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arellareads 's review for:
A Psalm for the Wild-Built
by Becky Chambers
Lately I’ve really started to appreciate the simplicity of novellas, and “A Psalm for the Wild-Built” feels like a cosy, contemporary parable about existence, ecology, and finding purpose in the spaces in-between.
I read through this tale in an evening, and most loved the robot’s role as a mentor, and their encouragement to enjoy the simple act of being alive and being conscious. The anecdote about the elk and wild dogs was a deeply insightful addition, too! As others have said, reading this feels like having a cup of tea with a comforting companion.
For such a philosophical quandary, something about the dialogue felt a tad inorganic to me. I can’t quite verbalize it — since the wise mentor paired with the brash, hot-headed young protagonist is an effective trope used in other stories — but the language and the casual drop of f-bombs in “deep” conversations felt very millennial-coded. I don’t mind swearing at all. The tone just took me out of the narrative at points.
Also sad there wasn’t more world-building for such an intricate, post-industrial civilization, or more development between the monk and the robot, but I think the heart of the book lay in its teachings, and I’m definitely going to pick up the next one.
I read through this tale in an evening, and most loved the robot’s role as a mentor, and their encouragement to enjoy the simple act of being alive and being conscious. The anecdote about the elk and wild dogs was a deeply insightful addition, too! As others have said, reading this feels like having a cup of tea with a comforting companion.
For such a philosophical quandary, something about the dialogue felt a tad inorganic to me. I can’t quite verbalize it — since the wise mentor paired with the brash, hot-headed young protagonist is an effective trope used in other stories — but the language and the casual drop of f-bombs in “deep” conversations felt very millennial-coded. I don’t mind swearing at all. The tone just took me out of the narrative at points.
Also sad there wasn’t more world-building for such an intricate, post-industrial civilization, or more development between the monk and the robot, but I think the heart of the book lay in its teachings, and I’m definitely going to pick up the next one.