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kmhst25's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
2.75
Womanhood as defined by female authors in the 1960s was bleak. Weakness and accepted inferiority; desire to be sexually and socially dominated; desperation for a husband and children; crushing depression after the husband and children were obtained. I have never read a book written by a woman in the 1960s that didn't paint some part of that picture.
You'd think a book about a sentient space ship wouldn't fall into that trap, but you'd be wrong. Gender perceptions in this book are rough. In fact, the whole book is basically a sci-fi version of a Bridget Jones-esque attempt to find a man. And, as another reviewer pointed out, three women in this book become suicidal over the loss of a man. Layer on some stereotypes and uncomfortable relationships, and it's a lot.
Gender issues aside, there are some entertaining stories in here. Multiple of the storylines were unique and inventive, and I was generally having an okay time when I wasn't wondering what was in the water in the 60s. But the characters are pretty meh, either lacking in characterization or so over the top that they don't feel real, and there was a lot of drawn out conversation that got pretty tedious.
You'd think a book about a sentient space ship wouldn't fall into that trap, but you'd be wrong. Gender perceptions in this book are rough. In fact, the whole book is basically a sci-fi version of a Bridget Jones-esque attempt to find a man. And, as another reviewer pointed out, three women in this book become suicidal over the loss of a man. Layer on some stereotypes and uncomfortable relationships, and it's a lot.
Gender issues aside, there are some entertaining stories in here. Multiple of the storylines were unique and inventive, and I was generally having an okay time when I wasn't wondering what was in the water in the 60s. But the characters are pretty meh, either lacking in characterization or so over the top that they don't feel real, and there was a lot of drawn out conversation that got pretty tedious.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Misogyny
valjeanval's review
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A foundational science fiction piece that while very progressive for its time, doesn’t really hold up to modern lenses of feminism and disability. Worth a read, but with more than a few grains of salt.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Ableism, Grief, and Sexism
joa_price's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The basic premise of this story is deeply uncomfortable from a modern perspective. The time this was written and the context of that time cannot be ignored. There are many more in-depth conversations about the way womanhood, disability and slavery are discussed and dealt with in this book and I’d encourage readers to take these into account for this wonderfully clever book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Torture, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, Slavery, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Body horror, Misogyny, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Grief
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