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Probably even lower on dramatic tension than the first book, but that's just fine -- that's not what's needed here. Instead we have a gentle journey between various human settlements as the background to Dex and Mosscrops' developing relationship and their respective struggles with making sense of life.

Satellite Love follows Anna, a student at a school in small-town Japan, as she develops a relationship with an LEO satellite, culminating in her summoning it to earth as her friend, Leo. The book alternates between chapters told from the points of view of Anna and Leo, along with a few other characters (principally Anna's grandfather and Soki, a fellow student). I really liked the book, but it's not without its flaws and cautions. The writing seems a little uneven -- the first few chapters in particular seemed a little clunky, but it definitely picks up a lot after that. The main caution is that Anna's life is really tough -- shunned and bullied by her peers, she withdraws into an imaginary world, and the book doesn't shy away from showing where that leads. I thought it was a sad but beautiful book.

As is usually the case with anthologies, a couple fall flat, but the high points here more than make up for it, including one with forty puppies -- does it get any better? :)

An interesting read. Although it's billed as a 'history of gender', it'd perhaps be more accurate to say that each chapter starts with a historical scenario, but then segues into a wider discussion of gender.

Remarkably clear explanation not only of the method of zazen, but of how it fits into life as a whole. Frank about how zazen fits with goals, and particularly the problems of zazen as a secularized 'health' practice. The latter part of the book is particularly moving, presenting Uchiyama's last talk before retiring, reflecting on his life and the lessons he wanted to pass on.

This is a tough one. It's a beautiful book, and obviously full of nuggets of wisdom, but I'd be hard pushed to describe it as accessible.

My previous attempts at reading Warner have rather run aground on, as I see it, his attempt to lighten Buddhist teachings, but that lean uncomfortably much on "...did I ever tell you I played bass in a punk band." Despite the opening autobiographical chapters, this book largely manages to steer clear of that, but then I'm left wondering what's left. Warner quotes pretty heavily from Dogen, plus more modern teachers such as Nishijima and Kobun, and then offers his own interpretations and personal commentary. Frustratingly, the quotes are only sometimes sourced, leaving the reader unclear where to go read more. Warner's commentary itself contains some gems, especially when he's being particularly humble, but it's not clear there's enough there to justify the reading.

First the positive: I have a bit of a soft spot for retellings of the Arthurian legend, and this seems a particularly good one. Not only does it do a really good job of tying in Welsh/Irish life and legends, but much of the prose is beautiful and dense. The less satisfying aspects of the book, however, include the pacing and the incomprehensible motivations of some of the characters. Worst of all, though, is that the main character comes across as a bit of a Mary Sue and, while that kind of makes sense in the context of the story, it does feel a bit... I don't know, 'YA', which is very much at odds with the other aspects of the book. I guess I'd say that I'm glad I read it, but I'm also glad it's over :(

I realize I might be a bit of an outlier with this one, but I felt this was a decidedly mixed experience. I loved "All Systems Red", and thought Murderbot was probably the most relatable character I'd come across in fiction, but the subsequent novellas were rather less satisfying and I'm afraid this one is no exception. There's still a little of the charm of the first book, but it does rather feel submerged in exposition and parenthetical asides.

Hard to say very much about this novella, without spoiling it, but I found it a thrilling page-turner, full of twists, but much more emotionally involving than I'd normally associate with noir.

My first Becky Chambers book, and I think I finally understand the enthusiasm. Wonderful developing relationship between Dex and Mosscap, lots of nature, and woven throughout the story, and increasing towards the end, the struggle to find meaning in life.

I can't remember the last time I read a novel that I felt so much. I love the characters, particularly the three central women, I love the story, wild though it is, I love the descriptions, and I love the ending. I felt invested in the characters' lives, particularly Katrina's, in a way I rarely do.

I'm not sure I can unequivocally recommend it, though. Ryka Aoki doesn't shy away from showing how hard Katrina's life is. The first few chapters are particularly tough going, but even when things pick up for her, it's still not all beer and skittles. Not sure I could provide a definitive list of CWs, but transphobia and sexual assault would have to be in there.