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olma's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I’ve loved the previous TJ Klune books I’ve read, but this one wasn’t my favorite. It felt slower, for one thing. The travel over vast distances wasn’t as gripping as I’d have liked. I will say I loved the side characters in this novel, but the plot itself left something to be desired. That said, it’s interesting that in the acknowledgements, Klune sounds frankly irritated that this wasn’t the initial story he wanted to tell “because the world wasn’t ready for it.” I wonder if I would have enjoyed his initial story more. The premise was very interesting, and I feel like it could have been more richly developed.
I’m also not a fan of the memory wipe trope. It’s never enjoyable to read in my opinion. I also feel like the slow remembering is such a cop out and completely unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
residual_sizzle's review
5.0
What can I say about this – besides that I fell in love with it, heart and soul.
To summarize this novel to its bare bones would be to say it’s a queer retelling of Pinnochio, but it’s really so much more than that. This will be a comfort read for me that I return to again and again.
This is the first novel I have personally read with an Ace (asexual) main character – and honestly the first one I have ever read with ace representation at all.
There is a certain charm to Klune’s writing that just makes me feel so warm, even as a crying mess. Despite almost every character being a robot this book had me crying sympathizing with what it means to be human – and to carry the burden of a heart. This work not only spoke to me on an incredibly human level, but as a parent, and as a friend.
The first word that came to mind when reading this was ‘Charming’, absolutely charming. I could see this book as a Wes Anderson animated film. That’s the vintage of charm that the writing speaks to me. I loved every character and found myself chuckling while reading and ultimately found myself weeping toward the end. (If I had to pick a favorite though it would be Hap). It touches on loss, expectation, grief and finding one’s place and purpose.
Thank you to Tor Publishing and TJ Klune for a physical ARC and an opportunity to read this masterpiece.
To summarize this novel to its bare bones would be to say it’s a queer retelling of Pinnochio, but it’s really so much more than that. This will be a comfort read for me that I return to again and again.
This is the first novel I have personally read with an Ace (asexual) main character – and honestly the first one I have ever read with ace representation at all.
There is a certain charm to Klune’s writing that just makes me feel so warm, even as a crying mess. Despite almost every character being a robot this book had me crying sympathizing with what it means to be human – and to carry the burden of a heart. This work not only spoke to me on an incredibly human level, but as a parent, and as a friend.
The first word that came to mind when reading this was ‘Charming’, absolutely charming. I could see this book as a Wes Anderson animated film. That’s the vintage of charm that the writing speaks to me. I loved every character and found myself chuckling while reading and ultimately found myself weeping toward the end. (If I had to pick a favorite though it would be Hap). It touches on loss, expectation, grief and finding one’s place and purpose.
Thank you to Tor Publishing and TJ Klune for a physical ARC and an opportunity to read this masterpiece.
raye_loves_reading's review against another edition
5.0
I was never a fan of Pinocchio, at least not the Disney film. I know that this is, in many ways a retelling of the original on which that film is based, and while I could see similarities, in the introduction of the Blue Fairy, for me it was about the characters.
Gio weaves a story around his son Victor, giving him the fairy tale of a mother and father who loved him, who would do anything to come back to him, but the truth is so much more beautiful, though strange. I can honestly say that it never clicked for me that he wasn’t human. The realisation that the pain in his heart was loneliness was so beautifully written, it tugged at my own heart as I read in the dark of my quiet flat.
Victor is, for all that he has grown up with robotic companions, a well-adjusted adult. He is driven, ambitious and caring and this is so well reflected in the way that he wipes aside any concerns for his own safety when he comes across a one-armed android in the scrapyards.
This ragtag crew that Gio and Victor have created are both hilarious and emotional at the same time. Little Rambo is cute and I wanted to hug him even though he was a vacuum cleaner and for some reason when I hear the sarcasm and snide remarks before she switches into her comfort mode, Nurse Ratched has a look of Marvin in the original TV series of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
It feels as though parts of this book were a message to everyone not to rely on technology, a somewhat Matrix-like warning that computers could turn on us, but at the same time it was a story of friendship and love and learning, of change and adaptation.
I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and didn’t think that a story about robots could give me similar feelings, but in Hap and Rambo, Nurse Ratched, Gio and Victor I have found a lovely story I will be recommending to anyone I can get to listen.
Gio weaves a story around his son Victor, giving him the fairy tale of a mother and father who loved him, who would do anything to come back to him, but the truth is so much more beautiful, though strange. I can honestly say that it never clicked for me that he wasn’t human. The realisation that the pain in his heart was loneliness was so beautifully written, it tugged at my own heart as I read in the dark of my quiet flat.
Victor is, for all that he has grown up with robotic companions, a well-adjusted adult. He is driven, ambitious and caring and this is so well reflected in the way that he wipes aside any concerns for his own safety when he comes across a one-armed android in the scrapyards.
This ragtag crew that Gio and Victor have created are both hilarious and emotional at the same time. Little Rambo is cute and I wanted to hug him even though he was a vacuum cleaner and for some reason when I hear the sarcasm and snide remarks before she switches into her comfort mode, Nurse Ratched has a look of Marvin in the original TV series of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
It feels as though parts of this book were a message to everyone not to rely on technology, a somewhat Matrix-like warning that computers could turn on us, but at the same time it was a story of friendship and love and learning, of change and adaptation.
I loved The House in the Cerulean Sea and didn’t think that a story about robots could give me similar feelings, but in Hap and Rambo, Nurse Ratched, Gio and Victor I have found a lovely story I will be recommending to anyone I can get to listen.
meldelizia's review
5.0
Another absolute masterpiece from Klune that shattered my heart in the best way.
A story of love, grief, unlikely pairings, and just the most wonderful magical robot family. A true love letter to humanity, this is one I will revisit many times.
A story of love, grief, unlikely pairings, and just the most wonderful magical robot family. A true love letter to humanity, this is one I will revisit many times.
axel_p's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wish Hap and Victor had more chemistry and personality
Everything else in this book was f-ing great
Everything else in this book was f-ing great
rachelhelmer's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
shannoncdoyle's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
loriluo's review
4.0
I was beyond excited to get the ARC of this novel; I've read and loved a number of T.J. Klune's earlier books and knew I was in for a treat.
"In the Lives of Puppets" takes us to an alternate reality in an unknown time period. In a home built in an isolated forest, inventor and android Giovanni Lawson lives with his human son, Victor Lawson, and a family of robots, including Nurse Ratched (Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate and Drill) and Rambo, a verbose Roomba. Victor has never questioned his origins and differences, and has lived in the care and company of these machines, learning from his father. Things begin to change though, when he visits the Scrap Yards and finds the remains of a humanoid robot.
Victor brings the robot home to attempt to repair it, giving it replacement parts and inserting a mechanical heart in its cavity; thus, they're introduced to HAP, or Hysterically Angry Puppet. Hap has no recollection of his past or anything before he was discovered in the Scrap Yards, but begins to live with Victor and his family, adjusting to their way of life. Their relative peace is shattered when Gio is suddenly taken by an unknown force, and Victor and his friends make the decision to bring him back - regardless of the dangers they may face.
This novel is beautifully representative of Klune's writing, crafting a brand new world and characters that nonetheless feel real-to-life and relatable for readers. Even though the majority of characters are some form of machine or android, they nonetheless have distinct personalities and mannerisms, many of which develop and change as the story progresses. I would say that this novel is accurately described as a modern retelling of Pinocchio, although I found hints of Wizard of Oz thrown in. Klune also covers a number of pressing and relevant topics - including the complexity and range of sexuality, the rise in AI/ML, mental health, and whether humans and machines can have feelings towards the other - with great care and his signature humor and wit.
I have a few minor, personal quips about this book, however, that make it fall just shy of perfect in my perspective. I found that the dialogue was too drawn out, and at times unnecessary, especially when it came to the banter between Victor, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo. Yes, a enjoyed the jokes and jabs about Victor's sexuality (or lack thereof) and the fact that machines do not have reproductive organs, but it felt overdone and at times detracted from the story as a whole.
"In the Lives of Puppets" is nonetheless one of the books I'm most excited for in 2023 and I'm sure readers will love this newest adventure from T.J. Klune!
Thank you Tor for the advance copy of this novel!
"In the Lives of Puppets" takes us to an alternate reality in an unknown time period. In a home built in an isolated forest, inventor and android Giovanni Lawson lives with his human son, Victor Lawson, and a family of robots, including Nurse Ratched (Registered Automaton To Care, Heal, Educate and Drill) and Rambo, a verbose Roomba. Victor has never questioned his origins and differences, and has lived in the care and company of these machines, learning from his father. Things begin to change though, when he visits the Scrap Yards and finds the remains of a humanoid robot.
Victor brings the robot home to attempt to repair it, giving it replacement parts and inserting a mechanical heart in its cavity; thus, they're introduced to HAP, or Hysterically Angry Puppet. Hap has no recollection of his past or anything before he was discovered in the Scrap Yards, but begins to live with Victor and his family, adjusting to their way of life. Their relative peace is shattered when Gio is suddenly taken by an unknown force, and Victor and his friends make the decision to bring him back - regardless of the dangers they may face.
This novel is beautifully representative of Klune's writing, crafting a brand new world and characters that nonetheless feel real-to-life and relatable for readers. Even though the majority of characters are some form of machine or android, they nonetheless have distinct personalities and mannerisms, many of which develop and change as the story progresses. I would say that this novel is accurately described as a modern retelling of Pinocchio, although I found hints of Wizard of Oz thrown in. Klune also covers a number of pressing and relevant topics - including the complexity and range of sexuality, the rise in AI/ML, mental health, and whether humans and machines can have feelings towards the other - with great care and his signature humor and wit.
I have a few minor, personal quips about this book, however, that make it fall just shy of perfect in my perspective. I found that the dialogue was too drawn out, and at times unnecessary, especially when it came to the banter between Victor, Nurse Ratched, and Rambo. Yes, a enjoyed the jokes and jabs about Victor's sexuality (or lack thereof) and the fact that machines do not have reproductive organs, but it felt overdone and at times detracted from the story as a whole.
"In the Lives of Puppets" is nonetheless one of the books I'm most excited for in 2023 and I'm sure readers will love this newest adventure from T.J. Klune!
Thank you Tor for the advance copy of this novel!
kinzeekinz's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
jfweber's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0