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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
Her writing about space travel made me claustrophobic! Really well written and interesting.
Okay, hear me out - it's a three, maybe four star if I'm pushing it, but a favorite and probably the book I'm going to talk about the most from this year. Yeah, confusing, I know.
There are quite a few quirks and flaws in here; no quotation marks (I know this is just a style choice not a 'problem' but ugh), the writing is very dry and you don't get much besides the facts of what happened, June is always the smartest one in the room somehow and her 'inventing' process is very hand-wavy, and the science of this 'pink planet' that is actually a moon is flimsy at best and will bother anyone with a passing knowledge of the solar system (and as an astronomer myself I was VERY annoyed), etc etc. If you're looking for a 'real' sci-fi, this isn't it, please look elsewhere. I don't blame anyone from being turned away from this book, and its problems ultimately brought the star rating down no matter how I feel in the moment. And yet, none of those aforementioned issues are even my biggest gripe with the book, and that biggest 'flaw' may be what inspires me the most to call it a favorite.
Now, I could write a whole dissertation on how this whole novel represents the state of STEM/the astronomy/aerospace field and the prioritization of 'great minds', discovery and Science™ over the safety and well being of younger scientists (there's actually a LOT of reflections of the problems and quirks in the scientific field in here), how ultimately this is a tragedy, yadayadayada, and then feel like I could sing its praises... but I can't say that this isn't just me projecting onto the book rather than what is in there. We can talk death of the author, reading is all about your own experience, etc, but it does feel wrong to give this book the credit when it seems, particularly based on the chosen blurbs on the book, that this was not at all the intention. However, that reading is what makes me love this. I will continue to blabber on about my analysis to whatever audience I can find, as this has inspired deeper reflection than some other books I have read this year. I guess in the end, my own interpretation of this book makes this a favorite, or maybe IS the favorite over the actual novel.
And sidenote, the cover is just SO good.
There are quite a few quirks and flaws in here; no quotation marks (I know this is just a style choice not a 'problem' but ugh), the writing is very dry and you don't get much besides the facts of what happened, June is always the smartest one in the room somehow and her 'inventing' process is very hand-wavy, and the science of this 'pink planet' that is actually a moon is flimsy at best and will bother anyone with a passing knowledge of the solar system (and as an astronomer myself I was VERY annoyed), etc etc. If you're looking for a 'real' sci-fi, this isn't it, please look elsewhere. I don't blame anyone from being turned away from this book, and its problems ultimately brought the star rating down no matter how I feel in the moment. And yet, none of those aforementioned issues are even my biggest gripe with the book, and that biggest 'flaw' may be what inspires me the most to call it a favorite.
Spoiler
From the positive reviews and even the last scene of the novel, this seems to be pushing the romance aspect of this book. It's an 'magnetic' connection, the way they work together is electric, they just 'get' each other! But, as someone in a similar field and also someone who cares about the wellbeing of fellow women scientists, James is EXACTLY a model of those male scientist abusers who continue to get away with their behavior. You're going to tell me these reviewers saw the same thing happen to Theresa AND still say it's romantic? I am confused how one can even sense a connection between those two with how dry the writing can be, but I guess, especially if you are more familiar with Jane Eyre than I am, or just enjoy a toxic romance, it may be appealing. However, when you look at it from a different angle, you see a young girl who loves science and lacks connections in her life, being drawn in and ultimately manipulated by someone older and unstable who reminds her of the only kind family figure in her life. And the ultimate tragedy is the other scientists, who probably were aware of what happened, just... let it go. They don't worry about June, they don't even want to talk about it, reminiscent of how they didn't want to talk about the other scientists in danger on Inquiry.Now, I could write a whole dissertation on how this whole novel represents the state of STEM/the astronomy/aerospace field and the prioritization of 'great minds', discovery and Science™ over the safety and well being of younger scientists (there's actually a LOT of reflections of the problems and quirks in the scientific field in here), how ultimately this is a tragedy, yadayadayada, and then feel like I could sing its praises... but I can't say that this isn't just me projecting onto the book rather than what is in there. We can talk death of the author, reading is all about your own experience, etc, but it does feel wrong to give this book the credit when it seems, particularly based on the chosen blurbs on the book, that this was not at all the intention. However, that reading is what makes me love this. I will continue to blabber on about my analysis to whatever audience I can find, as this has inspired deeper reflection than some other books I have read this year. I guess in the end, my own interpretation of this book makes this a favorite, or maybe IS the favorite over the actual novel.
And sidenote, the cover is just SO good.
Not like The Martian at all. This isn’t funny. The science is poorly explained or absent. There is no survival aspect to it at all. No solitude. Main character isn’t very likable.
The narration was exceptionally slow and sleepy - I had to speed it way up to tolerate it.
The narration was exceptionally slow and sleepy - I had to speed it way up to tolerate it.
This book! June, lovely June. At twelve she is engaging and smart and passionate. Her love for an uncle, now dead, is palpable. He stoked her dreams and even though he’s gone June carries. I loved following her through the aunt’s house and cringed in so many places. She takes everything apart and it’s wonderful. It hurt my heart when she arrived at Peter Reed. Thrust into an unfamiliar setting in the middle of the school year and too young on top of it all her passion and inventiveness carried me through the beginning. The remaining story and the big thrust of the book is a lost ship, Inquiry. Built to run on her Uncle’s fuel cell design it has been lost and Inquiry’s location and the fuel cell problem become the focus for her and I was riveted. Such a great story. Scratched that itch I’ve had for space and astronauts. Really loved this book.
This was a lush, dreamy, hazy feeling book, definitely akin to the vibes of "The Martian" by Andy Weir. First, I will say that I feel the summary description of the book is not accurate. I really didn't find "love" between June and James, I felt a scary, intense, zero-alternative lust born of being alone on another planet in complete isolation with lack of sleep. I felt no love and I felt that the only risk to the mission of figuring out the fuel cells was James' potential death-wish insanity and abuse. The only place that describes their relationship as "love that develops between them as they work to solve the fuel cell’s fatal flaw threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked so hard to create" is the book jacket description. Otherwise, readers are left to feel their feels, as I have, and come to their own conclusions about what was happening there. I actually think that this description is a potential detriment and risk to readers going into the book. This section was the scariest, most intense part of the book.
That being said, the book, on the whole, is a strange combination of an extremely intellectual woman's growth from girlhood to adulthood and how she approaches, analyzes, and interacts with the world, and a quest to rescue a team of astronauts stranded due to failed engineering of their ship's fuel cells - invented by the girl (June's) equally intellectual uncle.
Anyone suggesting June is an unsympathetic character really fails to understand the range of human personality and interpersonal interaction. I would argue that those individuals are more akin to any character in the book who has written June off as awkward and strange, rather than coming to appreciate that her brain is different than yours. I actually found her very sympathetic BECAUSE of her apparent awkwardness and difficulty with human interaction. She yearns to help, but doesn't quite know how, outside of creating what her intellect tells her to create, and doesn't take into account how her actions could hurt feelings or be perceived differently than helpful. Her whole life is her trying to help, despite those around her seeming to decide she isn't needed. Turns out she is essential, and lovable, and there are others who understand and appreciate her. She isn't some robot who only wants acclaim and recognition, she wants to be a part of a team, she wants to rescue lives, she sees when others are treating people poorly or writing them off (see James' treatment of Theresa later in the book), she feels it deeply when her actions have unexpected and painful consequences (see her assumption about how Amelia must feel after the accident). June is incredibly layered, and incredibly fascinating.
The book is set up in about 4 or 5 sort of "stages" of June's life, where we move from her time as a child, to her time at space school, to her time in space, to her time on the Pink Planet. Also, the Pink Planet is this strange place that wasn't immediately real to me, but soon turns out is a planet in this book's galaxy where they are running agricultural experiments and have solar farms and use as a launch point for further space travel, so the book moves forward into a bit of a science fiction realm, but more in the way of "Melancholia" than any hardcore sci fi story.
All in all, I really liked how this book felt - dreamy, lush, strange. I'll admit to skimming some of the more technical engineering talk, but I felt each shift in this book was perfectly placed and timed and I was ready for each change or growth in storyline. Also, I'll mention that dialogue doesn't have quotes (only because some reviews speak to this being too hard for them), but I found this incredibly easy to adapt to. If you've read Jose Saramago, for example, no quotes or line breaks for dialogue, so this is certainly not a revolutionary or singular style. At least there are line breaks in this book, and, like I said, I even forgot about it at some point. I also think it adds to the dreamy quality of the book, as it feels sort of like it's all happening in a different plane of reality, rather than a straightforward style work of fiction.
That being said, the book, on the whole, is a strange combination of an extremely intellectual woman's growth from girlhood to adulthood and how she approaches, analyzes, and interacts with the world, and a quest to rescue a team of astronauts stranded due to failed engineering of their ship's fuel cells - invented by the girl (June's) equally intellectual uncle.
Anyone suggesting June is an unsympathetic character really fails to understand the range of human personality and interpersonal interaction. I would argue that those individuals are more akin to any character in the book who has written June off as awkward and strange, rather than coming to appreciate that her brain is different than yours. I actually found her very sympathetic BECAUSE of her apparent awkwardness and difficulty with human interaction. She yearns to help, but doesn't quite know how, outside of creating what her intellect tells her to create, and doesn't take into account how her actions could hurt feelings or be perceived differently than helpful. Her whole life is her trying to help, despite those around her seeming to decide she isn't needed. Turns out she is essential, and lovable, and there are others who understand and appreciate her. She isn't some robot who only wants acclaim and recognition, she wants to be a part of a team, she wants to rescue lives, she sees when others are treating people poorly or writing them off (see James' treatment of Theresa later in the book), she feels it deeply when her actions have unexpected and painful consequences (see her assumption about how Amelia must feel after the accident). June is incredibly layered, and incredibly fascinating.
The book is set up in about 4 or 5 sort of "stages" of June's life, where we move from her time as a child, to her time at space school, to her time in space, to her time on the Pink Planet. Also, the Pink Planet is this strange place that wasn't immediately real to me, but soon turns out is a planet in this book's galaxy where they are running agricultural experiments and have solar farms and use as a launch point for further space travel, so the book moves forward into a bit of a science fiction realm, but more in the way of "Melancholia" than any hardcore sci fi story.
All in all, I really liked how this book felt - dreamy, lush, strange. I'll admit to skimming some of the more technical engineering talk, but I felt each shift in this book was perfectly placed and timed and I was ready for each change or growth in storyline. Also, I'll mention that dialogue doesn't have quotes (only because some reviews speak to this being too hard for them), but I found this incredibly easy to adapt to. If you've read Jose Saramago, for example, no quotes or line breaks for dialogue, so this is certainly not a revolutionary or singular style. At least there are line breaks in this book, and, like I said, I even forgot about it at some point. I also think it adds to the dreamy quality of the book, as it feels sort of like it's all happening in a different plane of reality, rather than a straightforward style work of fiction.
A generally enjoyable plot but the pacing was pedantic at best.
Fabulous #MightyGirl story reminiscent of The Martian. Great for any woman who has had her opinions dismissed or ignored, and what woman hasn't? It's the type of sci-fi that requires almost no wild suspension of disbelief, just a few years into the future where space travel and colonization is more common. Not my usual fare, but superb writing.
Jane Eyre in space sounds cool and it wasn’t bad, kinda slow but interesting, but that ending!!!
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is not a romance novel. Ignore the publisher's description of this book. This is a story about a brilliant young woman who understands engineering problems, but not people, and the relationships she manages to build anyway. There is some weird stuff in there that comes from Jane Eyre, but it really isn't the point. The audio book was brilliantly narrated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
I liked this book so much more than If, Then, which I DNF’d. In the Quick has a few long and meandering patches like If, Then, but enough momentum to carry one to the next focused narrative section. If you like engineering and talk of tinkering with tools and machine parts, perhaps you will not mind some meandering.
Suspend some disbelief. It is after all, science fiction, and expect some places to read like YA. Twelve-year-old June loves to take things apart and put them back together. She is a prodigy who gets to go to a special school to learn engineering and subsequently go to space at a 19-year-old, where she travels to a pink planet to help find the solution to a problem that has stranded some astronauts in space.
I was thinking 3 stars as I read this novel until the end. Hope Day sticks the ending—so subtle and perfect, I thought about it for long after.
Suspend some disbelief. It is after all, science fiction, and expect some places to read like YA. Twelve-year-old June loves to take things apart and put them back together. She is a prodigy who gets to go to a special school to learn engineering and subsequently go to space at a 19-year-old, where she travels to a pink planet to help find the solution to a problem that has stranded some astronauts in space.
I was thinking 3 stars as I read this novel until the end. Hope Day sticks the ending—so subtle and perfect, I thought about it for long after.