8.63k reviews for:

To Be Taught, If Fortunate

Becky Chambers

4.27 AVERAGE

ginagene's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I found this book to be very enlightening when it comes to the realities of space travel — the opportunities, limitations, dangers, potential, the amount of time and planning involved. It also raises some major philosophical questions about if we should do it at all, and for what aims or purpose, and what our exploration would mean for other life forms that may exist in the universe. The writing is very science-y and technical, and I think there could’ve been more focus on the human toil of the astronauts, but I found it very interesting overall.

may_4's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-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: Complicated

bookishkb's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective

Loveable characters: Yes

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“Viewed in this way, you can never again see a tree as a single entity, despite its visual dominance. It towers. It’s impressive. But in the end, it’s a fragile endeavour that can only stand thanks to the contributions of many. We celebrate the tree that stretches to the sky, but it is the ground we should ultimately thank.“

serendipity_library's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad 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

tell_them_stories's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous hopeful informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

lynnw's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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: Yes

becky1209's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

hyenapunk's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful medium-paced

xielian's review against another edition

5.0

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This book was so powerful especially in how it made me feel so many different emotions when it was just a few pages long I'm honestly amazed and I think Becky Chambers is on the way to become my favourite author now. Gonna be thinking about this book for months to come.

discoverypaper's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I really enjoyed this, but felt that it ended much too quickly after the crew discussed what to do at the end of the mission. Such is the case with novellas I suppose.