"Vagabonds" by Hao Jingfang (BR)

[Rachel]

I'm making this thread early since I've started reading already - but I plan to read slowly. If anyone else has started please feel free to post!

[Gabi]

I will start when I finish my current audiobook. In about 1 or 2 days, I guess.

[Silvana]

I think I am halfway. Apparently I need to finish this sooner. (view spoiler)[It's sedately paced. Interesting dichotomy of way of living.... Nof much plot, more thought experiment. (hide spoiler)] I am enjoying it.

[Rachel]

Just settling in and I like how the author set up the history between mars and earth. The ehole then ship didn’t know’ worked for me.

And I think by page 25 we know the two main characters?

[Gabi]

Just started as well. This one definitely needs my whole attention (I'm listening to it). Can't say much so far, but the Earth-Mars relationship sounds interesting.

[Silvana]

Rachel wrote: "Just settling in and I like how the author set up the history between mars and earth. The ehole then ship didn’t know’ worked for me.

And I think by page 25 we know the two main characters?"

I want to reply but that would be a spoiler....

[Silvana]

So this is more like something you could respond after the a few chapters

(view spoiler)[I am not that familiar with the Chinese government's/nation's economy/way of life but I read somewhere that the atelier-focused life is based on the Chinese way. Are there any supporting sources on it?

All I know is that following rapid industrialization China also increased their market -oriented economic policies including reform. I know nothing about the atelier-form.

Sounds like more on the speculative side, more like the flawed utopian world the author envisioned? Like what Le Guin did with The Dispossessed. Does the current (or maybe past) Chinese policy has anything to with the ateliers? Or maybe its current IP policy make it more contrast to the Earth IP oriented economy in the book? (hide spoiler)]

[Cheryl]

Thank you for using spoiler tags, at least until a few days after the scheduled start date. I still have several other books to finish first.

[Dawn F]

I’m just finishing another book, then I’ll start on this! The last days of the month are always busy at work, so I’m not progressing so fast :D

[Gabi]

I'm around a third in, but I'm struggling a bit with the slow pace. In principle it is a kind of story I like, but I find myself dozing off every now and then and thus loosing the connection to the plot.
I find no access to the characters.

[Silvana]

Gabi wrote: "I'm around a third in, but I'm struggling a bit with the slow pace. In principle it is a kind of story I like, but I find myself dozing off every now and then and thus loosing the connection to the..."

Have you finished Part 1?

(view spoiler)[There was very little plot, only Luoying feeling torn, and Eko navigating his way in Martian society with his mentor as his sort of anchor.

I found the dichotomy fascinating. And the tech too.

The reveal that Luoying accident was unexpected yet refreshing in anticlimactic way. Any other novel might opt to choose the conspiracy plot to be more dramatic. But I guess we'll see later (hide spoiler)]

Around 2/3 (part 2)
(view spoiler)[wow the play was awesome! Didn't know a play about invention and IP could be so amusing.

I liked that part 2 has different focus and enjoying the time with the other Mercury group members.

Not sure what I feel about the doctor though. We haven't been spending much time with him so is he a prominent MC too? Who knows. (hide spoiler)]

[Gabi]

@Silvana: yes, I just finished part 1. The contrast indeed is fascinating.

[Rachel]

I’m still in part one but already thinking of The Dispossesed (is that much considered a spoiler in some way? Let me know!)

[Gabi]

@Rachel, I had the same thought.

[Silvana]

chapter 37 in audio (part III Gale Wing)

(view spoiler)[I don't trust Rudy. He sounded too ambitious to me. He could jeopardise Luoying and friends' plan.

I liked the interconnectedness of the characters, the Doctor and Janet. It's almost like the 'vagabonds' found their way to each other, either in the past or the present. (hide spoiler)]

[Silvana]

Forgot to say I finished. Now regretting I should have written a longer review since the start but I just did not have the energy to do it last week and now I am forgetting stuff (my brain/memory recalibrates after starting a new book, you see).

5 stars, though :D

How's everyone going?

[Cheryl]

Rachel wrote: "I’m still in part one but already thinking of The Dispossesed "

I agree, and that's why I dnf'd.

[Rachel]

I’m in part two - I *think* I can see where we might be going in part three.

But one thing I’ve discovered is my attention span isn’t great fir long books these days.

For example I got a hold of Penrics Mission and keep getting distracted.

More on Vagabonds when I’m on the not iOS

[Gabi]

I finished some time ago, but unfortunately I didn't feel any of it. It turned out into one of the books where I just wanted it to be over ^^'. It's a pity, cause I liked the idea and adored the author's "Folding Bejing". But I couldn't get into this one.

[Silvana]

It is not a page turner, I have to admit. I read (listened) to it in the span of three weeks, and was able to enjoy it only in chunks. If I forced myself to read (listen) in a few days, I might lem it.

[Cheryl]

lem?

[Silvana]

Shoot, I was sleepy I thought I was talking in another group. Lem means DNF.

[Meredith]

I'm just starting this and I'm intrigued so far (~20 pages), though it's been mostly background information so far. I'm also reading The Dispossessed right now, so I'm interested to see how they resonate as folks have made some comments above (I haven't opened any of the spoilers).

[Sandy]

Am about 17% or the way through the book - reading on kindle - and so far the reading is fast and easy. Like the contrasting of Earth and Mars so far. Not much happening yet though...hope it picks up soon.

[Dawn F]

I gave up after 15% (about 3 hours), there was waaaay too much infodumping and it annoys me when I’m told things instead of shown. I want to experience things as they happen to the characters, not just be told something after the fact. It just left me cold and I couldn’t get invested.

[Jamesboggie]

I have been interested in this book for a while, but I am concerned about the reactions. I think I might try the audiobook for this one.

[Alan]

I have an Advance copy that I won in a giveaway some time ago, but got buried and forgotten. Really need to get to it. I mostly read Kindle books and sometimes forget about what is in my stacks. I'm getting old...that's my excuse.

[Joelle.P.S]

I'm finally starting this 1! Intriguing beginning. I'll return when I can open some spoiler tags.... :-)