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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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:
Yes
1950s Cold War era alternate timeline where a meteorite wipes out DC and kicks the space program into high gear to save all of humanity? Sign me up! This is the coolest, well-researched alternate history book that I have read in a while! Mary Robinette Kowal writes in such a way that you'll believe the events actually happened that way. Her characters are very relatable and easy to root for; I connected so much with Elma York's anxiety journey and her fears about how others would perceive her because of it. I was also not expecting space-themed intimate scenes in this book - pleasantly surprised and Elma and Nathaniel's dirty talk had me giggling. They felt like such a natural, realistic married pair - disagreements, helping each other, intimate moments, etc. Overall, this book will have you wanting to suit up, break boundaries, and shoot for the stars. Easy 5 stars for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racism, Sexism
Moderate: Death, Vomit, Antisemitism
Minor: Animal death, Child death, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
A friend recommended this to me as a fun non-serious read. I still think she's right about it being a fun book, but boy did I not expect it to start with a meteorite annihilating the earth to the degree that the planet becomes rapidly unlivable . But she was right, I did like the characters and it was fun. I will be reading the next book in the series. I wish I could do math and fly planes like that.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
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:
No
Read this book on audio and it was so well done. The books touches on topics of women rights, race and mental health with a sensitive lens.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked the premise. I liked the way it highlighted sexism, misogyny and racism in the 50s. I enjoyed some of the set pieces of the story.
But for the most part I didn’t enjoy the pace, didn’t really connect with the characters, and the soft sex scenes were horrendously cringy with their space/engineer innuendos which made me eye roll. I’m not sure I’ll pursue the series, which is a shame as I enjoyed the novella.
But for the most part I didn’t enjoy the pace, didn’t really connect with the characters, and the soft sex scenes were horrendously cringy with their space/engineer innuendos which made me eye roll. I’m not sure I’ll pursue the series, which is a shame as I enjoyed the novella.
Space flight at its best - based in numbers and turned on its head.
Kowal writes the era (and the science) with authenticity, speaking to issues that are just as, if not more, relevant today. Most striking to me, however, was the way in which she introduced a conversation about anxiety and mental health. Anyone who has ever struggled will be quick to feel a connection with Elma, and recognize themselves in her.
But ultimately, this is a tale of breaking boundaries, regardless of sex, skin color, religion, or otherwise. It's a tale of lifting each other up into the stars. And it certainly lifted me.
Kowal writes the era (and the science) with authenticity, speaking to issues that are just as, if not more, relevant today. Most striking to me, however, was the way in which she introduced a conversation about anxiety and mental health. Anyone who has ever struggled will be quick to feel a connection with Elma, and recognize themselves in her.
But ultimately, this is a tale of breaking boundaries, regardless of sex, skin color, religion, or otherwise. It's a tale of lifting each other up into the stars. And it certainly lifted me.
Perhaps a 3.5. This was an interesting, fun. Fast alt-history. The social issues - racial, sexist issues really led the story even more than the sf story. This played out heavy handed often which is why I downgraded to a 3. Still a fun fast read.
The Calculating Stars is a thoroughly researched, feel-good novel about a young woman pursuing her dreams. I would argue that the novel is more akin to historical fiction than science fiction. I also think this novel might be better received by an American audience.
I appreciate how well researched this novel was and that many experts contributed to its accuracy. However, as a Psychology (not Engineering) graduate... I don't care too much for those details. Those are the ones I gloss over because they are not meaningful information to me. In fact, when reading the acknowledgements, the author herself admits to using a "madlib" approach to writing the technical details - [insert astronaut jargon here]. I struggle to think how an author can consider their writing relatable if they themselves cannot. This is the first reason for why I am not sure I am the intended audience.
I respect authors that include healthy relationships in their writings and do not rely on abuse or a break-up as a plot device. Kowal has done a great job of writing a marriage that is supportive and never competitive. I also really liked that they communicated and that those obvious 'hiding because ashamed' plot hooks never happened as a result. (Except for the one mention of attempted suicide that was never, ever touched on again and felt as though it had no bearing factor on the story afterwards.)
This may seem as a strange comment, but I was bored by the amount of sex the couple had. Yes, it is important to show healthy, loving and consensual sex in writing. One might argue there isn't enough of it out there. But after the third or fourth encounter, it became an eye-roll moment for me. Healthy relationships do not revolve around sex, and it almost felt like it did here. Perhaps that is my own perception playing in to this analysis. As someone in a healthy, supportive relationship, it feels very reductive to say that this is because we have great sex a lot. There is so much more to explore in good relationships and this was an opportunity missed in my eyes. This is the second reason that this book may not have been written for my kind of audience.
Finally, addressing mental health in a real way is important in novels and an attempt here was made for sure. However, I really felt as though no self-reflection was made by the character, that the use of anti-anxiety medication was a huge source of shame for the character (as was her anxiety) but this was never really... addressed? I mean yes there was that important moment when she outed herself, but she did it in a down-played way and then... it was never addressed again (a common thread). In my personal experience of anxiety, it is life-long and truly a matter of reflection and deep self work. I cannot reduce it down to one cathartic moment of honesty and then redemption. This is the final reason that I believe I am not the right audience for this novel.
I believe that this novel is perfect for young adults. Teenagers who are just starting to grapple with realities of love, life, mental health and pursuing their dreams. The messages from this book are wholesome and simple - be kind, follow your dreams even if others disparage them, and love like you want to be loved. But honestly, these messages are not enough for me. These messages I learnt a long time ago, and I look for more now.
Three stars for me. But maybe, for the right young girl starting out in the STEM field, this would be five.
I appreciate how well researched this novel was and that many experts contributed to its accuracy. However, as a Psychology (not Engineering) graduate... I don't care too much for those details. Those are the ones I gloss over because they are not meaningful information to me. In fact, when reading the acknowledgements, the author herself admits to using a "madlib" approach to writing the technical details - [insert astronaut jargon here]. I struggle to think how an author can consider their writing relatable if they themselves cannot. This is the first reason for why I am not sure I am the intended audience.
I respect authors that include healthy relationships in their writings and do not rely on abuse or a break-up as a plot device. Kowal has done a great job of writing a marriage that is supportive and never competitive. I also really liked that they communicated and that those obvious 'hiding because ashamed' plot hooks never happened as a result. (Except for the one mention of attempted suicide that was never, ever touched on again and felt as though it had no bearing factor on the story afterwards.)
This may seem as a strange comment, but I was bored by the amount of sex the couple had. Yes, it is important to show healthy, loving and consensual sex in writing. One might argue there isn't enough of it out there. But after the third or fourth encounter, it became an eye-roll moment for me. Healthy relationships do not revolve around sex, and it almost felt like it did here. Perhaps that is my own perception playing in to this analysis. As someone in a healthy, supportive relationship, it feels very reductive to say that this is because we have great sex a lot. There is so much more to explore in good relationships and this was an opportunity missed in my eyes. This is the second reason that this book may not have been written for my kind of audience.
Finally, addressing mental health in a real way is important in novels and an attempt here was made for sure. However, I really felt as though no self-reflection was made by the character, that the use of anti-anxiety medication was a huge source of shame for the character (as was her anxiety) but this was never really... addressed? I mean yes there was that important moment when she outed herself, but she did it in a down-played way and then... it was never addressed again (a common thread). In my personal experience of anxiety, it is life-long and truly a matter of reflection and deep self work. I cannot reduce it down to one cathartic moment of honesty and then redemption. This is the final reason that I believe I am not the right audience for this novel.
I believe that this novel is perfect for young adults. Teenagers who are just starting to grapple with realities of love, life, mental health and pursuing their dreams. The messages from this book are wholesome and simple - be kind, follow your dreams even if others disparage them, and love like you want to be loved. But honestly, these messages are not enough for me. These messages I learnt a long time ago, and I look for more now.
Three stars for me. But maybe, for the right young girl starting out in the STEM field, this would be five.