Reviews

To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers

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ponyoplant's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I was not ready for this book. It took me a bit to get used to the beginning, and then it flowed like water. What an amazing read, I love how gentle Becky Chambers is with her character; so reading this made me went to redive into the cocoon of a long way to a small angry planet

I typically detract stars if something is icky (problematic, discriminatory etc) and unfortunately, most book meet that exceedingly low bar. This book had literally none of that which I am SO UNBELIEVABLY THANKFUL FOR

When I was reading it, I was first considering 4 stars just because it wasn't gripping me
.. at first. I was lulled in by the narrator's voice and cadence and eventually, although not high in action, I couldn't put it down, wanting to keep exploring worlds with these characters

ALSO I am so fucking happy to read a vegan book (I don't know if the author is vegan but it seems impossible to me to write this book, these ideas, and eat non human animals. It's so so refreshing to finally read a book that aligns itself with my own ideals and ethics.
The underlying ethics is just so warm and beautiful

Like Chikondi's reaction to killing the creature, that wrecked me.. Also on the topic of emotional distress, I will say the time on Opera hit me so hard, everyone's reaction to it was so heartwrenching. When I saw i wasn't ready, I mean Opera and the ending, the latter being so bittersweer

Would recommend for anyone who wants to see another side to sci fi although I would check the trigger warnings for sure

sci_twi02's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sacmills's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional reflective 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? No

4.5

archaeomancer's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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? No

4.0

kelshenka's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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

max_the_lesbrarian's review against another edition

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5.0

4.5 stars

Acting as a prequel to the Wayfarer series, this novella follows four scientists' voyage to distant planets set during the mentioned societal and technological collapse of Earth in the main series. It was a really cool perspective not only giving some background to the series but a really fun mesh of science and science fiction (I would 100% reach a full length novel of just then exploring made-up planets) as we followed the trials and tribulations of our crew. I would definitely agree with some of the other reviewers that the end was a bit abrupt, but I think I liked it nonetheless? (honestly, this is why I took the half star off)

Also, definitely take the couple of minutes the read the interview between the author and her mother, it was both cute and a really cool discussion about the place of science in scifi and vice versa.