Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Dieses Buch gewann also den World Fantasy Award 2017? Die Ideen und Figuren sind durchaus originell, die Sprache geschliffen, die Handlung stimmig. Besonders der Stil des inneren Monologes und die Darstellung emotionaler Situationen waren hervorragend. Allerdings scheint mir Claire North zu viel zu wollen. Was genau soll dieser Roman darstellen? Fantasy, Mystery, soziologische Studie, Sci-Fi, Roadmovie-Abenteuer, Selbstfindungsroman? Manche Elemente waren für mich einfach zu überladen. Eine außergewöhnliche Diebin mit Hackerfähigkeiten aber keinem Schulabschluss ermittelt in einem Ursula Poznanski-esken Setting, während nebenbei Lord Byron zitiert, fließend Latein oder japanisch gesprochen und über den perfekten Menschen philosophiert wird. Vielleicht hätte ich etwas mehr Spaß an dem Buch gehabt, wäre Hope etwas ungebildeter gewesen. Etwas weniger 'perfekt'. Der Fakt, dass sie zudem täglich 10km läuft machte sie für mich zu einer grenzwertigen Mary Sue. Sobald man die Überprotagonisitn hinnimmt, wird man auf dieser Reise aber gut unterhalten. Deswegen darauf drei solide 'Heyyy Macarena's.
Talk about a misleading synopsis. The cover image and the blurb make it sounds as though this book is about a girl, possibly a teen.
It's not. It's about a grown woman, probably mid-twenties -- and if the age were the only issue that annoyed me, we'd be in much better shape here.
The premise of this book is actually fascinating. Hope cannot be remembered. People who see her day after day react each time as though they're meeting a stranger. Hope is so unmemorable that she seems to create holes that the subconscious works to fill. Someone who had a delicious dinner with Hope will remember being at the restaurant -- for a meal that they ate alone. She can disappear in any crowd, because as soon as she's out of sight, she's literally out of mind.
The parts of the book that work best are about Hope's inner life and how it is to be in the world so utterly alone, absolutely free of any restrictions or responsibilities, yet with no connections that last longer than a few hours. It makes sense that ultimately Hope would become a gifted thief. You can't exactly hold down a steady job when each day your boss thinks you're someone completely new... and it's easy to get away with crimes when eyewitnesses never remember seeing you.
The plot of the book centers around a creepy app called Perfection, encouraging people to become "perfect" through an endless cycle of feedback on their habits, choices, purchases, and more. Hope becomes obsessed with tracking down the people who profit from Perfection and hurting them, and ends up involved in international espionage as part of a very long manhunt. Unfortunately, much of Hope's journey has to do with her vendetta against Perfection, and it's confusing and distracting and really, very disjointed.
Frankly, this book was a slog to get through. Like I said, the concept of Hope's inability to be remembered is pretty mind-warping stuff -- but the plot ends up in a pointless, long drawn-out crime caper, and the writing seems to consist mainly of strings of phrases with a noticeable lack of verbs.
I might have enjoyed this book more if it were about 100 pages shorter, but even so, the entire crime story left me cold. Terrific concept, weak execution. I didn't hate the book, but I can't say I particularly enjoyed it either.
It's not. It's about a grown woman, probably mid-twenties -- and if the age were the only issue that annoyed me, we'd be in much better shape here.
The premise of this book is actually fascinating. Hope cannot be remembered. People who see her day after day react each time as though they're meeting a stranger. Hope is so unmemorable that she seems to create holes that the subconscious works to fill. Someone who had a delicious dinner with Hope will remember being at the restaurant -- for a meal that they ate alone. She can disappear in any crowd, because as soon as she's out of sight, she's literally out of mind.
The parts of the book that work best are about Hope's inner life and how it is to be in the world so utterly alone, absolutely free of any restrictions or responsibilities, yet with no connections that last longer than a few hours. It makes sense that ultimately Hope would become a gifted thief. You can't exactly hold down a steady job when each day your boss thinks you're someone completely new... and it's easy to get away with crimes when eyewitnesses never remember seeing you.
The plot of the book centers around a creepy app called Perfection, encouraging people to become "perfect" through an endless cycle of feedback on their habits, choices, purchases, and more. Hope becomes obsessed with tracking down the people who profit from Perfection and hurting them, and ends up involved in international espionage as part of a very long manhunt. Unfortunately, much of Hope's journey has to do with her vendetta against Perfection, and it's confusing and distracting and really, very disjointed.
Spoiler
It bothered me that Hope's brain-damaged sister Grace was the only one who could always remember and recognize Hope. This is never explained. Can other people with brain injuries remember her as well? Is her condition something in her own brain, as we're led to believe? If so, why would Grace be immune from the memory impairment? You'd think Hope would want to explore this question, if she's truly interested in understanding her condition and finding a treatment, but she never even thinks about it, as far as we can see.Frankly, this book was a slog to get through. Like I said, the concept of Hope's inability to be remembered is pretty mind-warping stuff -- but the plot ends up in a pointless, long drawn-out crime caper, and the writing seems to consist mainly of strings of phrases with a noticeable lack of verbs.
I might have enjoyed this book more if it were about 100 pages shorter, but even so, the entire crime story left me cold. Terrific concept, weak execution. I didn't hate the book, but I can't say I particularly enjoyed it either.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Increíble, un libro con mucha política y crítica social. Con una trama muy bien compuesta y unos personajes que te atrapan.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dragged a bit at the end, a little preachy about online privacy at times.
I would have loved this book more but I think there was just way too much going on. Something happens to Hope which she's a teenager that makes everyone forget her, which makes it impossible for her to have friends, family, or even a job. This leads to a wandering, no-strings life financed by crime, for lack of better options. She gets wrapped up in stealing the code for Perfection, which is this insanely privacy invading app that gives you points for buying and doing the right things to make you "perfect." Now that part was beyond terrifying because it was so plausible. So on the one hand you have a thought-provoking science fiction novel about the nature of self as defined by your relationships and the impressions you make on other people, and on the other hand you have a thought-provoking science fiction novel about the nature of self in terms of what you buy and how you appear. Identity, consumerism, individuality... Lots of big concepts here, and they are what got me through when the plot got a little meandering and confusing for me. Overall, a good read.
The fine print: received ARC from Edelweiss.
The fine print: received ARC from Edelweiss.
this has got to be the slowest book i've read this year but the pacing isn't even my problem with this book.
other characters keep pointing out hope is black, which is interesting because that does not even matter in this book. I'm even questioning myself now thinking if Hope is actually black or not, because as far as i can tell, it's inconsequential. She suffers no racism, no namecalling, no funny looks, nothing.
i would have liked a little bit of "The host's father was an uppity man impeccably dressed who looked at her with a look of distaste. "Are you on the list?", he said, getting ready to grab her. A security guard had appeared out of nowhere. I turned to the side, looking all the other people who had walked in with no problem. Figures. I'd been singled out again."
And in the description of LITERALLY ANYONE ELSE because Hope is forgettable, NONE OF THEM HAVE WRITTEN BLACK WOMAN on the list of characteristics!!! Instead they have inane things like "runners body", "short hair" etc.
Also, Hope keeps getting mentioned as beautiful. But if Hope is so GODDAMN beautiful, what the hell is she doing with her hair? Did you know hair means a lot to poc???? But she can't even go to a hair salon because of her situation. Her hair is never even MENTIONED when she talks about having to survive as a runaway. Does she cut it short? Does she leave it natural? Does she flatiron the hell out of it!?!?!?
Who knows.
I seriously had no idea how Hope got past security to all these fancy balls/ parties where everyone is "Perfection" <- that is the point of the book by the way, when she is clearly, really not because she doesn't even take care of her hair.
My gripe is why did Claire North make Hope black? Because does it even matter if she is!? I couldn't tell a single situation that Hope had to worry about because she was black. I can't figure out a single time her race even mattered. I just don't understand claire north's reasoning. i can tell immediately the author is a white woman from britain without even reading a bio synopsis because she writes as if her main character never has any issues getting in anywhere. Her main character is never questioned, never turned away, never harassed. Hope has so much unaware privilege that you can only tell the author is white even if she says otherwise. Anyway, the book continues, with North further writing about things that make no sense.
Like when Hope goes to Tokyo. Oh my god what was that drivel.
Yea apparently Tokyo is this super special exotic place in the world that feels completely different from any other city. Barf. Other than the fact I'm offended by her description of Tokyo (and there are lots of offensive things), Hope (who is supposedly black) faces absolutely no racism in the city.
-insert indecision to laugh or scream-
Anyway, this book requires a lot of suspension of belief for me to get through it, which I obviously don't have.
Maybe you'll like it for the *wiggles fingers* sci fi aspect of a character who everyone forgets immediately after she's out of eyesight. But really, I can't ignore the fact this author doesn't know how to write black women, yet chooses to make her protagonist black.
other characters keep pointing out hope is black, which is interesting because that does not even matter in this book. I'm even questioning myself now thinking if Hope is actually black or not, because as far as i can tell, it's inconsequential. She suffers no racism, no namecalling, no funny looks, nothing.
i would have liked a little bit of "The host's father was an uppity man impeccably dressed who looked at her with a look of distaste. "Are you on the list?", he said, getting ready to grab her. A security guard had appeared out of nowhere. I turned to the side, looking all the other people who had walked in with no problem. Figures. I'd been singled out again."
And in the description of LITERALLY ANYONE ELSE because Hope is forgettable, NONE OF THEM HAVE WRITTEN BLACK WOMAN on the list of characteristics!!! Instead they have inane things like "runners body", "short hair" etc.
Also, Hope keeps getting mentioned as beautiful. But if Hope is so GODDAMN beautiful, what the hell is she doing with her hair? Did you know hair means a lot to poc???? But she can't even go to a hair salon because of her situation. Her hair is never even MENTIONED when she talks about having to survive as a runaway. Does she cut it short? Does she leave it natural? Does she flatiron the hell out of it!?!?!?
Who knows.
I seriously had no idea how Hope got past security to all these fancy balls/ parties where everyone is "Perfection" <- that is the point of the book by the way, when she is clearly, really not because she doesn't even take care of her hair.
My gripe is why did Claire North make Hope black? Because does it even matter if she is!? I couldn't tell a single situation that Hope had to worry about because she was black. I can't figure out a single time her race even mattered. I just don't understand claire north's reasoning. i can tell immediately the author is a white woman from britain without even reading a bio synopsis because she writes as if her main character never has any issues getting in anywhere. Her main character is never questioned, never turned away, never harassed. Hope has so much unaware privilege that you can only tell the author is white even if she says otherwise. Anyway, the book continues, with North further writing about things that make no sense.
Like when Hope goes to Tokyo. Oh my god what was that drivel.
Yea apparently Tokyo is this super special exotic place in the world that feels completely different from any other city. Barf. Other than the fact I'm offended by her description of Tokyo (and there are lots of offensive things), Hope (who is supposedly black) faces absolutely no racism in the city.
-insert indecision to laugh or scream-
Anyway, this book requires a lot of suspension of belief for me to get through it, which I obviously don't have.
Maybe you'll like it for the *wiggles fingers* sci fi aspect of a character who everyone forgets immediately after she's out of eyesight. But really, I can't ignore the fact this author doesn't know how to write black women, yet chooses to make her protagonist black.
One of the strangest books I've ever read. Throughout the entire 500 pages I never could say that I actually knew where it was going ir what its limits were. I think I loved it.