I picked Rosewater by Tade Thompson because I hadn’t read a good science fiction book for a while and this was on Goodread’s and Audible’s top sci-fi lists. I have mixed feelings about this book. It’s not a bad book. I just didn’t get sucked in and I don’t feel attached to this book. I am torn between 3 and 4 stars. My original thought was 3 since I don’t feel like reading the sequel. But the more I think about it to write this review, I find more quotes and things I liked about it.
Book Stats
- Title: Rosewater
- Author: Tade Thompson
- Series: The Wormwood Trilogy #1
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Publication Date: 2016
- Pages: 432
- Narrator: Bayo Gbadamosi
- My Rating: 3/5 stars
- Buy Now: Amazon
The Plot Summary of Rosewater
Rosewater is home to a mystical alien biodome. Once a year it opens up and people travel thousands of miles to be there when it does. It is rumored to have healing powers, even though it may not always heal you the way you want.
Kaaro has been inside the biodome once and doesn’t care to go back. He works for the government as a sensitive. A sensitive can cross into the xenosphere and into people’s minds to find things and extract information. It’s a rare and unique talent. He is not a mind reader in a traditional sense and he can’t find things or get information if the person doesn’t already know it. Suddenly, other sensitives like him start to die mysteriously and no one is sure why. He’s determined to figure out why before it’s too late.
Narration
I listened to this audiobook on Audible narrated by Bayo Gbadamosi. I liked his voice at first; he had a nice Nigerian accent. After a while, it seemed a little monotone. At times, I didn’t think there was enough excitement or emotion in his voice. It could have been for character development though because Kaaro tried to distance himself from situations emotionally and seemed a little depressed. I did notice his voice and some of his phrases were stuck in my head long after I stopped listening. I didn’t find it annoying so Bayo Gbadamosi must have left a good impression on me.
Thoughts on Rosewater
I found myself drifting a lot while listening to the story. It might have been because I was listening to it right before my vacation and I had a lot of things on my mind.
Rosewater is a trilogy but I’m not sure I will continue to the second book. I wasn’t looking for a series and didn’t realize it when I picked this one.
The main character, Kaaro, didn’t pull me in enough. The Biodome and its “powers to heal” were very interesting and I would like to read more about it. Also, the aliens called “floaters” were intriguing, intense, and scared me a little. But what makes me actually want to read the next book the most, is what happened to the United States?
“This America mystery has been going on since I was a child. Nobody has heard anything from North America for forty-five years. Around the world there are colonies where Americans are granted protected status, but nobody can get into or out of the States. This is because of what other nations have called Drawbridge, the ultimate Trumpian fuck-you to the world.”
Later in the book, someone washed ashore claiming to be from the United States and I want to know what happened to him and what he has to say.
Favorite Quotes
For not being in love with the book, I still found a lot of quotes I really liked. This first quote was pretty early in the book and it is my favorite.
“Bola knows I am single and has made it her mission to find me a mate. I don’t like this because … well, when people matchmake, they introduce people to you whom they think are sufficiently like you. Each person they offer is a commentary on how they see you. If I’ve never liked anyone Bola has introduced me to, does that mean she doesn’t know me well enough, or that she does know me but I hate myself?”
I understand now, why I hesitate to matchmake friends. Before reading this quote, I had never fully thought this out. I would want to set them up with someone perfect and it does reflect a lot on you and how well you know your friend. How do you interpret the quote? In Kaaro’s situation, it may be a little of both. Bola doesn’t know him well enough because he doesn’t open up and he does somewhat hate himself.
I wasn’t going to include this next quote originally but due to the Coronavirus situation in the world right now, I thought it was appropriate to add. Feel free to interpret it the way you see fit.
“Maybe humankind was meant to be sick from time to time. Maybe there is something to be learned from illness.”
More Quotes from Rosewater
The rest are quotes from Kaaro and I thought they were funny or interesting.
“I can read minds but I still don’t understand women. Or men. Humans. I don’t understand humans.”
“Suicide risk? Me? Meh.”
“I find that the older I get, the less I care what people think about me. I only care what a small number of people think, and that number is dwindling daily.”
Final Thoughts about Rosewater by Tade Thompson
Like I said earlier, I have mixed feelings about Rosewater by Tade Thompson. I have settled on 3 stars. If I did half stars it would probably be 3.5. I may eventually give this book a second chance. Sometimes it takes a whole book to set up a good sci-fi world so the next 2 books could be amazing! I would recommend this book to people who enjoy sci-fi especially not too distant futuristic ones where aliens invade Earth.
I would love to hear your thoughts if you have read Rosewater by Tade Thompson or any of the sequels. Persuade me to read the next ones or not!
Leave a Reply