Scan barcode
writtenechoes's review against another edition
3.0
The authors language use was over the top, I guess in order to seem more intelligent but it ended up coming over less verbose and ineffectual. It actually ruined the mood of the novel... Gloss wanted to accomplish too much in a small 250 pages.
ashsalt's review against another edition
1.0
I thought I was going to love this novel. It's slow and loosely focused. Rather than focusing on fast-paced action, it reflects on community, privacy, and group decision making, and that seems perfect to portray a generations-long journey like this. I loved the unique angle of having adherents of peace religions as potential colonists going out into space.
Content warning: The next part of this review discusses rape.
.
.
.
But about halfway through the book, there is a rape, an absolutely unnecessary and very badly dealt with rape. We get characters who won't actually call it rape, a committee who shows up to try to make peace between the woman and her husband-rapist, and just a muddle from the author as far as what we're supposed to take from all of this. Maybe it's supposed to highlight the lack of privacy in these close quarters and the urgent need for everyone to work together because they're stuck on this ship together, but none of the POV characters think about this stuff in a way that makes it feel worthwhile to include the rape at all.
I especially abhor the way the novel seems to suggest we should empathize with the rapist because he was having such a rough few weeks before he raped his wife. And the rape takes place in one of his POV chapters. It's quite upsetting to read, and nothing that takes place after justifies including the rape at all, particularly in this manner.
This book had so much promise and so many things I'd rather be discussing than the rape in the middle. But the novel is irredeemable. A few weeks ago I was excitedly talking about this book to other people I thought might like it. Now I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Content warning: The next part of this review discusses rape.
.
.
.
But about halfway through the book, there is a rape, an absolutely unnecessary and very badly dealt with rape. We get characters who won't actually call it rape, a committee who shows up to try to make peace between the woman and her husband-rapist, and just a muddle from the author as far as what we're supposed to take from all of this. Maybe it's supposed to highlight the lack of privacy in these close quarters and the urgent need for everyone to work together because they're stuck on this ship together, but none of the POV characters think about this stuff in a way that makes it feel worthwhile to include the rape at all.
I especially abhor the way the novel seems to suggest we should empathize with the rapist because he was having such a rough few weeks before he raped his wife. And the rape takes place in one of his POV chapters. It's quite upsetting to read, and nothing that takes place after justifies including the rape at all, particularly in this manner.
This book had so much promise and so many things I'd rather be discussing than the rape in the middle. But the novel is irredeemable. A few weeks ago I was excitedly talking about this book to other people I thought might like it. Now I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
stiricide's review against another edition
DNF, don't remember why. Just realized that I checked it out from the library (ebook) and never picked it back up. Moving on.
meha's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Quakers In Space! I was captivated by the simplicity of the situation- aging ship, imperfect planet, scared humans doing the best the can. Beautiful writing, and uncomfortable, unflinchingly close to home in capturing the parts of ourselves we would bring with us if we escaped this Spaceship Earth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
katieraegordon's review against another edition
5.0
a Quaker sci-fi that imagines the discerning questions & conversations a community has as they search for a new planetary home. The spiritual wisdom amidst apocalypse & transition made this such an incredible work of visionary fiction. It made me think a lot about the work of creating committed communities that can weather challenges of the future together... while rooting in traditions that are so much bigger and longer than any present crisis. A spiritual lineage that serves the future ones.
coris's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Suicide, Child death, and Chronic illness
Minor: Infidelity and Pandemic/Epidemic
justiceofkalr's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of slow sci-fi that I really love to sink into. There are plagues, shuttle crashes, and colonizing a new planet but those are all background events that in some senses don't really matter. The real story is the people in the ship and their relationship to the universe and their potential new world. There's a lot about how we treat and interact with our surroundings and how they in turn affect us.
curatoriasol's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
leeeeeeeeeeeeee's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
markcummings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0