Reviews tagging 'Panic attacks/disorders'

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

63 reviews

the_reading_wren's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Wow, what a story! Far darker than the first book in the series, but with the same themes of found family, healing and growth that made it worthwhile reading for me. This book also focuses on the theme of feeling at home (whether in a space, with others or within your own body). Of course the world building is fantastic too, as I’ve come to expect from Chambers, and the political, social and economic systems are interwoven through the narrative to provide plenty of moments to reflect on our own world. Overall a really satisfying answer to many of the unresolved questions left by book 1. 
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00phantom's review

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adventurous challenging emotional fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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greystory's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

#2 in the Wayfarers series follows the stories of AI Sindra and human techie Pepper, who we met at the end of book 1, as they essentially explore the meaning of life. It feels too easy, too light to simply say "meaning of life." I'm not being flippant and I want it to really sink in what that means because that's what this book does - takes you on a journey of discovering what it means to live. Sindra has a great scene towards the end where she talks about how all sapient beings struggle with finding purpose as she tries to explain her own difficulties with the same task.

In many ways, A Closed and Common Orbit felt heavier than The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and there's probably many reasons for that. The subject matter of the meaning of life can be pretty heavy. We're focused on two characters in a linear, detailed story instead of the shorter vignettes with a more diverse cast from book 1. We watch Pepper's past as she learns just how cruel and cold the world can be. We watch Sindra as she struggles with the consequences of her own sacrifice and trying to find a way to belong and feel right. 

As their stories unfold, we see both the good and bad of the universe and each character finding a way to not just survive, but make the best of what's out there and really live. I cried a lot while reading this.

With that in mind, I feel like I should include some trigger warnings:
* Past child abuse
* Child death (implied, not on page)
* Animal violence and death
* Injury/Illness
* Seizure (or something like it)
* Panic attacks
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seedreads's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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misty_kb's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

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evbyrd's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
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biobeetle's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Becky Chamber's books are always so comforting to me. there's something so quite and cozy about them that makes them just feel like a warm hug. I didn't love this one quite as much as the first Wayfarers book, but it still really hit the spot, and I'm very excited to continue the series. Specifically, I  loved how this book grapples with the question of personhood and the difference between what is right and what is allowed. 
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buttercat42's review against another edition

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4.75

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scifi_rat's review against another edition

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adventurous sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Plot: 3.5★
Prose: 3 ★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.5★/4★
Characters: 3★
Worldbuilding: 4.5★
Ending: 3.25★
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