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The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet
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LWSAP: May 2017 Pick: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
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Sue wrote: "Why did no one stop the narrator from mispronouncing "heretic" over and over and over? Am I the only one bothered by this?"I tried the audio sample on Audible for our last pick, The Invisible Library, and the narrator seemed to have trouble pronouncing "library", which seemed like it would be a problem! On it's own I could probably have lived with it, but there were other irritating qualities to the reading, so I went with the Kindle edition instead.
This month I'm really enjoying the audio of 'Long Way ...' but don't think I have reached the "heretic" part yet. I'll now be looking out for it.
So happy this is the book club pick! I listened to the audio book a few months ago and loved it.
@Trike - She says "he-REH-tick" (opposed to the more common "HEHR-e-tick"). The way it's used, it actually took me a while to determine whether it was actually "heretic" or another alien race that was just similar.
Sue wrote: "@Trike - She says "he-REH-tick" (opposed to the more common "HEHR-e-tick"). The way it's used, it actually took me a while to determine whether it was actually "heretic" or another alien race that ..."Bizarre. Almost as if she's saying "heretical" but leaving off the ending. I wonder why no one caught that.
Sue wrote: "Why did no one stop the narrator from mispronouncing "heretic" over and over and over?"Reached the section with the 'heretics' and couldn't see (or hear!) what the problem was supposed to be, but did a bit of digging and it seems that there are two different audio versions available. The UK audible store has a reading by Patricia Rodriguez (which I really enjoyed) but the US store lists Rachel Dulude as the narrator.
Which got me to wondering how different readings could affect your enjoyment of the book. I liked Kizzy as a character, partly because of the breathless excitement and enthusiasm she is portrayed with, but how much of this is the writing and how much is the reader's interpretation? Would I have liked the character if I'd read the text for myself?
Colin wrote: "Sue wrote: "Why did no one stop the narrator from mispronouncing "heretic" over and over and over?"Reached the section with the 'heretics' and couldn't see (or hear!) what the problem was suppose..."
I always wonder about that for those who do audio. Can the narrator make or break a book? I've seen comments on books we've read were people said I couldn't stand the narrator.. but that's not the books fault. Seems like a big risk to take! Course I never do audio because my mind tends to block the voice in my ears and wander off. Then I'm left trying to figure out what I just missed or going back to find the spot I last remember....
Mod
More often a good narrator results in me enjoying a so-so book more than I might otherwise.
If it's a good book then I can usually get through with a so so narrator even if I have to 'chipmunk' it. (My term for playing it at 2x speed or higher.) I have not come across many where I hated the narrator and it put me off the book. Contrary to most people I put the recent S&L The Golem and the Jinni in that category.On the other hand, as Rob said, a really good narrator can elevate a so so book into a wonderful experience.
I point to the Expanse books and all were done by Jefferson Mays but one and that ruined that book. My brain keep saying that was not James or Naomi. Had to give it up and go ebook. And the Rivers of London is better because of the narration in my humble opinion.
Mod
Really? I didnt know that. I assumed they'd make me buy the new version.
Didn't they do the same thing with the non-Marsters Dresden book?
That's interesting! So the old recording is just discontinued, and people who bought it can't keep it? I mean, I like Mays, but that sounds a bit strange to me.
I, unfortunately, did not enjoy this book. Seemed like a good idea at first but it quickly became almost too preachy for me. Chambers was not exactly subtle with her viewpoint and the story, for me, suffered because of it - it was almost like it pulled me out the story. Some characters worked more than others: I liked Jenks and Lovey (Jenks was my overall favorite). Rosemary was okay. I was fine with it being more episodic and I did appreciate that it was a zippy read for the most part.I'm glad other people liked it. I wish I had liked it. Hopefully I'll enjoy next month's pick more.
Abigail - tell me, did you sympathize with her viewpoint or is it opposite of yours?
I found it well-meaning but it felt like she was preaching to the choir. I didn't mind her viewpoint, per se. I had a problem with the execution - it was too obvious, too pointed. It was almost distracting.
Kristina wrote: I always wonder about that for those who do audio. Can the narrator make or break a book? I've seen comments on books we've read were people said I couldn't stand the narrator.. but that's not the books fault. ..."Personally, I need both the narrator and text to 'click' in order to get into an audio book. You're absolutely right that it's not the book's fault; to my mind it's like picking up a physical book only to find the typeface is too small for me to read... The story might be great, but if I get a headache trying to read it, I'll move on to something else. (And probably check the book out in a different format.)
As a result, I usually get 4 or 5 audio books from the library at a time, and return the ones that don't do it for me. I have no idea if that's a normal practice for audiobook listeners, or if I'm just an oddball. :)
I don't do audio books, so I always think the narrator is frakking awesome!
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He could do better ;-)
Mine, not yours :-)
Abigail wrote: "I found it well-meaning but it felt like she was preaching to the choir. I didn't mind her viewpoint, per se. I had a problem with the execution - it was too obvious, too pointed. It was almost dis..."I completely agree with this. I'm picking my way through the book and one of the things I keep bumping up against is all the preaching. Propganda is propganda even when it's a view point you agree with. I don't think this book comes quite to the propganda point, but it certainly brushes up against it a lot.
You remember at the end of every episode of Full House there was a heart to heart conversation with the violin doing that one sustained dramatic note? Lots of those moments in this book.
Melani wrote: "Abigail wrote: "I found it well-meaning but it felt like she was preaching to the choir. I didn't mind her viewpoint, per se. I had a problem with the execution - it was too obvious, too pointed. I..."I really enjoyed this book. Some of you seem to find that she was a bit too preachy, but nobody mentions preachy about what. Acceptance? If this is it, I find it interesting because I felt the opposite way. I didn't read it like anything was forced: some relationships came as a surprise, but she didn't push them either. They were just like happy, sweet, passing moments.
I liked the concept of this book much more than the execution unfortunately. Upbeat space exploration is something I'd like to read more of, but if you're going to do a character based story you need to have characters with depth, not just backstory. In this case far too many of the protagonists were a collection tropes rather than a cohesive entity.
It's an overused criticism, but I definitely felt there was too much telling and not enough showing going on. Sometimes the most efficient way to give the reader information is just to go with an infodump, but when you do that all the time you rob events of any emotional impact. In some cases the character development felt unearned because it was explained rather than demonstrated.
At times it felt like the author was using her characters to model what she felt was "correct' behavior. If they had been acting rather than speaking that behavior it might have been less grating.
I enjoyed learning about the characters but that was about as far as the book went for me. The world building was ok but I found that the book didn't really have a solid plot. I found myself not really caring at all. I have only a few chapters to go but I don't see my mind changing.
Liked book enough to finish, despite things that got me itchy. A captain who does not manage let lone do diaster planning. You love your AI, but do not backup the computer. Really. AI runs ship, but does not have self preservation and survival built in or developed. Respect individual species rights only when it is convient/best for you. A person raised attending diplomatic events decides to be the least refined and vulger crew member, so bad mouths twitchy clients at a sensitive diplomatic 1st meeting. Based on caption's interview, the GC knew his crew disrepsected the client. Captian chooses not to look into this line of inquiry on his ship. Enjoyed book though it felt choppy. I cared about the characters. It was worth overlooking the book's quirks. Great & fun pick.
I resolved the lack of backups issue by deciding that the anti-AI government made copying an AI illegal and imposed technology to prevent it. A society that doesn't want to give them rights certainly wouldn't want one to replicate itself endlessly and take over the universe.In both books, even moving an AI was a chore and we only saw it occur when using illegal technology. It may not normally be possible.
The Sword and Laser
Books mentioned in this topic
The Golem and the Jinni (other topics)A Closed and Common Orbit (other topics)
A Closed and Common Orbit (other topics)
The Martian (other topics)
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet (other topics)
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How does she pronounce it?