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trickphoenix's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
5.0
5 stars, this is such a special book, it is my new treasure, if I hadn't been reading a library copy I would've been marking the lines that I could feel burning new neural pathways in my brain and making me cry. And specifically, as one of the reviews on the back of this copy aptly put it, making me "cry the good sort of tears - the sort when someone is unexpectedly kind to you at the moment you need it most."
This book is a hugely refreshing vision of an optimistic, beautiful future. The world-building is incredible and also incremental, given to you when you need context but never overwhelming you with detail. The characters are extremely lovable, their interactions were funny enough to make me laugh out loud to myself. It is charming and insightful and relaxing and warm. Strongly recommend reading it outdoors, in a quiet place, with some greenery, and your favorite warm drink.
This book is a hugely refreshing vision of an optimistic, beautiful future. The world-building is incredible and also incremental, given to you when you need context but never overwhelming you with detail. The characters are extremely lovable, their interactions were funny enough to make me laugh out loud to myself. It is charming and insightful and relaxing and warm. Strongly recommend reading it outdoors, in a quiet place, with some greenery, and your favorite warm drink.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Death, Alcohol, Grief, Sexual content, and Animal death
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
A beautiful read that made me cry and laugh all at the same time.
It really came to me at a good time, even though it didn’t seem like it at first. Triggered lots of deep thinking and was a big hug to say that everything was going to be ok.
Would really recommend it; a short and reflective read that includes lots of emotion examination and working out the next step when things may not seem clear.
It really came to me at a good time, even though it didn’t seem like it at first. Triggered lots of deep thinking and was a big hug to say that everything was going to be ok.
Would really recommend it; a short and reflective read that includes lots of emotion examination and working out the next step when things may not seem clear.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Grief
solari's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Grief
msradiosilence's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-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? It's complicated
5.0
Tldr; I, too, would like to run away to the woods on my moon that isn’t facing a climate crisis, thank you very much.
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/a-psalm-for-the-wild-built.
Read my full review at: https://www.rainyreader.com/single-post/a-psalm-for-the-wild-built.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Cursing, Alcohol, and Animal death
talonsontypewriters's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Grief, Animal death, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
patricktreads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
I don’t know what I was expecting from this book, but it was so much more than anything I could have imagined.
While it was short, it gave so much information and thought provoking dialogue. The discussions between robot and monk were always deep, but not so deep they were overwhelming and too much.
I finished this in one sitting, and it was so thrilling that I immediately acquired the second one.
Absolute recommend.
While it was short, it gave so much information and thought provoking dialogue. The discussions between robot and monk were always deep, but not so deep they were overwhelming and too much.
I finished this in one sitting, and it was so thrilling that I immediately acquired the second one.
Absolute recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Classism, Colonisation, Death, Grief, and Racism
booksthatburn's review
reflective
sad
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
A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT follows a tea monk who, after several years of traveling between villages serving tea and providing people a calm place to talk and rest, travels into the wilderness and meet a wild-built robot.
The worldbuilding is specific enough to feel grounded, but doesn't get bogged down in small details. Most of the story is told through introspection and conversation. This is a thoughtful novella about purpose, peace, and personhood. Some parts are definitely stressful for the main character, so how stressful it is for the reader will depend on how much they resonate with the tea monk's existential angst. I enjoyed it immensely and intend to read the sequel.
The worldbuilding is specific enough to feel grounded, but doesn't get bogged down in small details. Most of the story is told through introspection and conversation. This is a thoughtful novella about purpose, peace, and personhood. Some parts are definitely stressful for the main character, so how stressful it is for the reader will depend on how much they resonate with the tea monk's existential angst. I enjoyed it immensely and intend to read the sequel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Alcohol, and Grief
purplatypus's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Animal death, Grief, and Alcohol
rorikae's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'A Psalm for the Wild-Built' by Becky Chambers is a quiet, thoughtful novella about finding your place in the world through the eyes of a tea monk and a robot.
Sibling Dex works as a tea monk, a wandering monk that brings tea and a moment of calm to the cities that they stop at. One day, they begin to want something more for their life and so they set off to find a hermitage in the abandoned woods. In the process, they meet a robot named Mosscap who has been tasked to determine what humanity needs. Together they seek answers to their own questions while completing the trek to the hermitage.
This is such a wonderful hug of a story. Chambers has created an intriguing world that we get to discover through the eyes of Dex and their story. Though the wider questions asked in the story are existential in nature, Chambers approaches them in a way that feels accessible and positive. Mosscap allows Chambers to pry into aspects of humanity to better understand them and in the process we come to better understand them as well. Given the novella length and the topics, there aren't large plot points but this fits perfectly with the grounded nature of the story.
I love the idea of tea monks bringing a moment of calm to people who need it. It is a job that I would gladly take up if it was something in our world.
I am so excited to see where this story goes next. Chambers explores enough in this first installment for it to feel whole while also leaving room for so much more to be explored in further installments. I have been loving novella series recently and this has shot to the top as one of my favorites (even if there is only one book out so far). I cannot wait for the second book this summer. If you need a quiet, welcoming book that will make you feel as if you have visited the tea monk's tent, then you really must pick up 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built.'
Sibling Dex works as a tea monk, a wandering monk that brings tea and a moment of calm to the cities that they stop at. One day, they begin to want something more for their life and so they set off to find a hermitage in the abandoned woods. In the process, they meet a robot named Mosscap who has been tasked to determine what humanity needs. Together they seek answers to their own questions while completing the trek to the hermitage.
This is such a wonderful hug of a story. Chambers has created an intriguing world that we get to discover through the eyes of Dex and their story. Though the wider questions asked in the story are existential in nature, Chambers approaches them in a way that feels accessible and positive. Mosscap allows Chambers to pry into aspects of humanity to better understand them and in the process we come to better understand them as well. Given the novella length and the topics, there aren't large plot points but this fits perfectly with the grounded nature of the story.
I love the idea of tea monks bringing a moment of calm to people who need it. It is a job that I would gladly take up if it was something in our world.
I am so excited to see where this story goes next. Chambers explores enough in this first installment for it to feel whole while also leaving room for so much more to be explored in further installments. I have been loving novella series recently and this has shot to the top as one of my favorites (even if there is only one book out so far). I cannot wait for the second book this summer. If you need a quiet, welcoming book that will make you feel as if you have visited the tea monk's tent, then you really must pick up 'A Psalm for the Wild-Built.'
Content Warnings
Minor: Grief
lacee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
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
This is a new favorite not for the entertainment value but for the message and the themes this book represents. I actually DNF'd this twice and wasn't sure if this story was clicking for me. It wasn't until I relaxed and just let the story flow that I realized this was exactly what I needed most right now. In fact, by the end, I was convinced this story was meant for me, at this exact moment in my life. I know that sounds corny and dramatic as hell, sorry!
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a story that examines the meaning of life's purpose. A story that will ease the doubting voices in your head, encouraging you to stop awhile to enjoy the life you were gifted. This story, (inadvertently, or not) will point out the privilege of being alive while helping you cope with the realization that it's okay to just exist and enjoy the small comforts that life brings because "just existing" is a valid purpose of life too.
"Then how," Dex said, "how does the idea of maybe being meaningless sit well with you?" Mosscap considered. "Because I know that no matter what, I'm wonderful," it said.
This quote had me sobbing and I couldn't help but share.
A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a story that examines the meaning of life's purpose. A story that will ease the doubting voices in your head, encouraging you to stop awhile to enjoy the life you were gifted. This story, (inadvertently, or not) will point out the privilege of being alive while helping you cope with the realization that it's okay to just exist and enjoy the small comforts that life brings because "just existing" is a valid purpose of life too.
"Then how," Dex said, "how does the idea of maybe being meaningless sit well with you?" Mosscap considered. "Because I know that no matter what, I'm wonderful," it said.
This quote had me sobbing and I couldn't help but share.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
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