You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut Universe, #1)
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Group Themed Reads: Discussions > January 2020 - The Calculating Stars

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Sarah | 18550 comments One of the group reads for January is The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal.

Please discuss the book in this thread.

I will be leading the discussion.

In order to receive a badge you must:
1. have read the book before or during January 2020.
2. discussed it in this thread. Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc. You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread. Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.
3. Report that you have read AND discussed the book in the reporting thread (include a brief summary of what you thought of the book).

A note on discussion: Discussion must be more than "I read the book and I liked it". Discussion requires something more substantial and analytical of what you read, for example, thoughts, opinions, impact it had on you, what was your favourite part, was it what you expected it to be like etc.

In addition to this, the group reads are meant to be a "read along" so it is preferable that you discuss the book as you read rather than wait until you've finished the book.

And finally, discussion is not about just listing your thoughts. Please interact with the other group members, comment on their thoughts, and if they comment on yours, respond to them. This is what makes a good book discussion!

You may also like to review the book and post a link to the review in this thread.

Please refer to our group spoiler policy for further information.

General Rules:
1. Please mark your spoilers with the spoiler tags along with mentioning what stage of the book you are at so other's don't get a nasty shock. Chapter numbers/titles are generally best as they are the same across all formats and editions. See our spoiler policy
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge, Topplers, and Monthly Challenges.

Happy reading!


Sarah | 18550 comments I'm really looking forward to this one. I'll be starting it today.


Sarah | 18550 comments Thankfully, the chapters are numbered. That makes it easier for discussing.

I've read chapter 1 so far (view spoiler)


message 4: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60095 comments I just noticed how similar the covers of the two books are this month. You'd think the theme was royal blue covers with people on them.

The Calculating Stars (Lady Astronaut, #1) by Mary Robinette Kowal The Map of Salt and Stars by Zeyn Joukhadar


Sarah | 18550 comments Yes they are really similar aren't they?!


Sarah | 18550 comments chapter 2 and 3 (view spoiler)


message 7: by Renee (new)

Renee (elenarenee) | 1650 comments I hope my library get this for me soon. I am really looking forward to this


Sarah | 18550 comments Renee wrote: "I hope my library get this for me soon. I am really looking forward to this"

Fingers crossed. I'm enjoying it so far.


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 4 - 6 (view spoiler)

chapter 7 (view spoiler)

chapter 8 (view spoiler)


Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) (classylibrarian) Looking forward to this! Picking it up today at work.


message 11: by Janice, Moderator (new)

Janice (jamasc) | 60095 comments Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) wrote: "Looking forward to this! Picking it up today at work."

Welcome to YLTO, Cathie!


Sarah | 18550 comments Cathie (ClassyLibrarian) wrote: "Looking forward to this! Picking it up today at work."

Welcome Cathie. We look forward to you joining in the discussion .


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 9 - 12 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I had my Nook open on my lap last night, started to read and promptly fell asleep.


Sarah | 18550 comments Cherie wrote: "I had my Nook open on my lap last night, started to read and promptly fell asleep."

Oh dear. I hope you can stay awake next time you pick it up.


message 16: by Renee (new)

Renee (elenarenee) | 1650 comments oh fudge balls. I went to pick my book up from the library only to find out it had suffered an accident. Not sure how it happened but it got run over and mangled. I picture my mellow librarians getting wild on New Years. Maybe they were riding the shelving carts. LOL So I am waiting for another copy.


Sarah | 18550 comments Oh no Renee. I like your theory. Hopefully it won't be long before another one turns up.


Sarah | 18550 comments I've been away this weekend for work. I've managed to get some reading in too so I'll update properly tomorrow.


Sarah | 18550 comments I was going to add my comment up to where I've read so far but I've run out of time. It was my first day back to work after 2 weeks off over Christmas so that combined with getting prepared to go in for surgery tomorrow, I just haven't had the time. I'll be absent for a day or so but will return with my comments as soon as I can.


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments No problems, Sarah. I just stopped to say that I finally had a chance to read the first chapter. Wow, there is an opening chapter that I won't soon forget! (view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments I want to be Elma! Mostly.

That's all I can manage to write right now.


Sarah | 18550 comments I have finished the book. My concentration levels aren't quite there enough yet to articulate myself in comments. Hopefully i'll feel a hut more with it tomorrow. I very much enjoyed the book and I will definitely continue the series.


message 23: by Cherie (last edited Jan 09, 2020 11:09AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I finished my series book last night and while I still had my Nook tablet open, I read up to chapter 6. (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I am reading chapter 9 (view spoiler)

Elma - ch 8 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I read up to chapter 13 last night. Unfortunately, I left my Nook tablet at home on the charger when I left for work this morning, so I could not indicate any specific chapter spoilers.


message 26: by Renee (new)

Renee (elenarenee) | 1650 comments I think I will have to pass. No book yet. I also have started The Count of Monte Cristo. It is a huge book which I am really enjoying. So if Calculating Stars does come, it will be a while before I get to read it.


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments No worries, Renee. It’s not even the middle of the month yet. Remember January has 31 days.
😉


Sarah | 18550 comments Cherie wrote: "No problems, Sarah. I just stopped to say that I finally had a chance to read the first chapter. Wow, there is an opening chapter that I won't soon forget! [spoilers removed]"

Yes, the opening chapter is pretty immense. Actually, those first few chapters are all pretty tense. Yes I am very impressed by Elma's math calculations. As much as I liked math at school, I hated my times tables. The amount of times I 'learnt' them only to forget them after a while. The way we learnt them was like learning lines for a play, not actually understanding them as numbers mathematically, I guess like Elma does.


Sarah | 18550 comments Cherie wrote: "I am reading chapter 9 [spoilers removed]"

This is the second book of late that I have read in which (view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments My brain is finally working again after the general anaesthetic so I can start commenting properly now. Sorry to have kept you reading on your own Cherie.


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 13 (view spoiler)

ch 14 (view spoiler)

ch 15-17(view spoiler)

ch 18(view spoiler)

ch 19(view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 22 - 24(view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 26 - 27(view spoiler)

ch 28-31(view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 32-33(view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments ch 26-end(view spoiler)

historical note(view spoiler)

I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. I enjoyed this book a lot.


Sarah | 18550 comments It has been quiet in this thread. Anyone else planning on reading it?


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Yes, I will be getting back to it. I am almost finished with the other one I started. I am dying to read your spoilers, Sarah.


message 38: by Casceil (new)

Casceil | 2728 comments I read this book a few months ago, and I loved it. I had planned to reread or at least skim some of it again to participate in the discussion, but I was seduced by other books. I have enjoyed reading Sarah's comments and spoilers. They have helped me remember things about the book I had forgotten.


Sarah | 18550 comments Glad you enjoyed it too Casceil. I struggle to reread books as i have way too many other books i need to read so i understand Casceil.


message 40: by Cherie (last edited Jan 27, 2020 03:29PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments Sarah - I just read your spoilers through message 32 (up to ch 24). I am currently getting ready to start chapter 25. Most of your spoilers made sense to me and I mostly agree with your comments and can say that my feelings were essentially the same. There is a remarkable twist in this story. (view spoiler) A few other thoughts before I go on (view spoiler) Oh and I think some of the chapter header "news events" are more interesting than some of the actual story!


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments I wish more people had chosen to read this book.


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments chapter 25 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments ch 26 and 27 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments ch 28 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments ch 29 (view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments ch 30 (view spoiler)


message 47: by Cherie (last edited Jan 27, 2020 07:33PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments ch 31 - Sarah, I finally could read your ch 28-31 spoiler
(view spoiler)


Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments start of ch 32 (view spoiler).


message 49: by Cherie (last edited Jan 28, 2020 11:45AM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Cherie (crobins0) | 21536 comments chapter 33 and 34 (view spoiler) end of the chapter (view spoiler)


Sarah | 18550 comments Cherie wrote: "I wish more people had chosen to read this book. "

I agree!


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