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librilys's review against another edition
3.0
Secondo libro che leggo di Add editore, dopo Membrana, che mi era piaciuto molto per le tematiche affrontate e il finale a sorpresa. La torre di Bae Myung-Hoon non ha avuto altrettanto impatto su di me, ma tutto sommato non mi ha delusa. Il libro racchiude sei racconti di fantascienza, tutti ambientati nella stessa enorme torre di 674 piani dove i suoi abitanti vivono, lavorano e alcuni soffrono di "suolofobia" quindi non escono mai. Tra intrighi politici, situazioni bizzarre e un elefante issato nel vuoto per poter entrare nell'edificio, non mancano i momenti di rilievo. Una venatura di piacevole ironia pervade ogni racconto. Tuttavia, la narrazione è lenta e si ingarbuglia spesso in dettagli che non aggiungono molto al senso della storia. Nonostante queste sbrodolature è stata un'esperienza di lettura particolare, con dei momenti di guizzo memorabili.
elenavarg's review
3.0
(3,5 stars)
A very enjoyable and easy read. The metaphors were either very obvious or explained in the story, but the world of Beanstalk felt very real and kept my interest up. The author has really put in a lot of thought in how a country inside a skyscraper would work.
The last story before the appendix was weirdly concentrated on Islamic bank loans? It felt super unnecessary and read very odd…was is islamophobic? I don’t know enough about Islam to say…
A very enjoyable and easy read. The metaphors were either very obvious or explained in the story, but the world of Beanstalk felt very real and kept my interest up. The author has really put in a lot of thought in how a country inside a skyscraper would work.
The last story before the appendix was weirdly concentrated on Islamic bank loans? It felt super unnecessary and read very odd…was is islamophobic? I don’t know enough about Islam to say…
headfirstforhalos's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beancity's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
thetainaship's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
jukaschar's review
4.0
Series of connected short stories, all of which take place in the titular tower.
The book reminds me of Ursula K. Le Guin's portrayals of society and societal history and I appreciate very much the calm mood that permeates the stories. There's also a touch of absurdity in some of them, which I very much enjoy.
The book reminds me of Ursula K. Le Guin's portrayals of society and societal history and I appreciate very much the calm mood that permeates the stories. There's also a touch of absurdity in some of them, which I very much enjoy.
readerbot_lu's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Did I like it? Yes
Do I recommend it? Yes
Do I recommend it? Yes
Favorite Quote
"My mother made her own contribution to a family already in shambles. She scraped up our remaining fortune, down to the last coin, and ran off with some dude. I don’t know how she pilfered the money. It was decades ago now, but how she did it is still beyond the likes of me. I could study it for another ten years and never get it. She fled overseas, and my father passed away two years later. My father was like that. He was such a social man that when he was declared socially dead, he died biologically too." (43%)
Positives
I thoroughly enjoyed this short story collection, especially the absurdity used to satirize the ethically-questionable situations addressed (and the easter eggs). There are also diverse narrative styles and voices, which helped characterize the stories they told. One issue I usually have with short story collections is that after reading a couple, they all blend together and I either can’t remember them or can’t tell them apart after finishing the collection. This collection averted that issue by switching up the narrative voice and format.
Negatives
Some themes were heavier in specific stories, making me think they were limited to one story. Then, they would be referenced far later. For example, Taklamakan Misdelivery heavily discusses the Beanstalk = Tower of Babel comparison, but this does not come up again until Fully-Compliant (the last story in the collection). Additionally, while I found the majority of the world-building and moments of exploring Beanstalk as a setting and environment to be interesting, there were a few instances where it got a bit dry (particularly in The Elevator Maneuver Exercise).
ellamai's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kastionsol's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Three Wise Recruits - 3
In Praise of Nature - 2.5
Taklamakan Misdelivery - 4
The Elevator Maneuver Exercise - 3
The Buddha of the Square - 2
Fully-Compliant - 3
The Bear God's Afternoon - 2
Cafe Beans Talking - 4
Dog Interview - 3
In Praise of Nature - 2.5
Taklamakan Misdelivery - 4
The Elevator Maneuver Exercise - 3
The Buddha of the Square - 2
Fully-Compliant - 3
The Bear God's Afternoon - 2
Cafe Beans Talking - 4
Dog Interview - 3