Spaceman of Bohemia | 
pickThis book gave me a bit of whiplash - which was an interesting parallel to the experience of the main character.
The premise that drew me in initially was resolved by the halfway point of the book, leaving a lot of text ahead that felt a bit disjointed from the rest. That said - this was a beautifully written, deeply felt, psychological novel that I plan to revisit in the future.
pickI read this one after watching the new Netflix film adaptation called Spaceman with Adam Sandler. As is usually the case, I thought the book was immensely better and having now read it I think the film missed the key themes of the book. The story follows Jakub, a Czechoslovakian astronaut alone in space, the first to venture out to investigate a strange new gas cloud. He encounters an arachnid on his ship. (Cont. in comments 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻)
pickThis storytelling is very unique which has a lot to do with how much I enjoyed this book. The wording is also quite lyrical. Jakub, a scientist, has a chance of a lifetime to go to space. The story is mostly told in his head as the reader learns about his family, his upbringing, the relationship with his wife, Lenka, and Russian/Czech politics. There‘s also an alien spider friend! The solitariness of Jakub reminds me a bit of Life of Pi.
Tagged book is my #bookspin and the second is #doublespin for August. Two wildly different reads to look forward to... 😊
pickWell it has been a while since a book kept me reading past midnight. To start, let me state, this is not sci-fi and do not read this for an airtight plot (parts make no sense). Rather this book is about very human emotions such as love, the impact of memory, history and ancestry, fate, the ability to forgive. A book of justice and injustice, pain and hope which at the end left me wrung out but happy. Perfect? No but honest and wrenching, Yes.
Well I am enjoying it so far and Hanus the Alien and his Nutella addiction makes me smile
pickOne of my new favourite books. Basically “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” — in space.
so-so“Spaceman of Bohemia” was generally a good read. The subjects it broached, such as love, thoughts of self and acceptance were well thought out and described. Where I thought the book weakened was in the plot itself. Near the end of the book, it felt like the author was trying to wrap up his narrative as quickly as possible, leaving too much to the reader‘s imagination. Altogether a good read that fell off near the end.
pickSo this was a surprising book for me. It took me longer than I thought, but I realized that It is a book that needed to be slowly consumed. This Literary Science Fiction novel was weird, experimental, and thought provoking. There were a few things that I didn't like, but the writing was just beautiful and I can envision everything that was written. This is definitely a niche read. It's not for everyone. Those who will enjoy it are in for a treat.
It's a rainy day here in California...so I've got my dog, a cozy blanket, and a new book to read.
so-soThis book is largely about self-knowledge and loneliness; about the partially hidden things that can drive our actions. It never truly sucked me in, but I enjoyed it.
😎 Pretty accurate, except that lately I'm craving things less complicated! I think this might be the summer of comfort reading.
https://bookriot.com/2018/05/16/which-avenger-are-you-reading
pickI really enjoyed this! It captures the spirit of post-Soviet Czech Republic. My full review is here: https://www.librarything.com/work/18146389/details/154650262
New item in my shop! If you would love this in a BookGoGo make sure you hit the custom button! Would love to make a book sleeve with it http://etsy.me/2GdyWYI
so-soThe language in this book was really lovely but I got really creeped out by one character basically stalking another character (it was supposed to be more romantic, I think, but it was icky for me). Also space spiders are creepy. It was a great way to finish off this rotation.
Shall we do another round?
#lmpbc @Schlinkles @starrdom @TsundokuAleax
pickThe protagonist takes on a solo space mission to investigate a purple cloud of dust between Earth and Venus. At one point he meets an alien spider, which you begin to question if its truly an alien or a figment of his imagination/loneliness. With the flashbacks, his ship becomes a place for his past regrets, love life, and memories of his parents/grandparents during the Velvet Revolution. Mysterious, witty, and imaginative.
A book I am #currentlyreading includes some #paranormal activity! Alone in space for months, is the spaceman of Bohemia hallucinating, or has he made an alien bestie?
#readingresolutions
pickNot a book that I would normally pick up but so glad that I did. The author has an amazing command of language and his writing has such a lyrical quality to it. I very much enjoyed the story itself and the journey our main character goes through mining his past, coming to terms with a variety of things, and surviving. Also the giant spider provided some interesting space in the story. @bookandcat @Schlinkles @starrdom #lmpbc
This feels so connected to politics right now and environmental, race, religion, equality issues. MAGA is not about adapting.
"The greatness of a nation is in its symbols, its gestures, in doing things that are unprecedented. It's why the Americans are falling behind--they built a nation on the idea of doing new things, and now they'd rather sit and pray that the world won't make them adapt too much." p. 47
Guys, look what arrived today! I am kinda sad that the sticker is on the box, as I want to keep it. May need to do some cutting so I can keep it. Super excited to get started on this guy. Sounds interesting and definitely not a usual pick for me. #LMPBC @Schlinkles @starrdom @bookandcat
pickI‘m glad I picked this book for #lmpbc
I‘m really curious to see/read your thoughts about this book @bookandcat @TsundokuAleax @starrdom It will be on its way tomorrow!
I'm a little over halfway in the audiobook and not sure how I feel. There is a lot here, very introspective. Do not expect The Martian from this, it's very different.
#anditsaugust day 10: #drinksoncovers
I've yet to read any of these but definitely want to!
How about you?
1. Watching #BB19 on my couch
2. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
3. Spaceman of Bohemia by Jaroslav Kalfar
4. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
5. Harry Potter by we all know who!
6. Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
#Letstalkaboutbooksbaby @Liberty
pickExcellent! A story about outer space, giant talking spiders, the sins of the father on the son and about finding your place in the universe. Really, really good. Warning though, it is an addictive read
Really liking this book! Space and a giant talking spider.
pickEqual parts heartbreaking, terrifying, angry, and hopeful. So very, very good.
This is one of the most beautiful sentences I've ever read.
#junebookbugs day 9: #floating
I've been hit with some kind of head cold today so browsed my virtual shelves on Goodreads for some #floating covers. Ok maybe those trapeze artists aren't exactly floating but isn't that just a gorgeous cover? And that is an astronaut floating above that coffee cup there on the bottom right. Have you read any of these? Which would you recommend?
pickThis book is one long giant existential crisis after another, and I kind of dug it. 😳
pickThis book was marketed poorly. It was sold as a spaceman on a suicide mission may or may not be losing his mind as he talks to a spider. Instead, I found it to be about a man who loses and continues to lose everything precious in his life, yet continues living and persevering through it all. From his childhood home and life to his wife to his country and his trip in space where a spider, who observes him, is his only comfort. Push through it.
A few of My new Nook additions 💙
pickI'm not sure this book is quite as good as it thinks it is, but it's still very good.
I'm not a Star Wars fan.
*ducks*
Space travel in general's not my thing, but I'm looking forward to this book in my current TBR pile. #GalaxyFarFarAway #MayBookShowers
I just updated my blog with this challenge. It's super hard this year (I think)... the whole micropress things got me in a tizzy! If anyone has any insights, please share 🤝Also doing the Litsy A to Z Challenge, which also sounds like fun! I'll post about that at a later date! #readingchallenge #atozchallenge #bookriot #readharder #may
bailedI got halfway through. Too bad because it has an extremely interesting premise. Maybe this is an it's-not-you-it's-me situation. I'm such a terrible reader of ebooks, for one, but this was the only format from the library. Reading this just started feeling like a chore. It wasn't what I was expecting; I wanted more about the mission and the creature and less about Jakub's backstory, more philosophical commentary on life rather than politics.
so-soThis is not a "zany" rocket trip of hallucinated spider aliens and mysterious space-dust. It's a deeply Czech satire about politics, history, communism, and family legacy and debt. Why high-profile reviews focus so much on the frame story that all but disappears halfway through, I don't know. It's a good book and Jakub is a good character but I picked it up expecting trippy literary sci-fi and it is not that.
bailedHaving a bit of a reading Slump this weekend. This is the second book I've given 100+ pages and just didn't get into. It's not you, it's me?!
pickWhen was the last time you read a book by and about a Czech, let alone a Czech in space? I'm slightly in love with this book. 😍📚Philosophical, lyrical, political, humorous, and a bit cynical. Sooo good!
Three hour glucose test equals lots of reading time. Almost done with this one, but have no fear, I brought 4 more books to read. Gotta have options.
Sometimes I get into ruts where I only want to read non-fiction, or I only want to read novels. I set this aside last week because I wasn't in a fiction mood, but now that I've picked it back up I'm really liking it!
Waiting for the chicken to cook and starting a new book. #goodeatsgoodreads #space #apriltbr
Trying to finish this today. It's a little grandiose for my tastes but I'm in it and we're seeing it through.
