******
Coming Full Circle
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Coming Full Circle by Budd Titlow
