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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
I don’t want to denigrate a beloved figure, but this book just didn’t do it for me. There were plenty of interesting moments, but with too much filler in between. It seemed like Sagan didn’t know what this book was. Hard sci fi? Religious commentary? Worldly political thriller? Family drama? Dramatic and abrupt plot turns, especially near the end, leave you whiplashed and then fizzle out to nothing. The main character is not very likeable, and a couple emotional moments (like the death of an important character) were handled with such a lack of tact that I had to reread the section to confirm that I hadn’t missed something. Okay I guess I denigrated a beloved figure, but I still appreciate him for his science communication.
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Contact is one of my favourite books, and has been since I first read it back when I was a teenager. It's dated a bit (the politics have moved on since the Cold War, for example) but I think it would play out similarly today.
I've always loved the little tidbit he chucked in at the end - mainly because I'm a mathematician at heart!
I've always loved the little tidbit he chucked in at the end - mainly because I'm a mathematician at heart!
This is an utterly beautiful book, and the writing is exquisite. I'm very glad I read it.
Having said that, the Palmer Joss storyline was even more grating in the book than the film, and the remark about Islam almost spoilt the book for me.
Having said that, the Palmer Joss storyline was even more grating in the book than the film, and the remark about Islam almost spoilt the book for me.
It tackles many of the same ideas as the Three Body Problem series but on a human scale.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As fiction, I found the book rather dry (and the characters uninteresting). As philosophy, I thought the exploration on faith and science to be interesting, but heavy handed.
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
I love the idea of a long-distance, confusing first contact, but for me the book was a little too slow in the first two parts and then way too fast in the last part.