Welcome to Litsy!

It took me awhile to read this, and I almost gave up a number of times. It‘s a slow march through years of research and training (like most science). The end, featuring Helena, brought this from a 3 to a 4- had we jumped earlier, it could have been a 5.

What a fantastic start to my reading year! I absolutely loved this book. I was fully absorbed right away and never wanted to put it down. It‘s not what I would think of as a Booker nominee, but why not? I‘m so glad this was on the #TOBlonglist to insure that I read it.

While I‘m grateful to have had something so absorbing to read while bed-bound with COVID the last few days, I also worry some of the scientific elements (and their philosophical adjacencies) were beyond the reach of my foggy brain…

But even with my uncertain level of understanding, this book was very enjoyable — also ambitious, thought-provoking, and distinct.

Because no one goes to B&N to browse. I did only get one this time, so…

#bookbuy #BookerPrize

From the depths of the ocean to the heights of outer space, this meditative novel covers a lot of ground.

I tried, I really did. But I got lost and lost again in my own thoughts because my mind went wandering during those endless conversations about marine biology. I had no idea what they were talking about and if there was a plot behind it all.
It‘s a pity, I had high hopes because of the reviews below but after 50% I allow myself to bail 🤷🏻‍♀️

Loved 🥰

Do you know the film, "The Abyss"? Or the intriguing French sci-fi series, "Missions"? This put me in mind of both of those.
Alone in my little room, with the boiler humming in the airing cupboard next to me, reading this was a pleasantly lulling experience. Apparently, a vicarious journey to the edge of the solar system with an emotionally-distanced microbiologist is precisely what my overwrought nervous system needed! Who would have guessed it?!

Firmly in the liked but didn‘t love camp. MacInnes is doing some clever stuff in terms of playing with the science fiction genre, to present a narrative that has some significant things about our relationship with our planet which seemed to be a commentary about the current climate crisis at heart. There is some shut-the-front-door beautiful sequences of prose in here. Ultimately I found it a little uneven. Imperfect but very clever.

At home, as I grew taller and taller, I learned to affect my posture to appear smaller than I was. My height was confrontational, too loud, and an affront to my father.

Whatever gave me the right to grow out like this, to take up disproportionate room in our house?

Unlike 75% of people who described this book as boring, I quite enjoyed it. I‘m a researcher and psychologist and perhaps that‘s why I appreciated the book more than many. The circular nature of the book, the ways in which the author raises questions about the meaning of life and how our past impacts our present and future were all interesting to me. Full review to come on our blog where I suspect I will once again be the odd woman out.

An uneven reading month. In Ascension did not work for me. The East Indian was also not my cup of tea. Old God's Time was beautifully crafted but hard to read due to the subject matter. Solito was a top read of my year so far! #bookspin #booker23 @TheAromaofBooks

So many comments say boring. Well, it was one of my favorite audiobook experiences. 🙂 I loved it.

It‘s a literary sci-fi book of tone. What I mean is that if you take to the language, a cold, careful, logical tone that can bring out something both distant and beautiful, then this book is a 5-star listen. The plot is almost secondary, and really not a draw.

(It's read beautifully on audio by Freya Miller.)
#booker2023

I surprised myself by really loving this. It really didn‘t sound like my kind of book, plus @Leniverse and @RaeLovesToRead have this author on their pretentious drivel* shelves.

I didn‘t completely understand all of the science-y bits but the narrative was compelling and I didn‘t want to put it down.

I‘ve tagged some additional Littens who I think are reading the longlist too - let me know if I‘m wrong. 😃

#bookerlonglist Book 5/13

I feel like I need an "ending explained" video. So many things were left unresolved. There is some beautiful writing, but the overall story is a bit of a mess.
It reads like a draft with half of the story still to write.

What I liked though, was the detailed portrait of a scientist striving for the frontiers of science and our planet. It requires a special mindset and determination that comes with a price to pay.

#booker23

This was not for me. I loved the beginning and was lost by the end. 2 🌟

#Booker2023 longlist is out. I‘m starting here, on audio. (Audible reviews call it boring. 1st 20 minutes have been gorgeous. But it‘s 13 plus hours long.)