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nswigert's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.75
This book reminds me a lot of Becky Chambers’ later series of novellas, The Monk and Robot. Many characters in this book and the main character of the other books, are struggling with finding purpose, even though their lives are good or their jobs are fulfilling. I couldn’t get into this book as much as the first two, but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it.
Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship
bootrat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
Becky Chambers has a unique ability to find the humanity in all the characters she creates - even those who aren't human. The Wayfarers series really is a tour de force, with every novel exploring different themes, different lives, different struggles, and different joys.
This book begins with a tragedy, and though this affects our characters it isn't central to their stories or their lives. I once again loved every character we met, and I definitely cried at this book too. Another 5 star book in this series, now onto book 4. Fuck me up, Becky!
This book begins with a tragedy, and though this affects our characters it isn't central to their stories or their lives. I once again loved every character we met, and I definitely cried at this book too. Another 5 star book in this series, now onto book 4. Fuck me up, Becky!
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Xenophobia and Murder
bergha1998's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Becky Chambers is magical, it was heartbreakingly beautiful like all her damn books. We jump around with all of these characters in another piece of this universe she has created and come out of it learning more about herself. I will never get over how much I love her books and writing.
Sci-Fi, Philosophical Discussions, Diversity
“So many years of training and study, always striving, always chasing the idea at the end of the road. She’d reached that end by now. She had everything she had set out to do. So now… what? What came next? Do well, be consistent, keep things up for however long she had?”
“Humans aren’t really supposed to do anything in particular, and we get to choose the kind of lives we have. But that doesn’t mean any of it has a point.”
“If the only reason you want to do it is because you’re looking for a point, you’re going to end up miserable. You’ll float around forever trying to make peace with that.”
“Give me someone who wants it and had to work for it any day.”
“Figure out what you love, specifically. In detail. Figure out what you want to keep. Figure out what you want to change. Otherwise, it’s not love. It’s clinging to the familiar— to the comfortable.”
Sci-Fi, Philosophical Discussions, Diversity
“So many years of training and study, always striving, always chasing the idea at the end of the road. She’d reached that end by now. She had everything she had set out to do. So now… what? What came next? Do well, be consistent, keep things up for however long she had?”
“Humans aren’t really supposed to do anything in particular, and we get to choose the kind of lives we have. But that doesn’t mean any of it has a point.”
“If the only reason you want to do it is because you’re looking for a point, you’re going to end up miserable. You’ll float around forever trying to make peace with that.”
“Give me someone who wants it and had to work for it any day.”
“Figure out what you love, specifically. In detail. Figure out what you want to keep. Figure out what you want to change. Otherwise, it’s not love. It’s clinging to the familiar— to the comfortable.”
Graphic: Cursing, Death, and Grief
deliriumwartner's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death
maryellen's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Bullying, Drug use, and Death
Minor: Sexual content
anna_brawn's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Excellent - so many different perspectives on this colony of humans that we've heard of throughout the other books. I shed tears and also thought a lot about what it means to make a home and a community, and to pass on these ideas to the next generation.
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Violence
linblythe_pub22's review against another edition
Had to return it to the library 😭
Moderate: Death
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: bullying, death
"From the ground, we stand. From our ships, we live. By the stars, we hope."
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is book three in the Wayfarers series. I really enjoyed this cozy scifi story, although it didn't hit me as hard as the previous two books did. I'm really enjoying that there is very little plot to speak of. These are self-contained stories that build on the world-building established in book one.
This story focuses on the human Exodan Fleet. We follow five characters: Kip, a teen who is struggling with what he wants in life and wants to leave the Fleet; Isobel, an older lesbian Archivist who is hosting a Harmagian guest researching the Exodans; Eyas, a Caretaker of the dead for the fleet who feels like something is missing; Sawyer, a young man from a Harmagian planet that has never set foot in the fleet before, but wants to try something new; and Tessa, Ashby's sister who is also looking for something better for her family.
It was so great to finally explore Exodan culture! We get to see the way the homesteaders are run, the importance of cooperation, sharing, and letting nothing go to waste. We even get a little bit of their history in the form of articles from Isobel's guest. I love that we got to learn about the fleet's funereal rites of composting their dead. We even see how sex work has been an expected and respected profession. We see a slice of life from each of these five characters.
The themes were about human identity, community, and change. Sawyer wanted to feel connected to his ancestors and accepted into the fleet despite his ignorance of the culture. Tessa wanted her daughter to feel safe while also struggling with the thought of leaving the fleet behind. Kip learned he needed perspective in order to appreciate what was right in front of him, and the importance of remembering and preserving your history.
I'm curious and excited to see what the next story brings us!
"From the ground, we stand. From our ships, we live. By the stars, we hope."
Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers is book three in the Wayfarers series. I really enjoyed this cozy scifi story, although it didn't hit me as hard as the previous two books did. I'm really enjoying that there is very little plot to speak of. These are self-contained stories that build on the world-building established in book one.
This story focuses on the human Exodan Fleet. We follow five characters: Kip, a teen who is struggling with what he wants in life and wants to leave the Fleet; Isobel, an older lesbian Archivist who is hosting a Harmagian guest researching the Exodans; Eyas, a Caretaker of the dead for the fleet who feels like something is missing; Sawyer, a young man from a Harmagian planet that has never set foot in the fleet before, but wants to try something new; and Tessa, Ashby's sister who is also looking for something better for her family.
It was so great to finally explore Exodan culture! We get to see the way the homesteaders are run, the importance of cooperation, sharing, and letting nothing go to waste. We even get a little bit of their history in the form of articles from Isobel's guest. I love that we got to learn about the fleet's funereal rites of composting their dead. We even see how sex work has been an expected and respected profession. We see a slice of life from each of these five characters.
The themes were about human identity, community, and change. Sawyer wanted to feel connected to his ancestors and accepted into the fleet despite his ignorance of the culture. Tessa wanted her daughter to feel safe while also struggling with the thought of leaving the fleet behind. Kip learned he needed perspective in order to appreciate what was right in front of him, and the importance of remembering and preserving your history.
I'm curious and excited to see what the next story brings us!
Moderate: Death
Minor: Bullying
thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition
hopeful
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
This book feels like a love letter to humanity, and a reminder that we all should be/ must be kind to each other. I admit, I missed seeing aliens all the time in this installment, but like all of Chambers' books it touched my heart and made me feel so so happy. This book also joins the small ranks of novels that have made me cry, so really I don't think I could give it anything less than 5 stars.
Graphic: Death and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug use and Grief
Minor: Sexual content and Medical content
arne's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death