Project Hail Mary (June 2023) Buddy Read Discussion - Edith & Helen

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome to the Project Hail Mary Buddy Read Discussion thread! This thread officially opens on June 1st and anyone can join at any time. Please keep in mind that spoilers are allowed in this thread but only up to the group's current reading place. Do not spoil the book if you've read further than the group. Any extra days can be used to catch up!

Each day we will be reading by chapters or page numbers. Page numbers are an approximation based on the hardcover or paperback that is the default on Goodreads. The suggested Buddy Read discussion schedule is as follows:

Week of 06/01
June 1st: Chapters 1-4
June 2nd: Chapters 5-9
June 3rd: Chapters 10-14
June 4th: Chapters 15-18

Week of 06/05
June 5th: Chapters 19-23
June 6th: Chapters 24-27
June 7th: Chapters 28-30

PARTICIPANTS
~ Edith
~ Helen

[Helen 2.0]

I'm going to try and start on June 2nd since I've got a different BR starting on June 1st, but I'll do my best to catch up!

[Shanon]

I’ll join this as well!

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

@Helen: No worries, I’ll probably fall behind eventually lol

@Shanon: Yesssss! The more the merrier! :D

[Shanon]

Y’all I didn’t expect this book to be this funny. I’m only 3 chapters in and I think I’m going to like it if this humor continues.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I only got a few pages in before getting interrupted, but I agree! The audiobook is even better, if you have the chance to listen to it!

[Helen 2.0]

On Chapter 1, it's super fun already.

[Shanon]

😮 🤯 just finished chapter 6 and had to say something. I was not expecting it.

[Helen 2.0]

I'm on chapter 6 now. These chapters are longer than I expected! But I'm loving the story. The way we move back and forth in time.

At first I thought that maybe Ryland was on a colony mission, but now knowing it's a suicide mission is so much sadder. Reminds me of Interstellar actually.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I totally agree! I don’t know if you guys have read it, but it’s very reminiscent of The Martian. Granted, the situations are somewhat different, but the vibes are almost the same for me.

[Helen 2.0]

I think Andy Weir only knows how to write one type of main character: the white middle-aged scientist man with a sense of humor.

It worked really well in The Martian and it's working really well here. In Artemis the main character was a Muslim woman but he still wrote her with a similar narration style to Mark and Ryland (boob jokes and all). It was weird, the way he wrote women. I did not like that book nearly as much.

[Helen 2.0]

I'm now on Chapter 11 and the alien plot is SO interesting. I'm completely hooked.

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 12 - in all of the alien communication scenes all I can think of is this meme hahaha

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

😂😂 I haven’t gotten to 12 just yet, but this makes me look forward to it! I accidentally spoiled the big alien reveal for myself back when it was a group read last year (?), so I wasn’t all that surprised, BUT I am enjoying Ryland’s inner monologues. The comment about the aliens laying eggs in his brain had me dyyyiiing 😂

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Helen 2.0 wrote: "I think Andy Weir only knows how to write one type of main character: the white middle-aged scientist man with a sense of humor.

It worked really well in The Martian and it's working really well ..."

Man, that’s kind of a bummer! I have the Artemis audiobook and was wanting to sneak it in for this challenge, but it’s so off putting when authors write women in a way you just can’t put your finger on.

[Helen 2.0]

I went into this read totally blind so the alien reveal really got me!!! I love Rocky.

I read until Chapter 19 but I know that’s ahead of schedule so I’ll post thoughts later (or in spoiler tags).

Yeah Artemis was a let down for me. But you could give it a try anyway!

[Shanon]

I saw this has been picked up to be a movie starring Ryan gosling. I’m curious how they are going to make Rocky though. The description of a dog sized spider isn’t going to have mass appeal 😆

[Helen 2.0]

Especially with the music language, that will be difficult to get right while still making sure the audience understands

[Helen 2.0]

Chapter 23 oh wow (view spoiler)[what a twist that Ryland never actually volunteered for this. He was forced onto the mission and then he was the only one who survived? This is just so rough :( (hide spoiler)]

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Y'all, I am having such a blast with this book so far! Definitely way behind schedule, currently working through chapter 11, but I've officially met Rocky! He seems like the cutest lil alien being ever lol. I'm excited to see if he and Ryland make any progression towards effective communication with each other, without pantomiming.

@Helen, I think I can fully appreciate your meme now, unless something important happens in ch. 12 xD

[Helen 2.0]

I just finished! I just have so so many feelings but most of all I loved it. So much. It definitely ranks in my best reads of 2023. Loved loved loved it.

[Helen 2.0]

Rocky is so cute and sweet, idk how the author made me love a spider alien this much hahaha

[Shanon]

@helen omg ch 23. 🤯😮😠💔

[Helen 2.0]

RIGHT 😲😲😲

[Shanon]

That was a good book. I was worried it was going to be depressing and hearbreaking, which at times yes, but it also has so much levity and heart. I love their friendship and how they work together.

I’m overall happy with how it ended as well. I was so anxious about how it was going to wrap up but that last reveal was just perfect.

[Helen 2.0]

I'm glad you loved it too! I was really satisfied with the ending too. (view spoiler)[Ryland and Rocky got to be platonic soulmates in the end :') (hide spoiler)]

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Almost done with the book! I finally caught up to the chapter 23 reveal. I gotta say, Andy Weir portrays Stratt as the perfect “villain” in this chapter. Sucks for Ryland to be sent against his will though :(

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I finished it! Giving it 5 stars as well! Such a thrilling and wholesome story. I would die for Rocky 😭

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Finally really started the book, and I only listened to the first two chapters. I went in not even knowing what the synopsis of the book said, and I also hadn't read any of your comments... so now I'm surprised the sun is dying, and that we (well, I because I'm way behind) have aliens.

I've only read The Martian by this author, and don't really remember it. But I think that all the science went over my head.. which I don't expect to be any different here.

[Edith, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

Welcome Mina! I hope you enjoy it! There will definitely be a lot of sciencey stuff here in this book, which don't worry, also went over my head as well. I tend to zone out at those parts lol, but I found that the science and math in this book were a lot more bearable than in the martian.

will be here lurking in the thread to see your reactions hahaha

[Helen 2.0]

Yes I hope you love it too! Going in totally blind is the best way I think :)

[mina, Group/Buddy Reads Procrastinator]

I read the first 5 chapters. I wish I had internet to write my thoughts as I read the book, however that isn't the case and probably won't be till the end of the month (fingers crossed).

The sciency stuff makes me skim a bit over the calculations the MC is doing, and it also makes me a bit hesitant on reading more chapters in one go because of it. However, it was interesting following the MC doing experiments on the Astrophage and I liked that part. Also the MCs humor is alright, thinking/saying things that could be took in a very wrong manner... love that.