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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Maybe this book is above my reading level or something. The first 100 pages of this book are so dry and neither the characters nor the writing draw you in. I understand that this is scientific power house Carl Sagan, but I have read other astrologically scientific writing, both fictional and non-fiction, and it was more compelling. I should be more enwrapped in the story by 25%. 🤷🏼♀️ Why do we need such big words for every sentence??? Why is every paragraph so long???? I don't need you to explain to me what light polarization is. Or what prime numbers are. 😭 Just give me a story please
Contact took me so long to get through, but once I did, I was so happy I read it. The last third of the book finally gets to the 'I can't put this book down' phase. I ended up getting it on audiobook to help get through the slow start. It reads as a movie, giving descriptions for everything and having a lot of dialog between characters. I was blown away by how accurate the science was. It felt like something written recently. I read this in 2024. At a time (80's) when science fiction was not written very accurately, I'm impressed with Carl Sagan's ability to create such a well thought out story with so much actual science. I see why he is so revered now. If you struggle reading this book, keep going. It is worth it. And try it on audio while you exercise or do chores.
I loved that the main character was a female, and she deals with what all women in a man's world deal with. She questions regular things we are all told are just that way, and she has very clear reasons why she doesn't agree. Everything that she comes across she has scientific explanations to explain how things should be or are. I think we have made a lot of progress since 1985 and Carl Sagan would be proud. Even with all the science and carefully thinking ideas and actions through to make the correct assumptions and decisions the story ends with the realization of how its also important to value love and connection and I couldn't agree more.
I loved that the main character was a female, and she deals with what all women in a man's world deal with. She questions regular things we are all told are just that way, and she has very clear reasons why she doesn't agree. Everything that she comes across she has scientific explanations to explain how things should be or are. I think we have made a lot of progress since 1985 and Carl Sagan would be proud. Even with all the science and carefully thinking ideas and actions through to make the correct assumptions and decisions the story ends with the realization of how its also important to value love and connection and I couldn't agree more.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-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
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
I think if you like sci-fi this is a must. I'm particular so here's my major beef: it took 10/14 hours of audio book just to build the damn thing. then they spent maybe one chapter "making contact" so to speak only to come back and no one believes them? I was also confused about the aside about the Gilgamesh. I like so much that the main character is a female scientist and even the fictional president of the USA is a woman. However. I think the scene setting could have been done in half the time IMO. Also felt like the twist ending was unnecessary
Now that I've read the book I can see that the film is actually a pretty faithful adaptation with a few minor changes. The book is more deeply technical and theological in its discussion of its themes, but I think the film did a reasonably good job of that too. This book was enjoyable, it gives lots to think about, and the characters are carefully developed, although perhaps slightly too methodically.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot