When the Moon Hits Your Eye

kaitwalla reviewed When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

Suffers from, dairy I say, a lack of a coherent narrative

3 stars

Look, I know expectations can be killer. But I feel like expecting a given book to be a novel (here defined as a singular, coherent narrative) is a fair assumption?

Unfortunately, this time the ass turned out to be me.

Moon is a fun collection of related short stories about the moon turning into a block of cheese ("organic material" is the official NASA line, because cheese comes from cows and how can you tell if it's actually cheese, etc.) of exactly the same mass, and what ensues from that.

There are lots of cute little anecdotes and fun characters sprinkled throughout, but unfortunately given my initial expectations the whole thing ultimately felt narratively underwhelming. If you go into it with the right mindset, it curd be an quick, enjoyable romp.

DigitalRob@ramblingreaders.org reviewed When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

That's Amore... Or Is It Asiago? A Review of John Scalzi's When the Moon Hits Your Eye

4 stars

John Scalzi asks a truly out-of-this-world question in "When the Moon Hits Your Eye": What if our lunar neighbor suddenly decided it identified as cheese? One ordinary day (or night, rather), the moon doesn't just look like a big pizza pie – it is one, or at least, a giant ball of an indeterminate, yet distinctly cheesy, substance. Told through a series of "Day X" vignettes, the novel chronicles the immediate, chaotic, and often hilarious human response to this dairy-ing cosmic shift, from bewildered museum directors tasting moon rocks to White House officials scrambling to explain why Earth's only natural satellite is now, well, Edam.

Initially, the book feels like a collection of snapshots, showcasing how different corners of society react to the 'Cheesening'. We meet astronauts grounded while a Musk-like billionaire attempts a gouda-awful (and ill-fated) lunar landing, rival cheese shop employees finding love amidst the madness (a storyline …

John Scalzi asks a truly out-of-this-world question in "When the Moon Hits Your Eye": What if our lunar neighbor suddenly decided it identified as cheese? One ordinary day (or night, rather), the moon doesn't just look like a big pizza pie – it is one, or at least, a giant ball of an indeterminate, yet distinctly cheesy, substance. Told through a series of "Day X" vignettes, the novel chronicles the immediate, chaotic, and often hilarious human response to this dairy-ing cosmic shift, from bewildered museum directors tasting moon rocks to White House officials scrambling to explain why Earth's only natural satellite is now, well, Edam.

Initially, the book feels like a collection of snapshots, showcasing how different corners of society react to the 'Cheesening'. We meet astronauts grounded while a Musk-like billionaire attempts a gouda-awful (and ill-fated) lunar landing, rival cheese shop employees finding love amidst the madness (a storyline that is brie-lliant), a non-fiction author whose career skyrockets thanks to a timely chapter, and even a pastor grappling with questions of faith when divine handiwork seemingly gets replaced by provolone. While these individual stories are engaging, the real genius is how Scalzi begins to weave these threads together in the latter half, proving that even in the face of planetary absurdity, our lives are interconnected.

While perhaps not reaching the sharpest cheddar levels of some of Scalzi's other works, "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" delivers a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking experience. Standout chapters like "Day 21" offer poignant reflections on faith and the importance of living life to the fullest, even when the fromage hits the fan. "Day 23" provides a beautiful, self-contained lesson on finding personal satisfaction in a world gone mad. Scalzi uses the absurd premise to poke fun at everything from politics and billionaires to conspiracy theories and media frenzies, all while reminding us that how we react—with fear, faith, opportunism, or love—is what truly defines us, even when facing an impending curd-tastrophe.

Ultimately, "When the Moon Hits Your Eye" is a fun, witty, and surprisingly heartfelt look at humanity under bizarre pressure. It manages to be both a light-hearted romp and a commentary on our times, culminating in a conclusion that flips the script once more, leaving us to ponder the nature of belief and memory. For a read that will make you laugh, think, and possibly crave a cheese platter, this book earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. It's nacho average sci-fi novel!

–This review was partially drafted by A.I. (Gemini) with a fairly lengthy prompt containing my opinions and the notes I took while reading. Much of the review is rewording of the prompt I entered and my notes. –

heavyboots

rated it

May 27