Audiobook Review – The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente, Narrated by Penelope Rawlins (5/5 stars)
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Science Fiction
Length: 5 hours
Publisher: Dreamscape Media, LLC
Release Date: July 29, 2021
ASIN: B09327YDY4
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Borrowed Audiobook from Library
Rating: 5/5 stars
“The future is blue – endless blue…except for a few small places that float across the hot, drowned world left behind by long-gone fossil fuel-guzzlers. One of those patches is a magical place called Garbagetown.
Tetley Abednego is the most beloved girl in Garbagetown, but she’s the only one who knows it. She’s the only one who knows a lot of things: that Garbagetown is the most wonderful place in the world, that it’s full of hope, that you can love someone and 66% hate them all at the same time.
But Earth is a terrible mess, hope is a fragile thing, and a lot of people are very angry with her. Then Tetley discovers a new friend, a terrible secret, and more to her world than she ever expected.”
Series Info/Source: This is a stand alone book (although it was originally partially published under a short story called “The Future is Blue”). This novella includes “The Future is Blue” and continues/expands it. I borrowed a copy of this on audiobook from the library to listen to.
Thoughts: This was an amazing read and the audiobook narration is very well done. The story is strangely hopeful and a bit depressing all at the same time. We follow Tetley, a girl in Garbagetown, who does something she thinks is right and ends up the most hated person in Garbagetown because of it. We join her as she tries to survive and make a life in Garbagetown, is hated and abused by her fellow survivors, and continues to think both Garbagetown and her life there are the most precious and joyful things in the whole world.
My heart went out to Tetley who is a very positive person living in very trying times. Tetley sees the best in everything, even when her fellow Garbagetown residents are trying to beat her to death and burn her house down. I seriously admire her positive outlook but also felt a bit uncomfortable with how she accepts everything so…smoothly.
This was more accessible than some of Valente’s previous books; it’s not quite as flowery and dense (which don’t get me wrong I love that style of Valente’s writing too). However, we still get a lot of ironic thoughts, detailed descriptions, and general amazingness here. The whole world created is very tongue-in-cheek and I enjoyed both the creativity and the irony of it all.
While I wouldn’t say the tale is funny, it is darkly humorous while still being very poignant. There are some very stark lessons about taking care of the earth and some more universal lessons about humans in general needing the same thing no matter their circumstances (food, safety, love, purpose). We also get to see humanity at its best and worst. Tetley often spouts very deep and thought-provoking phrases that are beautiful in both their simplicity and truth and very true to the deep thoughtfulness Valente is known for.
My Summary (5/5): Overall this was an amazing read. It’s entertaining and darkly humorous while also being disturbing and thought-provoking. I enjoyed it immensely. It is less abstract and dense than a lot of Valente’s previous works which makes it more accessible. However, it is just as intense, immersive, and thoughtful. I look forward to what Valente writes next!
