Bec

Boys and Girls ARE different; to not recognize this is to give both less opportunities to learn best.

Revisado: 09-27-24

I appreciated that the content was factually based with proper scientific reference. The content isn't dripping with ideology either left or right, but instead earnestly seeks to understand the best methods to teach boys and girls based on what science has revealed about brain function for each.

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It was good while it lasted I guess

Revisado: 06-30-23

The best part of this book and the entire series is Ray. Truly, I'd listen to you read the phone book. Unfortunately, that would have been a better listen than this nightmare. It's difficult to even know where to begin with how painfully terrible this book was. I stopped listening around chapter 20 and had to come to the reviews to see if I was the only one - sadly, it looks like I'm not alone.

I didn't choose this series for the possibility of romantic relationship development. In fact, I sort of purposely chose a completely different genre. But, since Craig forced it in, that's all I have to review here. Probably why the book sucks - you just need to get back in your lane, bud. Stick with what you know.

In the spirit of that brutal honesty, I had really hoped Adams would be killed off for at least 3 books now. I thought maybe Joe would grow a pair and realize how toxic this terrible woman is and get together with Jennifer or literally ANY other woman. Hell, the story would have been better if Joe became a playboy who slept with a new woman on every planet/ship/spacestation he came across because of the one woman he loved was an abusive, manipulative garbage heap. This book was clearly a product of the last couple of years - instead of an uplifting story about science, survival, space exploration, AI and everything that drew me in the first place, I wasted a credit to be lectured to (and with the most simplified, strawman premises ever construed) about feminism and racism by a character that seems purposely developed to be all the worst sterotypes of a woman. And the hero of the story somehow "loves" this character. She has literally ZERO redeeming qualities - she has led Joe on, lied to him, flaunted a relationship with another man in front of him, and didn't care enough to even speak to him after he almost died executing a mission soley because she batted her eyes and pouted that she wanted him to. She then just shows up, knowing that her Beta is waiting in 10th place - very inspiring stuff. She is portrayed as a crybaby, screeching about how capable a badass Marine she is, but also is a terrible driver, has irrational fits about clothes left on the floor, towels not put away and not being offered sunscreen, which of course means Joe is probably racist, especially because he grew up in Maine - I guess we are all supposed to know what folks from Maine are like? She cries about not having the right dress for dinner and 15 other things - I can't even keep track of all the transgressions she (or Anderson's version of the perfect woman, I suppose) points out. I don't know what to be more offended about with this book. That the author is clearly just making money at this point and no longer telling a sci-fi story, but instead just journaling current events? That I have to have every stupid social issue that has been screeched at me since 2020 reiterated in my fictional escape from that? That the hero's love interest is a character purposely designed to have the absolute WORST stereotypical qualities of a woman presented as though it's normal and even admirable? That every description Joe gives of what he believes friendship is consists of "putting up with x", "pretending to care about x"?

I guess I can't be mad at ya, Craig. Make your paper. I can't even finish this book. Back to YouTube until I get a new credit next month and will find a new author worth spending money to binge on - hopefully, one that hasn't sold out.

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esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

An Undercover Science Lesson!

Revisado: 11-06-22

Great from start to finish! Gives a realistic depiction of what first contact could look like. Not one race or species being light years ahead of another in terms of intelligence and development, but a "similar and different" scenario with tools and dicoveries on both sides to be shared and developed for the betterment of all. Along with the struggle to communicate meaningfully to get to that point. Interesting from page 1.

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Letdown

Revisado: 03-11-22

I guess the end of something always is. Read others' reviews as I was listening to the final chapters and see I'm not alone. I don't like most of the new characters, especially the ones who narrate the majority of the story this time. On to find the next binge.

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Once you start the series, you gotta hear em all!

Revisado: 03-09-22

The author doesn't totally understand all the complexities of humanity, and women in particular, in my opinion, but pretty close.

I also am confused about where the personal story of the crew is going. I really felt it was being set up over several books now that Alex would hook up with Bobby and Amos with Clarissa. Maybe they still will, but I'm not sure why we spent any time, even 10 paragraphs, on a tryst Alex has but is over before we knew it was happening.

Amos's moment of reflection is understandable since he's been presented to us as a man whore and reamined so consistently despite also letting us in on the fact that he's deeply loyal and compassionate to his own, and clearly has a sense of morality that guides him.

It was primarily this reflection that left me feeling the author (not Amos) has his own fundamental flaws in understanding the inner workings and motivations of women. I was previously very impressed with how he articulated Naomi's historical plight loving and ultimately fleeing a narcissist. This was close but just missed the mark. I think due to the authors desire to articulate what he *thinks* he is supposed to feel and support about women's rights and the choices they make. In my opinion, this is one of several examples throughout the body of this series that make me feel as though I'm being told how to feel and what is appropriate to feel if I'm really a good and virtuous reader; versus just telling me the story so that I feel the emotion naturally. Even with words in books, it is still always better to SHOW me; paint the picture with words instead of TELLING me.

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excellent story, better narration

Revisado: 02-24-22

I dont know how the narrator does it, but he he gives each character their own voice that subtly conveys their personality without you noticing. I can tell which character is speaking just by the narrators inflection. Great story line that I have to keep buying the next in the series. perfect combo of immediate story development and long game scenarios.

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good, but short

Revisado: 12-01-21

the ending was abrupt for me, and not what I anticipated. I think it's the first of a series, hopefully the strings are all picked back up. I think more depth could easily have been given and the story arc fully developed. As soon as I began to feel I knew the characters and was already wondering or anticipating what role they might play, the story was over. When the words "The End" were spoken I thought it was dialog!

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Thought provking and powerful

Revisado: 11-25-21

Orson Scott Card Has long been an author that I have enjoyed. I was 1st introduced during a science fiction phase Income possibly read every book in every series, Is blissfully escaping into Whatever world he had Constructed as though it were entirely plausible. I have completely forgotten about him for 15 years, and am thrilled to rediscover him with this series. Card has a way of developing characters that are so REAL, so authentic, so believably someone you could know, or have known, or maybe someone you hope to be more like. There are precious few authors that leave a permanent mark etched in my brain, changing the way I think and process information forever. Mr. Card is one.

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Practical example of Objectivism.

Revisado: 09-08-19

While I enjoyed this book, it was not as great a work as Atlas Shrugged due to the arrogance and pretension of the main characters. Fairly early on it's clear that an integrated, collaborative design is all that is needed for the hero. Yet he refuses any offer of teamwork so forcefully that he, in my estimation, is the true bully, forcing his ideas and opinions at the expense of even himself. This is portrayed as holding firm to principle, but comes across as arrogance. While Fountainhead essentially captures the same message of selfishness as a virtue (which she makes a masterful arguement for, and I believe), the objectification of humans and their relationships is self defeating. She argues that man should strive for joy for it's own sake, but comes up lacking in her examples. Joy is complicated, and sometimes a sacrifice in the now leads to joy more permanently in the future. Rand seems to not have a clear or sanctified vision of joy, because she sacrifices it in the story repeatedly, and destroys even the possibility of it in the future. And only 2 of the main characters ended up happy in this story, while at least a 3rd character deserved it, but the actions of the other 2 destroyed any hope or chance of it for him.

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Magic, Fantasy and Virtue

Revisado: 08-23-19

The Prequel to "The Lord of the Rings", and an introduction to Tolkeins vast mythical universe. The archetypes are still clear, dragons and spiders are evil and treacherous, and men, elves, dwarves and hobbits are flawed but capable of great heroism and virtue. I loved the extra effort of all the different voices for different characters, and the singing of all the songs!

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