Publisher: Crown

Artemis

I had read several rather scathing reviews of this book before I read it. I don’t agree at all. Maybe it’s because Weir’s first book, The Martian, was so universally liked that people expected his next one to be more of the same – I don’t know. I felt that his near-future scenario was believable enough and I actually liked the main character (although several female reviewers have pointed out that Weir should get assistance with writing his female characters as they are apparently very unbelievable to female readers) and the bit of science (much less than in The Martian) also was logical enough for me to believe in it.  Definitely a much “lighter” read than The Martian but still very enjoyable for me.

Read: November 2017
Recommended: Yes
Buy Andy Weir’s Artemis here

The Quality of Silence

My wife strongly recommended this book to me, as she read it earlier this year and told me is was a very unusual and interesting book. I couldn’t agree more. The main storyteller is a young deaf girl who finds a communication outlet through Twitter, describing to the world what words she cannot hear feel like to her.  Most of the story revolves around her and her mother traveling through Alaska and dealing with its incredibly harsh winters, the people they meet on the way, and the girl’s relationship with her parents.  A beautiful story, beautifully told, including an unusual “who-dunnit” aspect.

Read: May 2018
Recommended: Yes
Buy Rosamund Lupton’s The Quality of Silence here