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selyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Mental illness, and Medical content
elizapease's review against another edition
funny
reflective
relaxing
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? It's complicated
4.0
Slice of life sci-fi… has it ever been done before? not sure. but Michael Faber does an incredible and mesmerizing job at it. The Book of Strange New Things is slow moving yet spell-binding - a hypnotic read that transports you to this strange, arid yet humid planet, and plops you down amongst the Oasins. I was stunned by the incredible imagery in this book - I saw the unusual rain dancing and felt the thick humidity weaving it’s way under my clothing. When “Father Peper” meets and falls in love with the Oasisins, so did I. It felt as though I too was living in the red mud huts with this (somehow adorable) alien life form, eating the mysterious white flowers, and participating in their unusual and laid-back cultural norms. Like Peter, I also did not want to leave. I found myself completely transported by this book, unable to put it down and thinking about it non-stop, despite it being relatively slow-moving and mostly character driven. It’s hilarious, cute, insightful and at times devastating. I will probably read it again, which i almost never do. I was at times frustrated that there was no deep-dive into the mysterious company that sends him to this other planet, or into the lives and emotions of his coworkers on base. The evasiveness was central to the plot, but i personally felt as though it left something to be desired. 4 stars solely because i felt some parts could have been developed more, and I got annoyed by his buzz-kill wife.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism
benasbooks's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Infidelity, Medical content, Animal death, Colonisation, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment, Self harm, Xenophobia, Classism, Grief, Gore, Sexual content, and Violence
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