Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers

5 reviews

the_reading_wren's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Wow, what a story! Far darker than the first book in the series, but with the same themes of found family, healing and growth that made it worthwhile reading for me. This book also focuses on the theme of feeling at home (whether in a space, with others or within your own body). Of course the world building is fantastic too, as I’ve come to expect from Chambers, and the political, social and economic systems are interwoven through the narrative to provide plenty of moments to reflect on our own world. Overall a really satisfying answer to many of the unresolved questions left by book 1. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Child death, Forced institutionalization, and Slavery

Moderate: Alcohol, Animal death, Abandonment, Blood, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Drug use, Physical abuse, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content

Minor: Chronic illness, War, Infertility, Pregnancy, and Violence

librarymouse's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

I sat I my kitchen crying as

Owl told Pepper not to cry and that she was there, and I didn't stop crying till the end of the book, though the tears were for a variety of different emotions. These characters are so easy to love. Sidra learning how to be a person, including her inate instincts and not ridding herself of the unique aspects that are core to her is such a huge and beautiful storyline, which I read as allegorical for neurodivergence. Tak is a great friend, and Owl getting to see Pepper and Blue Shepard Sidra into personhood as she'd done for Pepper was beautiful. Sidra and Owl getting to share digital space is beautiful and I long for a continuation of the story in which AI are granted legal personhood. I know the series continues and god I hope that change in political landscape is a part of it. My heart is full with Owl and her reunion with Pepper; being able to finally hug the girl she's loved and raised for years. My heart breaks for Lovey and what could have been.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Medical content, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Animal death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, and Grief

Minor: Deportation and Slavery

novella42's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I have yet to find a sci-fi author who handles themes of disability, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and mental health with the same deeply grounded compassion of Becky Chambers. This book is one of the harder reads in this series, but I love it to pieces, I love the characters, I love where it takes you, love the way it makes me feel by the end. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Slavery, Eating disorder, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Infertility, and Mental illness

Minor: Cancer

Spoiler-level clarification on the eating disorder tag.

The character doesn't have an eating disorder but there's no tag for starvation or extreme malnutrition, and I think that could have a big impact for someone with an eating disorder.

Also, if you have trauma around dogs, this might be a hard read.

hannahrogers's review

emotional lighthearted reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Classism, and Vomit

strange's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The wayfarer's series is almost certainly my favorite series of all time (I'm currently in the midst of a slow reread to work my way to the fourth book), and while I love the first book wholeheartedly and find the third to be wonderful and inspiring, this one connects to me on a personal level more than most books I've ever read. While I don't know if the neurodivergent coding of the main AI character, Sidra, is intentional, as an autistic person I found myself relating to her quite possibly more than any other character I've seen in media. There's so much more I can say but... I don't have the words nor the space to say it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Medical content, Physical abuse, Violence, Slavery, Alcohol, and Animal death

Moderate: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Forced institutionalization, and Drug use

Minor: Cancer

There are a lot of triggers in here, but this is not by any means a dark book. It covers some pretty heavy topics, but it manages to keep a relatively warm and comforting tone throughout.