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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really don’t understand how I enjoyed a book where literally nothing happens but here we are. Although it’s just a book about a guy going about his everyday sci-fi life, this book still manages to be fun and endearing enough to keep the pages turning.
I ended up enjoying this way more than I expected. I read The Wizard's Butler recently and liked it, but felt like it was a bit tedious. I'm glad to say I did not run into this issue with Quater Share.
I'm used to scifi being so dramatic, it was nice reading about every day people and their experiences during every day life.
The characters where fun and charming. The mc is kind of a Gary Stu. He constanstaly comes up with obvious ideas and the other characters treat him like the next coming of Einstein or something. But he's still easy to root for. While reading I found myself wishing I could work on the spaceship just so I could be around such nice and supportive people.
Unfortunately, I've looked into the next 2 books in this series, and they just sound a bit too much like male wish fulfillment to me, so I probably won't read them. But I still throughly enjoyed this first book from the series and I'll keep and eye out for more book from this author.
I'm used to scifi being so dramatic, it was nice reading about every day people and their experiences during every day life.
The characters where fun and charming. The mc is kind of a Gary Stu. He constanstaly comes up with obvious ideas and the other characters treat him like the next coming of Einstein or something. But he's still easy to root for. While reading I found myself wishing I could work on the spaceship just so I could be around such nice and supportive people.
Unfortunately, I've looked into the next 2 books in this series, and they just sound a bit too much like male wish fulfillment to me, so I probably won't read them. But I still throughly enjoyed this first book from the series and I'll keep and eye out for more book from this author.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Quarter Share is the slowest-paced book I've ever read and as a result it took me eight months to finish it. Much to my surprise, I was easily able to set this book down and pick it up weeks later without losing track of what was going on with the characters and the story--I'd *mostly* call this a strength because it's what allowed me to finish the book instead of abandon it.
I was fascinated by the promise of a story set in space where not a lot of high stakes action or political drama was unfolding at every turn--in fact there were no "turns," just a gentle lilt to one side when a new conundrum was revealed for the plucky protagonist to deftly solve. Looking forward to checking out the rest of the series when I'm looking for another cozy read.
I was fascinated by the promise of a story set in space where not a lot of high stakes action or political drama was unfolding at every turn--in fact there were no "turns," just a gentle lilt to one side when a new conundrum was revealed for the plucky protagonist to deftly solve. Looking forward to checking out the rest of the series when I'm looking for another cozy read.
My husband and I discussed this book as part of our He Read, She Read video series.
Click here to watch! If you're into that sort of thing. ;)
Click here to watch! If you're into that sort of thing. ;)
No conflict, no action, no drama. And I love it. This short novel reminds me a lot of Becky Chambers' first book, but while Chambers is more focused on relationships and feelings, this book is Competence Porn. Sure, the main character is a bit Marty Stu-ish, but you know what? I don't care. It was nice to read about day-to-day life of a well-run spaceship.
I mean, we all read "Starman Jones" and "Solar Queen", but they both were about ships where things were not quite all right, and bad stuff happened because of that. Here, we have an example of a perfectly run ship, with stern, but kind captain, friendly competent crew, and enough money to avoid patching critical things up with duct tape. This setup doesn't lend itself well to "adventures", because the goal of any sane captain on the sea of water, or stars, is to avoid adventures and excitement at any cost. This crew, unlike Heinlein's and Norton's, is successful at it, and I'm happy for them.
I mean, we all read "Starman Jones" and "Solar Queen", but they both were about ships where things were not quite all right, and bad stuff happened because of that. Here, we have an example of a perfectly run ship, with stern, but kind captain, friendly competent crew, and enough money to avoid patching critical things up with duct tape. This setup doesn't lend itself well to "adventures", because the goal of any sane captain on the sea of water, or stars, is to avoid adventures and excitement at any cost. This crew, unlike Heinlein's and Norton's, is successful at it, and I'm happy for them.
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Living on a company planet, just turned 18, our hero loses his mother, and in quick succession his inheritance, place to live, and plans to study. You'd think this might be accompanied by some serious grieving & stress, but no, he bucks up and lands himself as a job as a galley hand on a starship. Problems solved!
For the rest of the time, well, other bad things certainly happen -- for example, they haven'tcleaned the coffee urn in months, so he needs to spruce it up before he can amaze everyone with his barista skills! No-one tells him where the gym is for several chapters! Someone pranks him about how to put on an emergency space suit! And, yes, that's the level of conflict in this book.
Now, I'm all in for a solid cosy read if the characters are good. However, Ishmael Wang has a secret name, and that name is Gary Stu! All the women start to fancy him a bit. All the men think he's a jolly fellow. He pitches in to work in other departments for funsies. He occasionally misses his mum momentarily, then heads off to study like no-one has ever studied before, or leer secretly at his female shipmates. (Not a LGBTQIA+ book in any sense. So Much Straight.)
I went on with the series, thinking there might be more complexity in later books. And there is a tiny bit more, but also midshipman Gary Stu saves the day repeatedly, romances women from 18 to 60+ (including mother and daughter), succeeds at everything he tries, and so I bailed after book 3. Perhaps worth considering if you're in the mood for cosy sci-fi, but it lacks the heart of a Becky Chambers or the whimsy of Ferrett Steinmetz, Meredith Katz or recent TJ Klunes, so honestly, consider literally any of those first, then read this as a standalone.
For the rest of the time, well, other bad things certainly happen -- for example, they haven't
Now, I'm all in for a solid cosy read if the characters are good. However, Ishmael Wang has a secret name, and that name is Gary Stu! All the women start to fancy him a bit. All the men think he's a jolly fellow. He pitches in to work in other departments for funsies. He occasionally misses his mum momentarily, then heads off to study like no-one has ever studied before, or leer secretly at his female shipmates. (Not a LGBTQIA+ book in any sense. So Much Straight.)
I went on with the series, thinking there might be more complexity in later books. And there is a tiny bit more, but also midshipman Gary Stu saves the day repeatedly, romances women from 18 to 60+ (including mother and daughter), succeeds at everything he tries, and so I bailed after book 3. Perhaps worth considering if you're in the mood for cosy sci-fi, but it lacks the heart of a Becky Chambers or the whimsy of Ferrett Steinmetz, Meredith Katz or recent TJ Klunes, so honestly, consider literally any of those first, then read this as a standalone.
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
For some reason, our MC had a 'revolutionary' idea that everyone and their mother was absolutely salivating over. Except it was a very basic idea. And it started feeling like someone's fantasy of being cool in space.
easy reading entertainment; reminds me a lot of "the long way to a small angry planet" style of writing. nothing serious, but great stuff to rest one's eyes.