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A review by bickleyhouse
A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
This book had been on my TBR for a while, but when another member of the reading group in which I participate raved about it, I decided to immediately check it out (along with the next book in the series). And weighing in at only 149 pages, it is a quick, easy read (similar to Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries). But the similarities end there.
At the beginning, I will admit that I struggled just a bit. This is the first book I have ever read where the protagonist went by "they/them." I have no objection to that, so don't misunderstand me. It was just new to me, and took a few pages to get used to. Once I got used to it, the tale in this book is overwhelmingly delightful!
We are introduced to Dex, known as "Sibling Dex" to their peers. Actually, the book begins with an excerpt that allegedly comes from a historical book, that speaks of the mass exodus of the robots from the cities, when the robots gained consciousness. Then we are introduced to Sibling Dex, who has grown dissatisfied with his current vocation and has decided to leave the city and go to the villages to be a tea servant, or a "tea monk," as it is sometimes called.
So they leave the city, and are gifted a tea wagon, that is a some kind of multilevel wagon attached to a semi-electric bike called an "ox-bike." After their initial failure at tea service, because they really didn't know what they were doing, Dex leaves the city and heads toward the villages, where they spend a few months learning the craft before finally succeeding as a tea monk.
At one point, they decide to head into the wilderness to find an abandoned hermitage, and this is where the story really gets interesting. When Dex finds a spot to camp for the night, they encounter an unexpected visitor (unexpected and unwanted, to be honest); a robot who goes by the name of Splendid Speckled Mosscap. I will leave to the reader to learn where the robot's name originated.
An unlikely relationship springs from this unexpected meeting, and I will leave it at that, for this review. There is much introspection involved in this tale, as Sibling Dex struggles to figure out who they are and what their purpose is. Perhaps a subtitle of the book might be "Dex has an existential crisis."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. As previously mentioned, I have the second book checked out, as well, but will read something else in between.
At the beginning, I will admit that I struggled just a bit. This is the first book I have ever read where the protagonist went by "they/them." I have no objection to that, so don't misunderstand me. It was just new to me, and took a few pages to get used to. Once I got used to it, the tale in this book is overwhelmingly delightful!
We are introduced to Dex, known as "Sibling Dex" to their peers. Actually, the book begins with an excerpt that allegedly comes from a historical book, that speaks of the mass exodus of the robots from the cities, when the robots gained consciousness. Then we are introduced to Sibling Dex, who has grown dissatisfied with his current vocation and has decided to leave the city and go to the villages to be a tea servant, or a "tea monk," as it is sometimes called.
So they leave the city, and are gifted a tea wagon, that is a some kind of multilevel wagon attached to a semi-electric bike called an "ox-bike." After their initial failure at tea service, because they really didn't know what they were doing, Dex leaves the city and heads toward the villages, where they spend a few months learning the craft before finally succeeding as a tea monk.
At one point, they decide to head into the wilderness to find an abandoned hermitage, and this is where the story really gets interesting. When Dex finds a spot to camp for the night, they encounter an unexpected visitor (unexpected and unwanted, to be honest); a robot who goes by the name of Splendid Speckled Mosscap. I will leave to the reader to learn where the robot's name originated.
An unlikely relationship springs from this unexpected meeting, and I will leave it at that, for this review. There is much introspection involved in this tale, as Sibling Dex struggles to figure out who they are and what their purpose is. Perhaps a subtitle of the book might be "Dex has an existential crisis."
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. As previously mentioned, I have the second book checked out, as well, but will read something else in between.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing