David McK (3562 KP) rated Project Hail Mary in Books
Apr 13, 2025
Watched the movie no long afterwards.
Enjoyed both, but not enough to make me hunt out any others by the same author, so never (yet) read "Artemis" by the same author.
Then saw this on sale on Kindle, for something like 99pence, so thought I might as well give it a chance, after checking it was not part of a series i.e. could be read as a standalone (which it can).
Like The Martian, I found this enjoyable enough, maybe a bit slow during the middle section, but I'm also left with a burning question at the very end - just what happened back home on Earth? The novel completely bypasses that, perhaps as it's pretty much all told in first-person perspective from the astronaut/science teacher Ryland Grace, the last survivor on board the spaceship Hail Mary on a last-ditch effort to save Earth.
Outcry: Holocaust Memoirs
10.0
Rate It
Book
Manny Steinberg (1925-2015) spent his teens in Nazi concentration camps in Germany, miraculously...
Kristin (149 KP) rated Finding My Way Home: A Memoir about Life, Love, and Family in Books
Dec 7, 2018
This is a very interesting memoir following the attacks of 9/11. However, it's NOT about a survivor of the attacks, or a family member who lost someone, which I think is refreshing. Rather, the protagonist is a woman who, like the rest of the country, was affected by the events of that day, and this spurs her to reflect on her life and do some deep thinking about where she stands in relation to everything around her. So she decides to go on an extended road trip around the country, and she learns quite a lot about herself along the way, while meeting some interesting people and catching up with old friends, which may or may not be such a good thing.
I would recommend this to anyone who's ever done some "soul searching" or who likes to live vicariously through others who have done so. It makes you contemplate your own life choices and relationships, and it's a very nice story, as well.
4 stars
I will start off by saying this is definitely not "light reading" by any definition of the phrase. However, I would encourage pretty much anyone to pick it up, whether they are an actual survivor or not. It is not only a benefit to those who have endured such atrocities, but it also provides insight for those who haven't (thankfully) but more than likely know (or will come to know) someone who has.
I taught a rehabilitation course for those convicted of domestic violence (often with sexual attacks involved), and I met a couple of the survivors on occasion. Had I known about this book then, I certainly would have offered it to them, as I think it would have helped them understand that they were not alone in the world and there were people out there who could, and would, do anything they could to help.
Bottom line: Everyone should read this, but keep a box of tissues handy. You're gonna need it.
5 stars
Tides of March
Book
A magnitude-9 earthquake triggers a rampaging tsunami that thrashes a nuclear power plant. Radiation...
Breaking the Cycle: C.L.E.A.N.E.R. Living Therapy Programme
Book
This handbook takes a holistic approach in dealing with the impact of emotional abuse, physical...
Prayer: Does it Make Any Difference?
Book
Multi-award winning spirituality writer Philip Yancey is loved throughout the world for his honest,...
The Stroudwater Canal
Book
The Stroudwater Navigation holds a unique place in the fascinating history of Britain's canal...
The Strain
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan
8.6
Rate It
Book
A Boeing 777 arrives at JFK and is on its way across the tarmac, when it suddenly stops dead. All...