To Be Taught, If Fortunate

"I enjoyed this book. It is really a novella - a short and pleasant listen. It was very different than a lot of sci-fi with less action but enjoyable nonetheless. I felt like the author left a lot of opportunities on the table and could have made it even more compelling but I still think it is enjoyable and worth reading, just no a must-read. "

"4.5⭐ I don't read very many sci-fi books, the genre has just never really clicked for me, but I really enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written, and there was something so soft and calm about it. It's not full of action and it's not super plot heavy. It's more like reading a researcher's field journal. Overall it was very short and sweet. Definitely worth checking out."

"I liked this book, but I was disappointed in it. The premise of altering humans to explore in space was so promising, but it barely had anything to do with this book. They glittered on one world, and had big muscles on another, but the effects weren't permanent and the rest were very lowkey. I felt this book had more to say about the reasons we should explore space than anything else."

"Great quick read. Finished in one sitting "

"This is Ashley from earth and my answer is Yes!<br/><br/>Can Becky Chambers write a bad book? Rhetorical question..... no. Here again we have passionate, philosophical writing that makes you rethink the meaning of life. This story challenged me and the way I saw the universe and I appreciated the heck out of that. What could we find within it? Do we trust in others? Could we find humanity on an alien planet? To learn the give and pull of life unknown.<br/><br/>Becky Chambers writing is inspiring. The structure and even the ending of the book was brilliant. One of the most unique features of the story is the protagonist Ariadne who has the important job of keeping the ship and equipment in top shape. Though the three other crew members are scientists, so Ariadne's job seems to pale in comparison. Yet she is the glue that keeps them all together. <br/><br/>There is such a special type of relationship between the crew. Except each one, without Ariadne, doesn't seem particularly fond of each other. Less than 100 pages it took for me to get so attached to these characters that my eyes teared up when things began to happened to them. Such a strange and utterly beautiful link between them. I couldn't get enough and Chambers kept me right on the edge with these seldom yet crucial interactions.<br/><br/>The explorations were very interesting. I never thought to describe an alien would be so difficult. You could say it resembled a horse though that would not be a true representation. It has different mannerisms, different eating habits ect. But to explain it to the reader, the writer has to concede. There were such terrible and wonderful days on these planets. It's one of those stories where even if it would have drove me to the brink of insanity I would have wished to experience this new life.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>-----Favorite Quotes-----<br/><br/><br/>Voyager recording 1977:<br/>"As the Secretary General of the United Nations, an organization of the 147 member states who represent almost all of the human inhabitants of the planet earth. I send greetings on behalf of the people of our planet. We step out of our solar system into the universe seeking only peace and friendship, to teach if we are called upon, to be taught if we are fortunate. We know full well that our planet and all its inhabitants are but a small part of the immense universe that surrounds us and it is with humility and hope that we take this step."<br/><br/>"We exist where we begin, yet to remain there is death."<br/><br/>"We became a molecule, distinct components attached by natural bonds."<br/><br/><br/>-----Reading music-----<br/>Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson"

"Feels like an early 2000s book. We're visiting new worlds, but it's really about the characters and the stress they're going through."

"Fantastic, absolute nerd catnip. I only wish it was longer. "

"Do you ever get to the end of a book, and think "Damnit! It's over!" This is that book for me. Short and sweet, and so entertaining!"

"This is a neat little novella written as a transmission from a long-term space exploration mission back to the citizens of earth. I loved the way this was written. The prose is beautiful, the ideas are interesting, and each character gets a chance to shine despite the short length.<br/><br/>The ending didn't quite work for me and there was a portion around the third planet they visited that dragged a bit, but I would still highly recommend this."

"i wanted to love it… it was fine, but i didn’t enjoy it as much as her other books"