Learning that the world is ending is worrisome enough. Now imagine finding yourself on a suicide mission in space with no recollection of why or how you got there. Through perseverance and a sweet sweet friendship, you learn that all you need is someone to help get you through the hard stuff.
Before Project Hail Mary, I didn't know how much I would like the science fiction genre. Somehow, Andy Weir found the perfect balance of science and storytelling, which made this book so captivating. The way the scientific aspects were described throughout the book provided just enough explanation to follow along with what was happening, without feeling lost or underwhelmed by the nuanced intricacies of it. The story had good pacing, alternating between flashbacks and the present. The build-up of how Ryland got to this point was fantastic and had me waiting to hear more. I highly recommend giving this book a listen/read, even if you aren't typically a sci-fi lover.
If Cats Disappeared from the World by Genki Kawamura
Audiobook Platform: Hoopla
Narrator: Brian Nishii
What if you were going to die soon? What if you had spent your life rarely considering others? What if the devil appeared and offered a bargain to give you one more day of life in exchange for getting rid of something in the world? Would you take the bargain?
The premise of this book is one that most of us have thought about at one time or another. If we had the chance to make things right, would we try? Would we be able to fix our relationships with others? Tell them how much we love them and what they mean to us? I think we all would like to think so. This book tells the story of how taking the devil's bargain impacts one man and the world around him. He learns what he is willing to give up and what he values most. I loved this book and the simplicity of it. It was a quick listen, with Brian Nishii's narration calming with the perfect change of tone for each character.
The Maria Effect by Mike Guido
Audiobook Platform: Audible
Narrator: Kevin Torres
The Maria Effect is a story about a comedian father whose daughter was born with Autism during a time when very little was known about this developmental disability and even less support was available to those individuals or loved ones. Through love and perseverance, Mike moves mountains as he builds a world where his daughter can live and be loved.
The story emphasizes the power of love and its ability to change people for the better. This is very much a “make them laugh, make them cry” type of book, and allowed me to reflect on my own life and loved ones who have had similar experiences to Mike and his family. The story helped me better appreciate how unique, yet normal Maria and her family are. Yes - individuals with Autism will face many challenges throughout their lives which others will never face. However, the emotional experiences that make all of us human remain the same. We all experience love, anger, sadness, regret, and forgiveness. This story underlines all of it and is a great reminder that we are all on the same journey.
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