hirugame's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
I haven’t felt this good since I read How To Stop A Time War. I haven’t felt this good, this seen, this full — I just kept highlighting passages and rereading quotes and I never thought I would relate to both a monk and a robot but here we are. I need to think about these feelings, I need to hold into them. I’m not sure I’m ready for more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, and Animal death
qrschulte's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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
This was as lovely and comforting as a warm cup of tea, which I’m seriously craving right now. Such a beautiful treatise on how meaningful just living your life can be. I can’t wait to read more!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Blood, and Cursing
Minor: Pregnancy
alibrarymouse's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
5.0
This is such a soft, beautiful book. Becky Chambers did an amazing job creating a world that feels like living in a cup of tea. It’s the book-equivalent of a Studio Ghibli film, romanticizing the every day and detailing how comfort and joy are necessary for creation, healing, and productivity.
Looking into a future far beyond what we’re even thinking about, Chambers is still addressing issues and concerns we face because they’re not individual problems with simple solutions. But she doesn’t confront readers with them unnecessarily and offers gorgeous perspective.
Speaking of, I loved the perspective in this book, and the way she handled darker topics in a delicate, natural way. This is such a cozy book, but it was also enlightening. Definitely one to savor and reread.
Looking into a future far beyond what we’re even thinking about, Chambers is still addressing issues and concerns we face because they’re not individual problems with simple solutions. But she doesn’t confront readers with them unnecessarily and offers gorgeous perspective.
Speaking of, I loved the perspective in this book, and the way she handled darker topics in a delicate, natural way. This is such a cozy book, but it was also enlightening. Definitely one to savor and reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Moderate: Death
Minor: Alcohol
analenegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Becky Chambers is an author I genuinely can't get enough of! This is very different from her Wayfayers series but so wonderful, I can see why it's so popular. I'm very interested in the universe she's creating here while also not focusing on it much at all. Instead, this book is concerned with purpose and humanity, and I think it did it quite well!
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
trickphoenix's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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
5 stars, this is such a special book, it is my new treasure, if I hadn't been reading a library copy I would've been marking the lines that I could feel burning new neural pathways in my brain and making me cry. And specifically, as one of the reviews on the back of this copy aptly put it, making me "cry the good sort of tears - the sort when someone is unexpectedly kind to you at the moment you need it most."
This book is a hugely refreshing vision of an optimistic, beautiful future. The world-building is incredible and also incremental, given to you when you need context but never overwhelming you with detail. The characters are extremely lovable, their interactions were funny enough to make me laugh out loud to myself. It is charming and insightful and relaxing and warm. Strongly recommend reading it outdoors, in a quiet place, with some greenery, and your favorite warm drink.
This book is a hugely refreshing vision of an optimistic, beautiful future. The world-building is incredible and also incremental, given to you when you need context but never overwhelming you with detail. The characters are extremely lovable, their interactions were funny enough to make me laugh out loud to myself. It is charming and insightful and relaxing and warm. Strongly recommend reading it outdoors, in a quiet place, with some greenery, and your favorite warm drink.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, and Animal death
catherinedsharp's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
A beautiful read that made me cry and laugh all at the same time.
It really came to me at a good time, even though it didn’t seem like it at first. Triggered lots of deep thinking and was a big hug to say that everything was going to be ok.
Would really recommend it; a short and reflective read that includes lots of emotion examination and working out the next step when things may not seem clear.
It really came to me at a good time, even though it didn’t seem like it at first. Triggered lots of deep thinking and was a big hug to say that everything was going to be ok.
Would really recommend it; a short and reflective read that includes lots of emotion examination and working out the next step when things may not seem clear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
kelleykamanda's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Short, sweet, joyful. Highly recommend to those wanting something easy and kind.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
marleywrites's review
hopeful
inspiring
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? No
3.0
This was a nice, short read that made me think about my own purpose. It has lovable characters and a very satisfying ending. I loved that it was a sort of cozy sci-fi story. I can’t wait to check out the second book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
madzobean's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Alcohol
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Animal death and Death
morebedsidebooks's review
relaxing
slow-paced
4.75
“The good intentions of a few individuals had not been enough, could never have been enough to upend a paradigm entirely. What the world had needed, in the end, was to change everything.”
The Hugo award winning, philosophical, solarpunk Monk & Robot novellas by US author Becky Chambers are truly hopeful and soothing. In a society that has come back from cataclysm radically better a wild-built robot looking to find out what humanity needs and a tea monk, despite all their accomplishments, wondering what they themselves need make an endearing unlikely pair. Seriously grab a warm drink and spend a few hours with this duology.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing