A review by msbarnesela
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

hopeful 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

This was cozy and delightful—much needed after a string of dark and heavy reads. This sci-fi novel is set in a utopian world—where people saw the error of their ways before climate change got too out of hand and then radically changed everything to make the world more sustainable. Everything is ecofriendly. Everyone is community-oriented. Every person is accepted exactly as themselves. People do whatever work they find meaningful, and everyone is taken care of. And I love that in the midst of all this—even though they have everything they need—the MC still feels discontent and existential angst. They have a meaningful job that they love, and they still end up experiencing burnout and wanting something different. And accomplishing their goal in the book doesn’t automatically change that. Because sometimes your life is great and you’re still not totally at peace with it. That’s human. 

Add to that a very wise but also naive robot, and it’s delightful.