Maddy > Recent Status Updates

Wow, this book has really taken a dark and disturbing turn... and I can't pull myself away. Some of these scenes are quite grisly and I can feel my stomach twist, a feeling the King himself never even inspired in me when I was a kid devouring his books. It took to about the midpoint, but damn this is solidly good and crazy compelling.

I officially am at the point of liking this book and feeling addicted. The writing about Tony's harrowing experiences with the LA fires were quite compelling and also scary. I have to say, I do think this author does a good job with the socio-political commentary as well.

This is actually getting good. There's still one character sort of dangling on the side that I can't fully place... but I think everyone else has at least referenced one another/something relevant. Also, this book is really fucking topical and scary. Great political commentary, I think.

Okay, the druggie is wildly out of pocket. I'm glad it seems like he's turning his life around but holy shit was that a gnarly scene in the parking lot. Also, glad to see how he ties in to the main plot line.

It's getting a bit more difficult to keep all of these characters sorted in my head, but now that things are crossing over it's definitely easier and more interesting. I think the last person to be officially "tied in" is the drug addict? Not sure. Enjoying this book though, I like the drama of the marketing character. Also, gotta love the Midwest representation.

I guess I missed an update before this one. Anyway, back to this book again. It's definitely slow starting, but I'm starting to see some of the storylines cross over which is satisfying. It's written in a way that encourages you to keep reading and unravel the mystery of how everything connects.

This book was incredible. I truly never knew what was going to be revealed next. And let me just say that I absolutely adore Rocky. Ryland also was great and proved himself (to Stratt at least) in the end, but poor Rocky. I'm so glad he made it back with Adrian. It's also quite wholesome for Ryland to teach on Erid (and reminiscent of Watney, perhaps).

Holy fuck. Absolutely crushing pages post-work. This is so well written, it is so hard to put this book down and walk away. I'm too invested in my two fellas.

Ch. 13

Radiation! How did Rocky survive? I like this cutaway to the discussion about the plans to utilize the Astrophage to shield the Hail Mary from radiation. Also, Rocky's lack of knowledge about there being particles in space is concerning and I really want to know more about his species.

Ch. 12

The language translation stuff is really cool, and I'm enjoying their interactions. Finding out Rocky is alone makes me very sad, but the ending to this chapter was very sweet. Now it makes sense why Rocky watches Ryland sleep. This Eridian is wicked smart, though!

Ch. 11

Sound as sight! That's a cool touch. Man, these Eridians are freaky. I'm just imagining a stink bug of sorts. Which, I guess the ammonia is stinky so I'm not terribly off base. I like the brief interjection of the licensing trial to explain away the ship's access to basically everything ever made.

Ch. 10

Holy smokes this is so thrilling!! The way Rocky and Ryland are communicating remind me of what was laid out on the Voyager records (and I think diagrammed on Pioneer as well). I think Carl Sagan would find this book amusing, which would probably be the highest compliment to a sci-fi writer who genuinely cares about the "sci".

Ch. 9

I feel like this docking experiment was not very well thought through... but I'm not a scientist with a PhD and (what I assume to be) rigorous training for this mission. The temperature difference makes me nervous, but oh my goodness I am just so intrigued.

Ch. 8

Centrifuge mode unlocked. Also, Ryland is now communicating via cylinders with Blip-A. This is so cool, I'm hanging on the edge of my seat. I feel like a kid! It's so hard to put this book down and just walk away.

Ch. 7

JUST OPEN THE CYLINDER AND FIGURE IT OUT. I know he's playing it safe but oh my goodness just crack that thing open. I want to know what's happening and what that other ship is all about.

Ch. 6

Learning about the crew coma situation was... interesting. Still waiting to know why Ryland was picked for the crew. The ending for this chapter is quite nuts and I want to just press on.

Ch. 5

This story is just so interesting. This whole chapter was a flashback that tickled the technical side of my brain. Also the absurdity and manufactured importance of the situation is entertaining. Like, hanging out on a Chinese naval ship is really damn cool and all... and I get the "why"... but, like, why?

Ch. 4

I love the satisfaction built into reading this book. The narrator is searching within himself to figure out where he is, what he's doing, and why he's there. It feels very dire and each time he unearths something new, it's like a treat for the reader. I also love the aspect of him being a science teacher, it's cute.

Ch. 3

Narrator dredged up his name and begins recalling some really wacky stuff he was doing with the samples returned from ArcLight. I feel like Andy Weir vastly overestimates the knowledge base of the average science teacher, and bless his heart for that. I'm quite intrigued by the science in all of this, it's very fun!

Ch. 2

I like the narrator a lot - very Mark Watney coded. This Petrova line stuff is compelling. The JPL cameo made me sad... I miss Tony and the future I never had at the lab. I can picture Mission Control vividly... I've been in there a few times. Oh well. This book is good! An easy but entertaining read. True page turner and certainly my flavor of sci-fi.

Ch. 1

I have absolutely no idea what the premise of this book is, but this first chapter has got me LOCKED IN. I'm eager to figure out what the hell is going on here and also who the hell the protagonist is. Andy Weir sure knows how to hook the reader.

I like Tony, he's cool. The way he interacts with and thinks about his daughters makes me sad... daddy issues, I suppose. Finally seeing a crossover of two storylines!! Also, fucking Pollyanna. That was a trivia answer last night that I had never heard of, and now I won't forget it. How queer to have it come up in today's reading. Anyway, Will is landing soon and I must drive to SFO!

I wonder if all the characters cycle through different methods of storytelling for their individual arcs. Anyway, still iffy on the druggie and am worried about the woman he brought home. I like Kate more now (I think?) and was glad to hear she's still with Matt, though it sounds somewhat tense. Still deciding if I like this author...

Intriguing storyline for Kate and Matt. However, I will say it again, I do not like how this author writes female characters. IT IS OKAY for women to be flawed and not conventionally attractive or mysterious and alluring. It feels like I'm reading "Looking for Alaska" (derogatory) and I'm struggling to understand how this book was on the library's "Best of 2023" list simply because of this (major) flaw. Rant over.

I like the autistic math guy a lot. Don't like the drug addict. Wasn't expecting what happened in that chapter to have happened, honestly kind of fucked up to just drop in there. Interesting the drug addict section was written in second-person perspective. One more chapter of character introductions to go. Very, very curious how they link together.

Still learning new characters and intrigued to see how they eventually intertwine their narratives. Not too sure I like how the female character (Jackie) has been written... Perhaps this author needed more women around him to offer judgement. Or I'm weird. It's not enough of a problem to keep me from reading on.

I've been hooked. I really don't know what to expect from this book. Checked it out from the library on a whim after seeing it listed as a recommended book from 2023. I was drawn in by the fact it seems to center around environmentalism... or I could be wrong. But anyway, so far so good! I just want to keep reading and learn where this goes.

Belgrade 1

We visit what sounds like a lovely public space, Kalemegdan. Adorned with statues by Mestrovitch and teeming with history. I must look this up. Also curious about the Pannonian Plain which it overlooks.

On the train to Serbia, and Constantine won't shut the hell up. The train ride does sound beautiful, though. Finally back to this monster book.

Ch. 16

Deadass is this how the book ends? If that's true, and the epilogue doesn't save this, what the hell? I like the play way better, this sucks. What a lackluster, disappointing ending. Maybe I should reserve judgement until I finish reading?