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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
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.
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
This book uses the concept of a women who can’t be remembered to examine the impact of society’s expectations. The plot also revolves around an app called Perfection, where users give it access to their data and in return get points for being ‘perfect’ as per the apps definition. It’s very thrilling at times, as our main character becomes involved with people trying to destroy Perfection.
The writing style often loses the plot, wandering off into lists of definitions, excepts of historical information, and jarring rants. I think this is what will make this book unreadable for many people.
I did enjoy the way it built atmosphere through this stream-of-consciousness narration style, especially during the more thrilling parts of the book. At times it was difficult for me to put this book down because I NEEDED to know what would happen.
But ultimately, I thought this was a book of amazing ideas that was lacking in execution. My dream would be if this could be adapted into a (well-written) TV show. Regardless of all of my criticisms, this is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.
The writing style often loses the plot, wandering off into lists of definitions, excepts of historical information, and jarring rants. I think this is what will make this book unreadable for many people.
I did enjoy the way it built atmosphere through this stream-of-consciousness narration style, especially during the more thrilling parts of the book. At times it was difficult for me to put this book down because I NEEDED to know what would happen.
But ultimately, I thought this was a book of amazing ideas that was lacking in execution. My dream would be if this could be adapted into a (well-written) TV show. Regardless of all of my criticisms, this is a book I will be thinking about for a long time.
The first Claire North novel I did not absolutely love.
I appreciate the book because I think that the author is pushing herself hard and that is why she writes such fantastic novels. Sometimes, it works, sometimes not.
I appreciate the book because I think that the author is pushing herself hard and that is why she writes such fantastic novels. Sometimes, it works, sometimes not.
The idea that you could be forgotten by nearly everyone around you, mere minutes after they turn away or leave the room, seems, initially, like a wonderful situation for someone who identifies herself as a thief moments into the story she relates. Hope Arden exists momentarily in each face-to-face interaction, then disappears from people's minds once they've turned away or she's left their view. They can't remember her face, or that she was there. This sounds so freeing for Hope, and terrifying for anyone encountering her. ("What just happened?") Then, gradually, the full horror and isolation of Hope's situation begins to dawn on her listener/reader. How can she hold down a job, how can she have friends, how can she plan for housing, etc.?
When Hope steals some diamonds at a swanky party attended by unnaturally beautiful, "perfect" people, she inadvertently ends up becoming involved with Perfection. Perfection is a program that people use to become perfect. Perfect in appearance, perfect in conversation, perfect in any situation.....Once a user grants Perfection access to a variety of their personal information, Perfection proceeds to motivate its users to make choices (shopping, eating, exercising, etc.) for points. By accumulating points, the users get access to more exclusive services that they can use to gain higher levels of personal perfection.
From a privacy perspective, I found Perfection horrifying, and the people it created to be horrible and plastic. Having read not that long ago about the misuse of data by corporations creating programs based on racist, sexist and/or classist biases (i.e., data science for profit and social engineering), I found the discussions between Hope and Filippa Pereira-Conroy and later Byron, to be fascinating.
I found the author's commentary about beauty and social standing sharp: what is perfect?, what does it look like?, and how can anyone but the rich achieve the program's definition of perfect?
Claire North's prose is beautiful, and I loved the dialogue, and the names of the characters, in particular Filippa Pereira-Conroy's.
This is a long story, but I found that I really enjoyed it, even when it felt a little slow in parts.
I experienced this book in audio, and really enjoyed the voice work by Gillian Burke, who beautifully captured Hope's anger, humour, ferocity, and loneliness (though I didn't think her american accent was great.)
When Hope steals some diamonds at a swanky party attended by unnaturally beautiful, "perfect" people, she inadvertently ends up becoming involved with Perfection. Perfection is a program that people use to become perfect. Perfect in appearance, perfect in conversation, perfect in any situation.....Once a user grants Perfection access to a variety of their personal information, Perfection proceeds to motivate its users to make choices (shopping, eating, exercising, etc.) for points. By accumulating points, the users get access to more exclusive services that they can use to gain higher levels of personal perfection.
From a privacy perspective, I found Perfection horrifying, and the people it created to be horrible and plastic. Having read not that long ago about the misuse of data by corporations creating programs based on racist, sexist and/or classist biases (i.e., data science for profit and social engineering), I found the discussions between Hope and Filippa Pereira-Conroy and later Byron, to be fascinating.
I found the author's commentary about beauty and social standing sharp: what is perfect?, what does it look like?, and how can anyone but the rich achieve the program's definition of perfect?
Claire North's prose is beautiful, and I loved the dialogue, and the names of the characters, in particular Filippa Pereira-Conroy's.
This is a long story, but I found that I really enjoyed it, even when it felt a little slow in parts.
I experienced this book in audio, and really enjoyed the voice work by Gillian Burke, who beautifully captured Hope's anger, humour, ferocity, and loneliness (though I didn't think her american accent was great.)
This story is a terribly sad one. To have no one remember you or really know you is an awful thing. The presence of technology throughout the book feels all too familiar. This book really paints a picture of a world we live in. There were times the author was very descriptive and I would zone out, but I did love the character development of Hope. And I found it chilling to read about the use of technology in this story.
The book is thought provoking and beautifully written (and well narrated). The blurb is inadequate to describe this book, yet I don't know that I can do better. I'm glad I met Hope. I will try to remember.
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Esta autora é sempre uma dor de cabeça com os seus enredos complexos 😅
Eu adorei o outro livro da autora, "As Primeiras 15 Vidas de Harry August", foi um livro que também demora a fazer sentido, tem um elemento fantástico de realismo mágico bem explicado e sci-fi nuclear, sem falar no final 🤯 que ata tudo num laço pomposo.
Neste livro tenho de confesar que fiquei desiludida.
A Hope Arden começou por ser interessante com a sua condição única de ser esquecida. Enquanto estiver presente e em interação com as pessoas é lembrada, mas se passar 1 minuto longe delas a memória a curto prazo apaga-se e o cérebro reformula as memórias dos acontecimentos eliminando-a da equação.
Pela sinopse eu pensava que ia ser um livro jovem adulto, mas a protagonista é uma adulta. Ladra profissional. Gostava de ver este livro num filme só porque as descrições dos seus roubos são o meu tipo de ação! Preferia até que o livro fosse apenas sobre roubos.
Na realidade, é focado numa aplicação de telemóvel que torna as pessoas perfeitas. É uma espécie de distopia no futuro próximo em que a multidão perde o seu individualismo a mando de uma IA e os seus dados são vendidos a terceiros, a um nível muito assustador.
A questão da app colide com a crise de identidade da Hope e é esse o arrastão do livro.
Quem é ela quando não tem ninguém que a defina? O que é da sociedade se todos sofrerem uma lavagem cerebral que retira o pensamento crítico e individualidade às pessoas?
A autora é ótima a levantar questões filosóficas e a fazer os leitores colocarem-se no lugar das personagens, mas fez isso um pouco a mais. Muito monólogo construído de forma pouco ortodoxa, uma escrita tipicamente contemporânea, que conseguia ser massador. Se juntarmos a isso o lado de diário de viagens e há muito palha.
O final foi fraco. Apesar de uma característica semelhante ao Harry August, o impacto nem se compara.
Eu adorei o outro livro da autora, "As Primeiras 15 Vidas de Harry August", foi um livro que também demora a fazer sentido, tem um elemento fantástico de realismo mágico bem explicado e sci-fi nuclear, sem falar no final 🤯 que ata tudo num laço pomposo.
Neste livro tenho de confesar que fiquei desiludida.
A Hope Arden começou por ser interessante com a sua condição única de ser esquecida. Enquanto estiver presente e em interação com as pessoas é lembrada, mas se passar 1 minuto longe delas a memória a curto prazo apaga-se e o cérebro reformula as memórias dos acontecimentos eliminando-a da equação.
Pela sinopse eu pensava que ia ser um livro jovem adulto, mas a protagonista é uma adulta. Ladra profissional. Gostava de ver este livro num filme só porque as descrições dos seus roubos são o meu tipo de ação! Preferia até que o livro fosse apenas sobre roubos.
Na realidade, é focado numa aplicação de telemóvel que torna as pessoas perfeitas. É uma espécie de distopia no futuro próximo em que a multidão perde o seu individualismo a mando de uma IA e os seus dados são vendidos a terceiros, a um nível muito assustador.
A questão da app colide com a crise de identidade da Hope e é esse o arrastão do livro.
Quem é ela quando não tem ninguém que a defina? O que é da sociedade se todos sofrerem uma lavagem cerebral que retira o pensamento crítico e individualidade às pessoas?
A autora é ótima a levantar questões filosóficas e a fazer os leitores colocarem-se no lugar das personagens, mas fez isso um pouco a mais. Muito monólogo construído de forma pouco ortodoxa, uma escrita tipicamente contemporânea, que conseguia ser massador. Se juntarmos a isso o lado de diário de viagens e há muito palha.
O final foi fraco. Apesar de uma característica semelhante ao Harry August, o impacto nem se compara.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Blood, Cannibalism, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Medical content, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail
I was really into this book at the beginning but it really fell apart for me towards the end. It's told in a very strange way, but it has an interesting premise and I did care enough to force my way through it.
Merged review:
I was really into this book at the beginning but it really fell apart for me towards the end. It's told in a very strange way, but it has an interesting premise and I did care enough to force my way through it.
Merged review:
I was really into this book at the beginning but it really fell apart for me towards the end. It's told in a very strange way, but it has an interesting premise and I did care enough to force my way through it.