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Reviews tagging 'Police brutality'
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
33 reviews
brucethegirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
A motley crew begin their assignment to reach a small planet that's beginning talks for inclusion in the intergalactic government. But this book isn't about that. It's not about the planet in question, or the complex ruling government body over the universe. It's about the team on this space ship. How they learn to become a family unit. How they learn about each other, and welcome each other ever closer into their hearts. This book is about creating space for the people you care about, and letting them care for you. And its about trusting the people in your life to make the best decisions for themselves.
Something I loved about this book was the general sci-fi cozy of it. There are so few "cozy" sci-fi books, and it was just such a nice relaxing read about space travel and aliens. Chambers also excels in the cozy sci-fi genre as a whole with her sophomore series, Monk and Robot, which I read first. I love how the characters, even ones who already know they love each other and consider each other family, are still learning and trusting ever more. How they all begin to acknowledge they're more than just co-workers, they are a family flying through space together.
I will say there was one point towards the end that really calls into the question the right to make decisions over your own body, regardless of the harm such choices make to those around you. It's a little bit of a complicated situation, and I won't get into details, because spoilers. But if body autonomy is a big trigger/issue for you, I WOULD suggest skipping this one.
That said, I don't even know how to fully talk about this book. Not without giving away any other spoilers, but just in terms of nothing big ever actually happens. I would even argue nothing ever happens until the very end. This isn't a book to read when you want complicated love triangles, or dashing galaxy saving pirates, or anything of the like. Who love the idea of a cozy book, but don't enjoy fantasy or mystery. This is a book for those who love popping on Firefly or Cowboy Bebop in the background.
Something I loved about this book was the general sci-fi cozy of it. There are so few "cozy" sci-fi books, and it was just such a nice relaxing read about space travel and aliens. Chambers also excels in the cozy sci-fi genre as a whole with her sophomore series, Monk and Robot, which I read first. I love how the characters, even ones who already know they love each other and consider each other family, are still learning and trusting ever more. How they all begin to acknowledge they're more than just co-workers, they are a family flying through space together.
I will say there was one point towards the end that really calls into the question the right to make decisions over your own body, regardless of the harm such choices make to those around you. It's a little bit of a complicated situation, and I won't get into details, because spoilers. But if body autonomy is a big trigger/issue for you, I WOULD suggest skipping this one.
That said, I don't even know how to fully talk about this book. Not without giving away any other spoilers, but just in terms of nothing big ever actually happens. I would even argue nothing ever happens until the very end. This isn't a book to read when you want complicated love triangles, or dashing galaxy saving pirates, or anything of the like. Who love the idea of a cozy book, but don't enjoy fantasy or mystery. This is a book for those who love popping on Firefly or Cowboy Bebop in the background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, and Police brutality
loss of body autonomytoastedoats42's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Death, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, and War
anjasshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Torture, Colonisation, Death, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug use
ekcd_'s review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
The characters are lovable but only because they designed to be lovable. As a result they come off as unrealistic and one dimensional. Even the cantankerous foil to the other sickly sweet personas on board is given a tragic backstory designed to inspire the reader to love him.
It’s an incredibly slow book, plot wise, and the few plot events we do see dont make sense. The characters have odd reactions - socially and culturally. And god knows Becky Chambers lives to talk about how different all her aliens are. There is a weird fixation on sex and sexual differences in the book which could have been a fun exploration in sexuality if it was done well but instead it felt like she was patting herself on the back for coming up with such sexually diverse races/species. Several times in the book she says outright “yeah XYZ is so different from humans” and like that’s it.
I feel like I read a different book than all the critics (formal and informal) who have such high praise. This read like a YA novel or children’s cartoon that feeds the reader emotions with a spoon. I’m fact, most of the world building in general is fed to the reader with a spoon- it’s explicit and heavy handed OR it’s nonsense words that are never explained or expanded on. It’s clear the author uses letters and characters who are librarians to shoehorn in world building she wasn’t creative enough to build into the narrative. No nuance, no complexity. Just a feel good mill, which I personally do not like. I want moral ambiguity and conflict in my space opera.
It’s an incredibly slow book, plot wise, and the few plot events we do see dont make sense. The characters have odd reactions - socially and culturally. And god knows Becky Chambers lives to talk about how different all her aliens are. There is a weird fixation on sex and sexual differences in the book which could have been a fun exploration in sexuality if it was done well but instead it felt like she was patting herself on the back for coming up with such sexually diverse races/species. Several times in the book she says outright “yeah XYZ is so different from humans” and like that’s it.
I feel like I read a different book than all the critics (formal and informal) who have such high praise. This read like a YA novel or children’s cartoon that feeds the reader emotions with a spoon. I’m fact, most of the world building in general is fed to the reader with a spoon- it’s explicit and heavy handed OR it’s nonsense words that are never explained or expanded on. It’s clear the author uses letters and characters who are librarians to shoehorn in world building she wasn’t creative enough to build into the narrative. No nuance, no complexity. Just a feel good mill, which I personally do not like. I want moral ambiguity and conflict in my space opera.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Colonisation, Deadnaming, Police brutality, Drug use, Grief, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Cultural appropriation, Cursing, Toxic friendship, Violence, Alcohol, War, Death, Genocide, and Classism
Moderate: Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Gun violence, and Blood
eni_iilorak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Death, Terminal illness, Police brutality, Confinement, Grief, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Blood, Racism, Violence, War, Medical content, and Xenophobia
Minor: Cursing
razzberry_pi's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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
4.5
really great found family story with just enough tension to keep it interesting.
lots of interesting ethics and parallels to the real world in terms of religions, police brutality, xenophobia and more.
some of the ethical problems especially related to medical autonomy of a character are not handled in the best way, but overall pretty good
lots of interesting ethics and parallels to the real world in terms of religions, police brutality, xenophobia and more.
some of the ethical problems especially related to
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Police brutality, Violence, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexual content
aceofknives's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, Terminal illness, Police brutality, and Confinement
Moderate: Vomit
cookiecat73's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, Torture, Chronic illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Terminal illness, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Grief, Medical content, Violence, Acephobia/Arophobia, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Incest, Classism, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Self harm, Vomit, and War
calamitymeat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
There was an inconsistency in the world building that just seemed like the author didn't fully think through or remember the entire time she was writing. I don't think it's even very noticeable, but I spent the entire read joking about it because I thought it was funny and that is the usage of gender neutral pronouns.
In the beginning of the book, Sissix is telling Rosemary about the other members of the crew and brings up Ohan, referring to him (his pronouns change by the end of the book) with they/them pronouns. Rosemary makes a mental note of Sissix using what she considers "plural pronouns". Later, when she is unsure of what pronouns to use for him, she refers to him using xe. Don't get me wrong, I am ecstatic to see neopronouns used in a physical, published book, but I am ASTOUNDED that they/them has completely phased out as a neutral pronoun.
At least, that is what you are led to believe. Later on in the book, Rosemary refers to someone using they/them pronouns, despite using he/him to refer to the same person earlier in the book. I am 1000% positive because i went back and checked and JENKS uses they/them to refer to someone whose gender he doesn't know. Conclusion? Rosemary is transphobic and only uses someone's proper pronouns when it is convenient to her.
At least, that is what you are led to believe. Later on in the book, Rosemary refers to someone using they/them pronouns, despite using he/him to refer to the same person earlier in the book. I am 1000% positive because i went back and checked and JENKS uses they/them to refer to someone whose gender he doesn't know. Conclusion? Rosemary is transphobic and only uses someone's proper pronouns when it is convenient to her.
Content Warnings
Minor: Police brutality
lipstickitotheman's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Confinement, Colonisation, Ableism, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Police brutality, and Violence