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chanelchapters's review against another edition
DNF
Recommended to me by a guy I went on a date with.
It was so slow, and monotone and dull. I kept zoning out. Putting it down helped me ascend out of the boredom.
Recommended to me by a guy I went on a date with.
It was so slow, and monotone and dull. I kept zoning out. Putting it down helped me ascend out of the boredom.
dkludt23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
soupgirl9's review against another edition
5.0
had to go on a walk through the woods after finishing this one...much to consider...pondering...
becky_ell0's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I’m reeling
(Perhaps I will write a more proper review once I’ve processed)
(Perhaps I will write a more proper review once I’ve processed)
lilyjulianna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Beautifully written, an interesting mix of sci fi and reflections on morality. A bit too serious at times
edwarddtaylor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
rosiegjay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
tdavidovsky's review against another edition
4.0
This book contains a paradox: It's impossible to study something without already having some prior knowledge of it.
This paradox is relevant in all fields of science. The devices built to detect various natural phenomena are designed with specifications that limit their ability to pick up on anything too unexpected or out of the ordinary. The human mind itself is great with patterns and making predictions. However, once the prediction is made, the brain usually only percieves what it expects to. In other words, there's evidence that the mind actively constructs a subjective reality just as much as it passively observes an objective one. It's possible that the extraordinary is everywhere, but humans lack the tools and imagination to know about it.
In In Ascension, it does seem as though something extraordinary is afoot. Is it aliens? Is it God? Is it something else? Can it answer questions about the origins and purpose of life? Can it save the world from climate catastrophe? No one seems to know for sure. Truth is difficult to obtain when everyone has their biases. The same problems arise outside of scientific research. In politics, interpersonal relationships, history, and sociology, it's always the case that truth is nebulous and difficult to pin down.
Thus begins a story about science and discovery, about fear of the unknown, about how biases and blindspots prevent us from seeing what's right in front of us, about trauma and unreliable memory, and about the challenges in understanding history and nature.
Leigh, the book's protagonist, comes from a troubled home, but she makes her escape, becoming quite the scientist and explorer in the midst of a climate crisis. Obsessed with the origins of life, she studies microbiology, but her career takes a number of exciting twists and turns that eventually send her to places no human has ever been before. She's the perfect narrator for a book that so effortlessly blurs the lines between humanity and the natural world. Philisophical and introspective, she tells a story that is at once a portrayal of how terrifying the universe is and a dazzling reminder of all the wonderful life it contains. Just like the oceans described within it, the story is at times murky, freaky, and mysterious, but it's also beautiful and very much worth exploring.
This paradox is relevant in all fields of science. The devices built to detect various natural phenomena are designed with specifications that limit their ability to pick up on anything too unexpected or out of the ordinary. The human mind itself is great with patterns and making predictions. However, once the prediction is made, the brain usually only percieves what it expects to. In other words, there's evidence that the mind actively constructs a subjective reality just as much as it passively observes an objective one. It's possible that the extraordinary is everywhere, but humans lack the tools and imagination to know about it.
In In Ascension, it does seem as though something extraordinary is afoot. Is it aliens? Is it God? Is it something else? Can it answer questions about the origins and purpose of life? Can it save the world from climate catastrophe? No one seems to know for sure. Truth is difficult to obtain when everyone has their biases. The same problems arise outside of scientific research. In politics, interpersonal relationships, history, and sociology, it's always the case that truth is nebulous and difficult to pin down.
Thus begins a story about science and discovery, about fear of the unknown, about how biases and blindspots prevent us from seeing what's right in front of us, about trauma and unreliable memory, and about the challenges in understanding history and nature.
Leigh, the book's protagonist, comes from a troubled home, but she makes her escape, becoming quite the scientist and explorer in the midst of a climate crisis. Obsessed with the origins of life, she studies microbiology, but her career takes a number of exciting twists and turns that eventually send her to places no human has ever been before. She's the perfect narrator for a book that so effortlessly blurs the lines between humanity and the natural world. Philisophical and introspective, she tells a story that is at once a portrayal of how terrifying the universe is and a dazzling reminder of all the wonderful life it contains. Just like the oceans described within it, the story is at times murky, freaky, and mysterious, but it's also beautiful and very much worth exploring.
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
In Ascension has been slowly getting media attention, and most of it positive. i can see why: the plot is intelligent, characters are believable and the writing is superb. Not to mention it’s a layered story open to interpretation.
Leigh is a victim of physical abuse from her father when she was young. These incidents have shaped her thought processes and her career as a marine biologist (I guess that’s on can call her) as she finds the water as an escape from all problems. Her main speciality is discovering the source of life through single celled organisms, which later develops into Algae cell regeneration.
One day a trench is discovered in the Atlantic Ocean and Leigh and a team have discovered that the trench yields some discoveries. Furthermore later on in the book another trench is discovered in space and also yields messages from beyond.
In a way I was reminded of Carl Sagan’s Contact : Although that was also about human and alien contact it also treated deeper feelings and In Ascension does the same; Leigh talks about her relationship with her ailing mother and the on and off one she has with her younger sister Helen but her relationship with father leaves an impact. When Leigh has to go to outer space in order to investigate she focuses on how her family will take it.
The other relationships which are the main focus of the book is how humankind’s origins lay in the stars and, well, everything around us from vast outer space to the deep ocean, the link to our existence lays there and Martin MacInnes brings this out beautifully, and tragically as well.
The writing, as I said, is fantastic. There’s a mot of warmth and humanity plus quite a bit of scientific jargon but don’t let that put you off, This is a highly addictive read that will pique your curiosity with each page.
I wish I can say that this is a perfect novel. At times I did feel that there was a loss of focus at times but whenever these moments occurred Martin MacInnes easily places you back in the story with some of Leigh’s backstory or her connection to a family member.
To return to Carl Sagan – his famous quote about being made of star stuff is one of the main themes of In Ascension and I think it’s done excellently. In Ascension is a powerful, astute work and I can see it as a landmark work.
Leigh is a victim of physical abuse from her father when she was young. These incidents have shaped her thought processes and her career as a marine biologist (I guess that’s on can call her) as she finds the water as an escape from all problems. Her main speciality is discovering the source of life through single celled organisms, which later develops into Algae cell regeneration.
One day a trench is discovered in the Atlantic Ocean and Leigh and a team have discovered that the trench yields some discoveries. Furthermore later on in the book another trench is discovered in space and also yields messages from beyond.
In a way I was reminded of Carl Sagan’s Contact : Although that was also about human and alien contact it also treated deeper feelings and In Ascension does the same; Leigh talks about her relationship with her ailing mother and the on and off one she has with her younger sister Helen but her relationship with father leaves an impact. When Leigh has to go to outer space in order to investigate she focuses on how her family will take it.
The other relationships which are the main focus of the book is how humankind’s origins lay in the stars and, well, everything around us from vast outer space to the deep ocean, the link to our existence lays there and Martin MacInnes brings this out beautifully, and tragically as well.
The writing, as I said, is fantastic. There’s a mot of warmth and humanity plus quite a bit of scientific jargon but don’t let that put you off, This is a highly addictive read that will pique your curiosity with each page.
I wish I can say that this is a perfect novel. At times I did feel that there was a loss of focus at times but whenever these moments occurred Martin MacInnes easily places you back in the story with some of Leigh’s backstory or her connection to a family member.
To return to Carl Sagan – his famous quote about being made of star stuff is one of the main themes of In Ascension and I think it’s done excellently. In Ascension is a powerful, astute work and I can see it as a landmark work.