jiastar's Full Review: Starhawk - The Fifth Sacred Thing
Imagine you live in a city.
There is no lack of opportunity. If you are willing to learn and work hard, you really can be anything you want to be.
Everyone's work is valued the same. It's all necessary for the society to function. Everyone is paid the same wether your work is healing the sick, baking bread, or tending to hearth and home.
The sick do not lack for care. Illnesses are treated with conventional science and holistic practices.
Love and family are open to various interpretations. Whether you are homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, monogamous, polygamous, or polyamorous. Sex is seen as sacred and without shame. No one will turn their back on you so long as you are doing no harm.
People of various religions live together in friendship and tolerance. No one way is preached as the one and only -- they are all seen as different roads to the same end.
What would you do to defend such a place?
Would you fight? Would you kill? Would you die?
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Starhawk's first novel takes us to such a city in the not too distant future and challenges us with these questions. She introduces us to a large cast of characters; but does so with such skill that each of them retains their own individual voice. We see the world through each of their eyes. After reading this book (more than once I admit) I feel as though I know each of them. That they are old dear friends.
The imagry is clear and vivid. Starhawk makes it easy to see her vision. The dialogue is easy and natural.
That being said, I wouldn't call this an "easy" read. At almost 500 pages it is jam-packed with detail. It is meant to be read slowly, savored even. If you try and speed through it you will miss a lot of nuance and small tidbits of information. Allow yourself to be drawn into this book. Allow the scenes to paint themselves in your mind. And most of all; allow the story to transform you!
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Who would especially like this book:
-- those who enjoy sci-fi or futuristic novels
-- those of an earth-based or Pagan religious background
Who would especially dislike this book:
-- those for whom alternative religions or lifestyles is repugnant
Note:
This book deals with adult themes including sex, homosexuality, violence, war, etc. If your teen wants to read it ... read it first yourself.
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