What We're Reading: The City We Became
This audiobook was listened to by Courtney Bippley, a Reference Librarian at the Main Campus Library (currently working from home). It was received for free from through the Libro.fm ALC program.
Title: The City We Became: A Novel
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Narrator: Robin Miles
Genre: Fantasy
Summary: Three-time Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author N.K. Jemisin crafts her most incredible novel yet, a story of culture, identity, magic, and myths in contemporary New York City.
In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn’t remember who he is, where he’s from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power.
In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it’s as if the paint is literally calling to her.
In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels.
And they’re not the only ones.
Every great city has a soul. Some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York? She’s got six. --Hachette Book Group
Read Great Things 2020 Challenge Category: Recommended by a Durham Tech Librarian, A book that is part of a series (Great Cities #1)
Is there anything noteworthy about this book?
The City We Became has been chosen as the April 2020 book pick for the newly formed Vox Book Club. They will be doing online discussions throughout the month that you can participate in; the first is April 10th when they will be discussing the prologue and chapters 1-5.
What did you like about this book?
This book is a love letter to New York City. I've visited NYC a couple of times, but I wouldn't say that I know it well. I feel like I understand it a bit more after reading this book. Jemisin really captures the people of NYC and the story has an incredible sense of place. I imagine that if you have stronger ties to the Big Apple the book will resonate even more with you. The characters chosen to embody the different parts of the city are diverse and don't shy away from both the good and the bad NYC holds within it.
I also really liked the narration and production of this audiobook. They added sound effects to some parts that were really effective, and the narrator did a great job of reading with just the right amount of inflection, accents, and feeling.
What would you pair this book with?
The City We Became would go great with a trip to NYC. Alas, covid-19 gets in the way of that pairing. Since we're social distancing right now I'll sub in a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle of the NYC skyline to do while listening to the audiobook.
Do you have any read-alikes?
Yes! Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It is also the first in a fantasy with a strong sense of place (in this case Prague). Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower by Brittney Cooper. A non-fiction education on some of the underlying themes of the book. The Broken Earth Trilogy which is also by N.K. Jemisin and narrated by Robin Miles. They are a great audiobook duo!