The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
First line: Do you remember where you were when the meteor hit?
Summary and Thoughts: This science fiction book is set in an alternate timeline during the Cold War when a meteor struck the United Sates and sent the world into a forever cloudiness and accelerating the change of climate. Elma York, a military airplane flyer and mathematics doctorate, is with her husband Nathaniel York, head engineer of NACA, the book’s equivalent to NASA, in a cabin in the woods when a meteor hits and wipes out the east coast of the United States. The result is the climate rapidly changing to where the Earth becomes inhabitable, meaning humans must find a way to leave the planet quickly. But during an era where both women and people of color are still looked at as beneath men who were white, even as the main focus should be coming together for an important cause, this means that the characters have to go beyond to prove themselves worthy of being in the space program and even astronauts.
As far as plot and characters go, this book was unique. Even if this book focused on how racism and sexism do hold back innovation and societal progression, women and ethnic characters were not just their identities, though the hardships they faced do help shape them. I liked that the women felt like real heroes you can read in history books. I did get frustrated at how the main character behaved at times, but I felt like the behavior I didn’t like from her was justified in many of the situations Elma was placed in. I also loved how Kowal wasn’t shy about writing about women being medicated for issues such as anxiety back then. Elma York’s anxiety was written so real and not romanticized, I can feel good about recommending this book to people and not have to worry about the issue of am I doing a disservice to those with anxiety. This book was a comforting and inspiring read, I would recommend this book to people looking for some motivation to overcome difficult obstacles.
FYI: There are strong references to sexual acts as well as characters dealing with racism and sexism.
Being able to work around books is a dream! I read anything but my favorite genres are historical fiction and YA. Give me anything set in Tudor England or teenage fantasy novel and I am set.
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