I'm not sure what my hot button issues are, I'll generally read anything good, regardless of theme or genre. That said, there are a couple of things that I'm always fascinated by.
Like you, redemption is a big theme for me. I'm fascinated by the question of redemption, both the ways in which someone can redeem themselves as well as the mirror of redemption which is the question of whether or not there are crimes which simply cannot be forgiven, no matter what a person does. So yeah. I feel like there are a ton of good books with this theme that I'm somehow failing to think of. It's definitely one of the reasons I liked Arbonne and Tigana. _Perdido Street Station_ sort of occupies the latter space, and is a brilliant, if incredibly dark book if you haven't read it.
Incidentally, from what you've posted have you read any of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels? They're historical fiction set during the Napoleonic War, brilliantly researched history, an amazing friendship between the two main characters and lots of other fun stuff. Plus, although it's very naval, there's a whole lot of interesting stuff that takes place off the ship. I'd definitely recommend the series, though if you do read the series start with Post Captain (the second book) don't read the first book (Master and Commander) because it's not very good.
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Like you, redemption is a big theme for me. I'm fascinated by the question of redemption, both the ways in which someone can redeem themselves as well as the mirror of redemption which is the question of whether or not there are crimes which simply cannot be forgiven, no matter what a person does. So yeah. I feel like there are a ton of good books with this theme that I'm somehow failing to think of. It's definitely one of the reasons I liked Arbonne and Tigana. _Perdido Street Station_ sort of occupies the latter space, and is a brilliant, if incredibly dark book if you haven't read it.
Incidentally, from what you've posted have you read any of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin novels? They're historical fiction set during the Napoleonic War, brilliantly researched history, an amazing friendship between the two main characters and lots of other fun stuff. Plus, although it's very naval, there's a whole lot of interesting stuff that takes place off the ship. I'd definitely recommend the series, though if you do read the series start with Post Captain (the second book) don't read the first book (Master and Commander) because it's not very good.