A Psalm for the Wild-Built is a book by Becky Chambers that takes us on the story of Sibling Dex, a tea monk whose job is to act almost like a therapist, hearing the woes of their customers and recommending them a special blend of tea to ease their load. When this monk decides that they want more, as evidenced by their desire to hear crickets, they decide to step off of their predestined route and journey off into the wilderness to find a hermitage used by monks hundreds of years ago. Along the way, they meet a robot named Splendid Speckled Mosscap…and well, the rest is history.
This book, the first in a duology, takes place on a habitable moon and in a culture that reveres nature, which in my opinion places it firmly in the solar punk category.
Stars: 3.75/5
This was a really easy read. Not only was it fairly short (I’m not even sure it was novella length, maybe just a long short story) but overall, there was no high stakes, not much tension, no great evil that the protagonist had to overcome. Reading it was slow and steady and didn’t require much emotional labor from the reader at all.
So, why such a low score? To me, 3.75 isn’t a low score at all. Like I said, this book by Becky Chambers was extremely short and while I enjoyed it, I am not someone who thrives on such stories. I like short stories, don’t get me wrong but I am an avid reader of humongous tomes that could also double as weapons, if the need arose!
I think that my favorite aspect of this novel is the fact that the main character, Sibling Dex, is very relatable. They are no great hero, they go through life seeking their purpose, feeling listless, not wanting to look like a failure around family or feel like a failure. They strive to do their job as best as they can…and when they come across the first robot any human has seen in centuries, they are properly in shock and at odds. Chambers did a wonderful job with the characterization!
Shout out to M.H. for recommending this book to me! (We all need book friends!)
Are there any other low stakes/easy read books that you recommend to those around you? Let me know!
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