Alif the Unseen

I am reading G. Willow Wilson's Alif the Unseen, while listening to Shirley Jackson's creepy We All Lived in the Castle.

Alif has been getting a lot of attention.  So far it's interesting enough.  The setup is a good one- all the reviews cover that.  The setting is a nice change.  But large swaths are kind of lackluster for cyberpunk, with more of a dreamy fantasy pace.  (It combines elements of both.)  It's very heterosexual as well, in the way Oscar Wao is- lots of time in the head of a red-blooded if respectful young man.  The females are worship objects for him at the same time as they are capable smart players in their own right.  It's the loveable geek guy hero thing.  After reading Cory Doctorow recently,  I'm a little tired of that protag/POV...

The Jackson is just creepy.  She's almost too good at that.  Can't listen to it while falling asleep.