Andy Weir's “Project Hail Mary” is a refreshing taste of the modern day sci-fi novel. Although I am not much of a sci-fi reader, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. You're taken through the journey of Ryland Grace, a science teacher turned astronaut, as he uncovers a scientific breakthrough that will end the world in only a few years.
If you have any interest in biology and/or chemistry, I highly recommend this book. You will learn so much about a make believe material, you could ace a quiz at the end of the book. The chapters alternate between current-day Grace in the spaceship and the process of which he arrived there. We learn alongside Grace just exactly how he ended up in this position.
One of my favorite parts of this book is Rocky, an alien engineer from the planet Erid whose name describes him perfectly. He speaks in music, many notes forming types of chords to form words and sentences. Him and Grace manage to communicate and collaborate, putting their biology and engineering skills together to complete their mission.
No spoilers, but I definitely did not see the ending coming. Some people were very displeased, but I found it wholesome. Other problems people had with the book that I can agree with is the very caricaturistic style of the human characters. A sarcastic and charming scientist who happens to know almost everything, a Russian who loves vodka, Asian characters who speak with broken accents, and a female boss who is just so bossy and isn't afraid to flaunt it.
Either way, “Project Hail Mary” is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of preferred genre. If you're a fan of sci-fi, a little mystery, science, and some fun interactions, I recommend this book. However, if tropes and caricatures turn you off, and you can't stand science, steer clear.
4.5/5 rounded up
I don't understand the negative reviews for this book. I think this was phenomenal. I find Tilly and Oliver way too relatable, and their relationship is cute although corny. But, what else do you expect going into a YA romancey book like this? Of course the cute guy on the plane is gonna be her boyfriend. And of course she is going to make a fool of herself.
Suspending my disbelief, I had so much fun reading this book. And the ending wasn't that bad!! The absolute worst part of the book was the fact that our MC's name is Tilly. Tilly Twomley, Twomley. Twomley.... what the hell????
“How could you hide from a murderer who lived under your skin?”
I have finally completed the quest of finding a book that was similar to “The Ruins” by Scott Smith. This was so much better.
I absolutely LOVED this book. Everything about it had me on the edge of my seat, and made me extremely nauseous at times. Cutter's writing is stellar. I cannot get enough of this story, from the body horror to the literal and figurative creature that is Shelley, it is perfection. 11/10.
While listening to this book, I came up with a really fun game:
Take a shot every time:
-Vera mentions something along the lines of “my father built this house”
-The words “grease” and “lemonade” is mentioned
-Vera snaps her fingers four times
-You find yourself saying “What the fuck?”
I really liked this book, until I didn't.
Pros:
Sarah Gailey is an amazing author. I loved Echo Wife.
I did not predict the ending, but that doesn't mean I liked it.
I loved Francis. IDGAF, he's dad of the year. Dad of the century, even.
Cons:
Fuck Daphne
The repetition of so many phrases and words
That stupid plot twist
Really did not like that it was the house ITSELF that was haunting Daphne and protecting Vera but I like that I had no idea what was gonna happen. I also hate James. Why is he here? To be a nuisance? Because it worked. There's also a lot of little plot points that we get no explanation to. I find myself wondering just exactly what happened to Francis, or even Brandon. I found myself speculating too much, and I wish I just told what happened.
3/5 stars, docked points for the repetition and goofy ending.
dude. i loved this book so much. i love greta. i love big swiss. i love the donks. even though i wasn't happy with the ending, since i like things all tied up nice and neat, i find it very fitting for the story. i really do wish to know what happens in the future, or what happened to big swiss. so many questions that are probably best left unanswered. ellington and pantaloon forever!
Okay. I had such a love hate relationship with this book. Lets lay it out. Read with caution if you care about spoilers.
Love:
- Naomi is incredibly relatable in some ways. That really really helped me reading this. Examples:
“Sure, maybe I wasn't a ride-with-no-hands or a sneak-out-of-a-sleepover-to-go-kiss-boys fun, or a call-in-sick-to-go-to-a-concert fun kind of gal, but I didn't hate fun. There was usually just too much that needed doing before I could get to the fun.”
“I don't think I talk too much. I just have a lot of information that needs to be disseminated to the public.”
“He was a man with a lot of feelings locked up tight. Part of me wanted to crack him open. The other part wanted to just go back to bed and forget everything for a few hours.”
Please check my kindle notes and highlights for this book.
Five minutes into the episode, I heard a soft snore. Knox had his feet propped up on the coffee table and his head pitched back against the cushion. His eyes were closed, and his mouth was open. I looked at Waylay, and she grinned at me. Knox snored again, and we both giggled quietly.
“The woman might have been pixie-sized, but she certainly had big ideas about how to expand the library's services to the community. It was both exciting and interesting to be part of something that was so focused on helping people.”
lot
such an ass?
“hot, tight channel”
“tight, wet wonderland”
“I almost went cross-eyed trying to keep my release in my balls where it churned.”
Wow. What is it with Michaelides and writing books about british, broken psychotherapists who can't seem to mind their fcking business? Do you have something to tell us, Alex?I should've read this before the Silent Patient. Anyways.This book was stupid. I couldn't handle it. I wanted to enjoy and appreciate the greek tragedy theme going on. It was cute. But i couldn't shake the truth of Marianna not minding her damn business! Like girl, are you serious? Why are you doing ALL OF THIS???Anyways. There's a lot of gaps and stupidness going on. Here's a few. Spoilers ahead be warned.First problem: Henry. What happened to him? What was the point of all of this? Why was he such a man baby in the beginning, and a constant looming threat over the whole book, just to be ignored? Are you serious? Wtf????Second problem: The Second Voice. I listened to this book, so I'm considering it a voice. I always assumed it was Henry, or maybe even Fosker at some points. Is it supposed to be Sebastian? If so, why???? This literally had NO reason to be in the book. It's probably just filler, since Michaelides can't write a damn thing to stand it's own ground.Third problem: That stupid plot twist. Am I really supposed to deal with this stupid plot twist? You're telling me you made all of this, just for it to end like that? And with NONE of it having to do with Henry? Really? Really... Ok... cool....Fourth problem: Fred. Talk about a fcking plot device. Or maybe even the opposite of such. This dude played absolutely 0 part in any of the story, but also it seemed to revolve around him. Why did he coincidentally LOVE to swim at the place Sebastian died? Why was he “psychic” and have these “premonitions” Why??? Literally there was no point or realism to ANY of that other than for shits and giggles.
Any pros? Well, the dark academia setting was fun and nice. I don't hate Michaelides style of writing. And although it was dumb and cringe, the whole greek tragedy motif was kind of cute. When i THOUGHT it was Fosker that did it all. So you're telling me that the greek tragedy professor, with his greek tragedy maidens, was just a ruse so Sebastian and Zoey could get it on and stab Marianna in the back? You're joking. That's dumb as HELL.
All of the pros go down the damn drain when you consider all of the negatives. This was so lame. Michaelides, do better.
i wish i had an octopus for a therapist
ok it all seriousness, i loved this book so much. yeah okay sure i only picked it up for the octopus on it and for the word aquarium being used. but oh my god. i didn't realize how much i was gonna love this. normally i'm reading some weird mystery book or something niche on a different corner of the literary spectrum, not some story about an old lady and her legacy. but oh my GOD. i'm so glad i picked this up. when, not if, WHEN you read this book, PLEASE LISTEN TO IT!!! the narrator for marcellus is absolutely perfect. i love it so so so much. content ahead may be spoilery so warning you now:
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i saw some reviews where ppl were hating on cameron so much bc he's like a manbaby or something. by the end of the book, i started to really feel for him. he gives big neurodivergent vibes, which that phrase in itself makes me vomit in my mouth but that's really the only way i can put it. full of random information, smart as a fucking tack, yet has a hard job with relationships, socialising, getting the right tone/point across, keeping a job, you name it. hmm.......idk seems kinda adhd/autistic to me but whatevs.
i wish we got to learn more about daphne. will cameron ever find out that the lady avery saved was daphne? will he ever find daphne himself? will tova and ethan ever get together finally??? the world may never know...
This was definitely a page turner. I was hooked after a little while, wondering what was next and what the big twist was going to be. It was stupid. I hate this main character. I fail to understand the rhyme and reasoning behind his actions. I hate how much of a white knight he thinks he is, how he needs to “save” Alicia. This is what I get for listening to the masses.
I am now off the ACOTAR high and I am disappointed. This book was 99% diplomacy and war and 1% of the words SJM uses in every other sentence. We get it, the eyes are violet, the single eye is russet, they are mates, her throat bobbed, her knees buckled. I was either very bored, or felt like I got whiplash by a ton of things happening at once. Like, surprise! Dad's back! Oh wait, he's dead! Oh yeah, and Elaine? Perfectly fine now. Remember when she only spoke in riddles? Also, if she's a see-er, why didn't she just see stuff that happened in the war? What happened to Lucien's ~mating bond~ with her? Also, are we gonna even say anything about Baron not being his true dad? Why was that even mentioned? Congrats, Mor is a lesbian, what's gonna be done about it?
The first book was my first high fantasy book in ages. I had to curb my grievances with the whole absurd magic thing and weirdness and just enjoy it for what it is. I was able to fall hard into Feyre's story with Tamlin, and then dive deeper once it was with Rhys instead. But anything outside of that was left bland and odd. I hope the rest of the series is not like this book.
Nearing the end of the book I was like:
I loved this from beginning to end. The first half of the book was much better than the first, but I really did love it all. I can't wait to start the second one!
edit: don't ask ab the splatoon gif.. i was doing that boogie mentally while driving home from work this book had me so pumped