Chambers - A Closed and Common Orbit [Aug 8, 2019]

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

A Closed and Common Orbit

[Mel]

Woot! In, obvsly.

[Charlie]

Excited for this!

[Emma]

I'm here!

[Charlie]

30 pages in, thoroughly enjoying it and so happy to be back in this world.

(view spoiler)[ I didn't realise this book was about Sidra. At first I was disappointed we weren't getting the crew from book 1 but I'm really enjoying her perspective. I can't imagine how weird it must be for her to suddenly be in a body. I hope they manage to find a way around the no lies rule, that definitely complicates things.

I'm surprised by the Jane chapters too. Reading them is actually making me sad. I'm astounded what they did was legal. Essentially child slavery. Im glad she got out though and I'm excited to see how she escapes. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

70 pages in (view spoiler)[ The Jane chapters!! Oh my goodness! I'm so glad she's escaped but I was horrified to read about what they did to her friend.

Sidra is really quite endearing. I think she's doing a great job navigating the world and finding her place in it and I like that she likes to visit the corners of rooms to get a proper view, it's very sweet.

Like the 1st book, so far, this doesn't really seem to have a defined plot but I'm enjoying just watching the characters live their lives. (hide spoiler)]

[Rob]

Whoops :) didn't realize the start date. Going to start late.

[Charlie]

That's okay Rob, I'm reading other books so reading very slowly :)

[Anni]

Looks like I get my copy next week, than I can start as well 😂

[Rob]

I'm scampering through a First Law/Abercrombie re-read before the new book drops.

[Mel]

Haha, I'll be there with you! I read like the first chapter, and then got distracted by romance novels. Charlie I hold you responsible for at least one of them. :P

[Charlie]

@Melissa which one are you reading?!

[Rob]

Loved the chapter (3?) with the instruction manual :)

[Charlie]

Rob wrote: "Loved the chapter (3?) with the instruction manual :)"

I think the whole idea of the body kit is really cool. I'm enjoying reading about Sidra experiencing what it can do.

[Mel]

@Charlie - It was His Human Slave - popped up in my feed that you were reading it. Alas, although I'm down with the Mars Needs Women trope, that particular one wasn't for me. Chasing it with some delicious m/m romance though. <3

[Mel]

It's interesting, and totally makes sense that the same body that Lovey was prepared to inhabit is kind of freaky for a brand new AI to inhabit. Sensory overload everywhere, especially a place as teeming as Port Coriol.

I'm also loving the look into Pepper's youth, like it's straight out of a dystopian novel. I'm curious to see where it will go.

[Charlie]

Melissa wrote: "It's interesting, and totally makes sense that the same body that Lovey was prepared to inhabit is kind of freaky for a brand new AI to inhabit. Sensory overload everywhere, especially a place as t..."

I'm 132 pages in (view spoiler)[ and Pepper's time as Jane is super interesting to read about. The world is brand new for her and I can imagine it must be terrifying.

Sidra is having a bit of an identity crisis and I really can't blame her. It must be weird knowing she's in a buddy that Lovey designed, something she picked out just for herself. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

182 pages in, finished part 1. (view spoiler)[ oh I'm getting concerned for Sidra! I really hope that tattooist doesn't report her. It's such a shame that happened.

Jane is doing so well, surviving one her own with just the AI for company. So I think that somehow she was separated from the ship and she's been trying to find it all this time. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

217 pages in!

(view spoiler)[ I'm so glad Sidra's made a friend. She's really discovering who she is and I like learning about the world as she learns about it. It doesn't feel info dumpy at all, just great world building.

Poor Jane, her leg is broken and she's stuck down a hole, dogs ready to eat her. I'm not sure how on earth she's going to get out of this. Obviously she escapes somehow but I'm thinking that maybe this is how she loses touch with the AI. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura Tenfingers]

My copy is waiting at the library. I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow and I'll join in soon. I'm really looking forward to it!

Are you enjoying it so far @Charlie, @Melissa, @Rob?

[Anni]

Laura Tenfingers wrote: "My copy is waiting at the library. I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow and I'll join in soon. I'm really looking forward to it!

Are you enjoying it so far @Charlie, @Melissa, @Rob?"

I also only started yesterday :)

[Charlie]

Laura Tenfingers wrote: "My copy is waiting at the library. I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow and I'll join in soon. I'm really looking forward to it!

Are you enjoying it so far @Charlie, @Melissa, @Rob?"

I am absolutely loving it! One of the best books I've read this year by far.

[Charlie]

I've just read a ton of pages, now 320 pages in and very close to the end. I'm dying to finish it but I also want to savour it.

(view spoiler)[

I think Jane's story is heartbreaking. Owl was the only parent she's even known and the port authorities have stolen her. It's so not okay!

I've loved learning about how Jane became Pepper and her journey. Her friendship with Sidra makes so much sense considering her history with Owl and it's given me a lot to think about regarding AI. I agree with Pepper, at least in this world, they're people and they should have rights like people.

Sidra's story is brilliant. All of her thoughts and feelings, her sheer joy at being able to tell a lie and just having control over her own voice gave me all sorts of feelings. I just hope that in the end she stays safe. I need this to have a happy ending.

Not much really happens in this book but it's one of the best things I've read. Like book one, it's more about people, and what makes people people. I can't explain it but it's just a beautiful book, and it's in space, with aliens, so I'm 100% on board. (hide spoiler)]

[Charlie]

Finished! I loved this! It was a pretty sad, emotional book to read but I loved every minute of it. Becky Chambers writes beautiful stories, I can't even express how much I adored this book.

(view spoiler)[ The ending was super satisfying. I love that Sidra and Owl are friends! They really deserve to have a companion that understand them and running the bar together sounds like a great way to spend their time. They can take care of their visitors and have constant mental stimulation this way, it was just perfect. Calling it Home was a fab touch too, I got lots of feels from it.

I hope there's a book 3! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura Tenfingers]

Charlie wrote: "70 pages in.."

I agree (view spoiler)[the Jane chapters are wack! To never have seen the sky! I'm amazed she's as capable as she is after that start in life...

And Sidra's PoV makes you rethink everything we do automatically. Interesting how she keeps saying she moved the kit's eyes or moved the kit's body etc like there's her and the kit as separate entities.

I liked going to the dark side of Port Coriol. It seems an awesome place. (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Phew, I'm again really late to the party, I started a few days ago, but git really distracted by trying to catch up with the Garden of the Moon schedule (A schedule I suggested myself... Yep, well done Anni! :D) But I'm soooo soooo glad I've got ACACO to read beside it. It's such a easy, but great read and just makes me happy :) I love it!

At first, starting this, I was a bit sad that we don't seem to see the Wayfarers crew again. I don't read any blurbs and somehow expected them to be present as well, even as side characters... But no. That doesn't mean that I don't like Pepper and Blue and Sidra and the others, they grew on me very fast and I love them, but I really miss the others :(

Re: 70 pages @Charlie and Laura (view spoiler)[ I'm completely with you guys here and I'm really excited to learn more about Peppers past and it's kind of nice that we already know things worked out for her somehow :) (hide spoiler)]

Re: 132 pages (view spoiler)[ I like how you can see similarities between Jane and Sidra learning everything anew and trying to find themselfes.

Also I love how Blue is trying to comfort Sidra wirhout talking down to her or anything, he's such a sweet character! (hide spoiler)]

Re: 217 pages Agreed! It doesn't feel info dumpy at all and I love how rich the world is and how real the characters feel, the author is amazing in writing this kind of thing. It doesn't bother me at all that the book again is rather slow and without much of a plot (view spoiler)[ I'm also so really happy Sidra and Tak became friends :) (hide spoiler)]

[Anni]

Page 248 (68%) (view spoiler)[ Oh I really, really don't like Sidra's idea of being installed in Blue and Pepper's home. It's not totally unreasonable, but it does feel so much like a step back. Sidra already archived so much and I agree with Pepper that I don't think Sidra would do good all on her own half of the time.

Also the scene of Sidra visiting the AI salesman was somehow creepy. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura Tenfingers]

And Sidra always putting everyone else before herself and her own needs? Cute, such a human struggle.

And her reaction to AI is the same as her (predecessor's...) buddy in the previous book! ❤️❤️

[Rob]

I'm finished. I enjoyed it. (view spoiler)[Different a unique take on a journey to uncover's oneself. I basically spent the whole book waiting for the other shoe to drop where she stopped referring to the kit as "the kit" and "my body". The wait was worth it. (hide spoiler)]

I am hesitant to jump into the third book given the meh reviews of some of our fellow Fantasy Buddy Reads members.

[Charlie]

@Anni and @Laura, so glad you guys are enjoying it. I was disappointed at first that we don't get to see the previous crew but I got over it pretty quickly and I fell in love with these characters.

Even though not much happens in terms of action, I think I enjoyed this book even more than the last one, I just adored Jane and Sidra's personal journeys.

@Rob I loved that bit at the end too, very satisfying. That whole end scene gave me all of the wonderful feels.

I didn't realise the 3rd book had bad reviews, now I'm hesitant to look at any of them.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Feel free to wait and judge for yourself, but most of us just felt that the 3rd book didn't really have much to drive it forward... it was just a long series of slice of life vignettes...

You can see it had an effect on the average rating... 4.17, 4.36, 4.14... usually the first book in a series has the lowest rating, because less people keep up-to-date with a series, and people that don't like the first book don't continue with the 2nd, etc...

Among my friends list, I'm showing a 2.83 average, from 6 reviews...

[Charlie]

Timelord Iain wrote: "Feel free to wait and judge for yourself, but most of us just felt that the 3rd book didn't really have much to drive it forward... it was just a long series of slice of life vignettes...

You can ..."

Wow, that's pretty worrying. I'll definitely still read it but I might give myself a break before jumping straight in.

[Timelord Iain, Tech Support]

Regardless, I'll try the 4th Wayfarer book when it comes out, and wouldn't mind trying To Be Taught, If Fortunate when it comes out tomorrow, either...

[Laura Tenfingers]

Finished! Loved it! Surprised at how much I loved it! I also loved it more than book 1.

(view spoiler)[
I loved how Tak changed in my mind's eye when xe went from male to female. I'm ashamed to admit how very hetero my reaction was, but Tak kept shifting from best friend (when female) to possible love interest (when male). I was surprised by how different my mind portrayed him/her. So well written in order to do that!

I loved how human Sidra's search for herself was, while still being totally plausible for an AI. And both her and Pepper's creation stories were hardcore and absolutely stellar. I'm way impressed. (hide spoiler)]

I'm feeling like I might have to read book 3 and see for myself 😂😂

I've seen reviewers complaining about a lack of plot in the third one. But don't they all lack a plot? Although if book 3 has even less of a plot, I might not be down with that! 🤔🤔

EDIT: I didn't see your message @Iain... hmmmm, not encouraging...

[Charlie]

Laura Tenfingers wrote: "Finished! Loved it! Surprised at how much I loved it! I also loved it more than book 1.


I loved how Tak changed in my mind's eye when xe went from male to female. I'm ashamed to admit how very he..."

I'm glad you loved it!! I agree with everything you've said about both Pepper and Sidra. I wish we could have more books with these characters, this time about their future.

[Mel]

Still reading over here. I had a bit of a reading hiatus what with the start of the school year. I'm looking forward to getting back to Pepper and Sidra though!

[Mel]

So, this is setting some sort of record for finishing waaaaay after the fact, but actually the typhoon this past weekend meant I could finally take a break from work and settle down to read, and wanted to share my thoughts. Er, at least my hot take reactions as I was reading.

20% At first, when the random images were triggered, I wondered if they weren't residual olfactory memories. Perhaps it's the dystopian horror aspect of Jane's story, but it made me think: what if the kit wasn't grown, but harvested?

Then you soon find they are a programmed feature. Cool cool. (Phew! False alarm!)

The everyday scenes contrasted with childhood flashbacks to that dystopian horror though. It really punctuates the terror to suddenly return to the future.

35.0% This line. (view spoiler)["She wanted to know words. Words for the flying animals, for the purple stuff that wasn’t an animal and also maybe food, and for the feeling you got when you felt bad for making a thing dead but also good because you were still alive."

I like how in Jane's timeline the simplicity of her vocabulary actually expresses her thoughts with stronger impact. (hide spoiler)]

[Mel]

50%
I think that this was one of my favorite parts that turned me to mush.

"Ohhh~! *whimpers* *fans face*

(view spoiler)[When you realize that the two characters are from Big Bug. Aw man. It was so cute earlier the way Blue teased Pepper about her figurines, and how he knowingly mouthed along as she reverently described how it was, "so much more."

But now you know just how far back they go for her. Oh. Oh Pepper.

...

Ahhhhh! The monkey's name is Pinch! Ahhhhh! That is adorable! Pepper is actually just a total fangirl who uses chatroom handles based on cartoon monkeys! <3 <3 <3

"‘And this—’ She pointed not at a button, but the long block on top of the console. ‘Do you know what this says?’
Jane pressed her lips together and shook her head.
‘That’s you,’ Manjiri said. ‘That’s how you spell “Jane”.’

OMG Jane's storyline has gone from dystopian horror to the sweetest, fuzziest, most wholesome thing imaginable. You get all the hearts."

"Until I find it."

*whimper* Oh...

First Lovey. Now Owl.
What are you doing to my heart, Chambers!?" (hide spoiler)]

[Laura Tenfingers]

Typhoon? As in Japan? I hope all is well where you are.

I liked the programmed features, I thought they were creepy when first encountered but cool really.

[Mel]

65.0% (view spoiler)[‘But I never thought you left. I know you wouldn’t do that, not without saying why.’ She placed an empty kiss on Jane’s scalp. ‘That’s not how family works.’

Aw man, coming back to this series is like being folded up in a warm hug.

I also like how this foreshadows how eventually Jane will eventually have to leave Owl, and her desperate search to find her, posting again and again in the forums. (hide spoiler)]

70%
Ohhh, what's this she sees down in his living quarters? Artwork? *strokes imaginary beard* Hmmmmm!

76.0%
(view spoiler)[ Sidra stepped close and crouched down. Pepper looked up at her with . . . with . . . Sidra didn’t know what to make of the expression on her face. Hope and pain and shock, all twisted together.
Without a word, Pepper handed Sidra the scrib. Sidra read it, line by line, quick as she could. She looked sharply to Pepper as she reached the end. ‘Have you told Blue yet?’ (hide spoiler)]

Ahhhhhhhhhh! Is it what I think!?"

79.0%
(view spoiler)[ Everything was too much. Too much. The planet was beautiful. The planet was horrible. The planet was full of people, and they were beautiful and horrible, too. They’d made a mess of everything, and she was leaving now, and she was never coming back. (hide spoiler)]

I love how well all of the overwhelming and fraught emotions are described. The feeling of "too much." Thought breaks down into its most simple, visceral components.

89.0%
(view spoiler)[Aw. She called it her body. At last. (hide spoiler)]

I think in some ways I enjoyed this one more. It has a narrower focus, and the tension between the two storylines builds and builds as they draw closer together. The dual past/present structure lent itself to all these realizations, big and small.

I also see how as a sequel this book has much of the worldbuilding done already, so it has that freedom of a sequel for example to throw in Aandrisks or other alien races without having to devote as much time to explaining their social structure. I did enjoy getting more Aeoleon characters, but truly, Pepper way the one who stole the show for me. Just... wow.

[Mel]

Laura Tenfingers wrote: "Typhoon? As in Japan? I hope all is well where you are.

I liked the programmed features, I thought they were creepy when first encountered but cool really."

Yep yep, everything is back up and running in my city at least. It was bad in other parts of the country, but for me it just meant that stores/transportation shut down for a couple days. I didn't lose power or anything either, so I just holed up inside and read.

[Charlie]

Melissa wrote: "50%
I..."

Glad you're enjoying it! (view spoiler)[ It was such an emotional roller-coaster for me. I loved it, it was heartbreaking, it was then endearing, back to heartbreaking. So may feelings!

I adored Peppers love for the Big Bug Crew, it was so sweet. She needed something that pure in her life. (hide spoiler)]

[Mel]

Charlie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "50%
I..."

Glad you're enjoying it! It was such an emotional roller-coaster for me. I loved it, it was heartbreaking, it was then endearing, back to heartbreaking. So may feelings..."

Yay, thanks. :)
I think I also needed something pure in my life. I think I'll go on to read the 3rd one, Record of a Spaceborn Few, because even if it's slice-of-life, I have a feeling I'll be okay with that if I can get another helping of emotional competence porn. To Be Taught, If Fortunate, is also on my TBR list for after that.

[Charlie]

I definitely want to read book 3. I'll probably get it from the library sometime in Nov/ Dec when my BR schedule isn't so packed.