Joan M. Planas

After reading Weir's Project Hail Mary I was really excited about this one. It did deliver but maybe I had higher expectations. I liked the characters despite them feeling a bit stagnated at times. There was little progression in them.

Also I wish Ngugi got what she deserved. Maybe the resolution of the conflict between Jazz and Ngugi was brushed over too quick.

Very interesting and sad novel. I liked some themes but maybe I would have liked a somewhat more “worked” resolution.

This was a tough read. To begin with I had trouble relating to the characters inability to “see” each other, and that made the first quarter of the book a bit challenging. Judes story being a really tough one to digest makes you also think (imo) that the concrete details of his story don't matter, but it's how his support failed him time and time again when it should have been there for him.

It was a heart wrenching novel from start to finish and despite agreeing that at times it goes too deep into “misery porn territory” I do think it uses it in a way to discuss very strong themes such as life, death, grief and love (of all kinds).

I do feel the book could have also been edited to around 500-600 pages.

This book was a treat. At first it was a bit confusing, with the scifi context being a bit loose and undefined, but the beauty of the literary language, really pulls you in.

I am not to one who reads epistolary romance but this one was a beautiful book about two individuals so far removed and at the same time so close in their nature that it was irresistible.

Tasteful and sensitive, with great style and elegant writing.

I went in expecting something more shallow than what I got, and of course I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed the literary style and likeability of the characters. The tempo was appropriate, if maybe a bit slow at the start, but that is to be expected.