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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Spare Man was as intriguing as it was impressive. Once again, Mary Robinette Kowal nailed a story on so many aspects. As with the Lady Astronaut series, her science knowledge is very impressive (which has kind of ruined my enjoyment of space opera… oops!) This time, the story turns into a murder mystery with people dying on a gigantic cruise spaceship on its way to Mars.
The main character is brilliantly constructed and presented, perfectly flawed like a real human being. She suffers from PTSD, physical disability and panic attacks – and let me tell you that, as someone who deals with the latter, she absolutely NAILED the representation. It is so refreshing to see an author tackling issues from the everyday in fiction and making their characters more than those disabilities. The emotional impact I felt from the narration throughout the book was gripping.
The gender representation in this future of humanity was very refreshing, with pronoun being used so freely that most far-righters will (would? They probably won’t make it in the first place) lose their minds reading this book and realising how not-a-big-deal the topic is. I also believe that there is a second form a gender-neutral pronoun used in a few places, but since I listened in audiobook, I’m not 100% sure what it was. Based on the author notes at the end of the book, I think it was derived from Icelandic, but I could be wrong. Very creative and beautifully executed.
Last but not least, I have to give a special mention to Fantine, the main character’s lawyer who only appears on calls here and there in the novel, but totally steals the show. She was so full of life, using expressions that made me cackle and want her as my best friend to talk shit with.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I've listened to most of Mary Robinette Kowal's books. I enjoy listening to her read her stories. I enjoyed this one as well but wonder if it might be better as a physical read. One thing that I really liked were the mentions of crochet (knitting seems to be more often referred to in books).
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
adventurous
mysterious
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:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
When I read the blurb I thought about Nick&Nora, Asta and the 30s light mysteries.
i loved this author's storytelling and loved this mix of space opera and mystery, it well plotted and kept me hooked.
I read it as a sort mystery in the space and had a lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
i loved this author's storytelling and loved this mix of space opera and mystery, it well plotted and kept me hooked.
I read it as a sort mystery in the space and had a lot of fun.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated