carol. ’s Comments (group member since Aug 31, 2016)

carol. ’s comments from the The Long Way... To a Common Orbit flash group group.

Emily wrote: "It just looks like text rather than a link, and tapping it does nothing but make me look like an obsessed monkey."

*snort!*

Mimi wrote: "I just finished reading like 5 seconds ago, so I'm still coming down from it high and will probably sing Becky Chamber's praises for days or however long the high lasts. :D"

That's so cool! I do enjoy her writing. I think there's enough to it as well that it holds up to re-reading. You do see the flaws, but they don't bug me that much because I appreciate what she accomplishes emotionally.

Beth wrote: "Speaking of Jane, the thought cropped up--not sure from where, either one of these threads or a review--that Jane earned her happy end. I had this thought too, but then right afterward thought... well, okay, but she deserved to be happy regardless of whether she "earned" it.
."

love this!

:D

Don't do it, Harryo! People the next state over are tripping over MrsJ's to-read list!

Harryo wrote: "This kind of story crafting feels new and fresh to me--but that's just because I don't read a lot of books written about people trying to create partnership. Maybe it's not all that fresh. "

I think it's not used often enough to be a trope, except 'the team of misfits pulls together.'

Interesting insight about American heroics and Eastern ones!

I did like Sidra's disorientation in the AI shop. That moment was written quite well, although she certainly reacted in a feeling kind of way.

Beth--agree with you that the 'anchor or compass' was lovely.
I was tense the whole time in this section as well, waiting for her outing...

Oh sure, but I'm speculating that this micro level is what allows us the 'feel good' part of Chamber's stories. I'm not knocking that, just speculating on why it seems rare to find a sweet/feel-good story these days. I think about Paolo B. how he takes things to other levels (The Windup Girl) that of necessity, become sticky and yucky.

To explain further, I think Star Trek was on my mind bc my mom has been watching the originals occasionally. It's certainly popularized space fiction, which is the other thing I was thinking about. And contrary to the first ones, where Kirk is a sexist pig shmexying his way through the galaxy, this reminded me of issues in Next Gen like can Data feel and what does humanity mean? with general ability to ignore the controversial and complexity of the issue.

I think it is pretty much given for the narration of the story that Sidra is a sentinent being who should have a life of her choosing, although the political structure is against that. But Chambers never really goes into the issues behind it, only the prejudice Sidra experiences and others' fear for her welfare. So, it is kind of 'feel good' in that we get a happy personal ending--much like NextGen.

Saphana, I wonder if these are also on your mind because Chambers, for the most part, doesn't delve into them in any depth? She approaches them sideways once in awhile (Sidra's interaction with the ticket computer, the ship computers) but generally avoids it.

Arielle! So glad you could join in.

I agree these are comforting, particularly for sci-fi, which seems to want to muddle around in the tech possibilities, conflict on a galactic scale or man's in/humanity, I appreciate Chambers playing with these topics in a more feel-good way. I suppose, kind of like Next Generation Star Trek.

Yeah, me too :( I thought about buying it but haven't done it yet.

I think there was more in A Long Way... something about how this planet people were outliers and may have chosen NOT to join the federation/whatever-you-call it. The genetic manipulation had them born bald to be a signifier of role or something.

:)

It resonated with me, especially as I often thought/think of my brain as riding around in my body.

But her information fit quite well with her age and experience. I think most of the detail came when she was leaving, and when Owl mentioned how this area was used as waste. For some reason, I think it was also mentioned in A Long Way, maybe when they met (view spoiler)[Pepper? (hide spoiler)]

I found both pretty engrossing. I liked Jane, age 10 because I was trying to figure out her crazy world.

Athena wrote: her story didn't start grabbing me until near the end, although there was a bit of 'will she be outed' anxiety in a couple of the public scenes. "

Definitely where the main tension of that plot-line comes in. I rather liked Sidra, and her weird body-disconnect.

She managed heartwarming without sappy both times. Quite the feat.

I always intend my pop tarts.