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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Overall this is a well written and intriguing book, a creative plot line. The concept of someone who gets forgotten, for whatever reasons, is terrifying, and the questions raised about whether this is good or not, whether it is freeing or not, is equally fascinating. The parallel plot line, about Perfection, an app that teaches you to be "the perfect person" according to a specific criterion, which has nothing to do with moral behavior, or kindness, or mercy, but is a surface perfection, works well as a criticism of social media and the violence done to the human soul.
Loved this.
I'm basking in the joy of reading a book that titillated so many of my philosophical and self determinant interests. The temptation to dive right back in for a re-read is yet to wane.
I don't think what I say below is really spoilery, but I'll tag it nonetheless.
I was initially worried that it would dwell in loneliness and depression with a suicide attempt or three. Fortunately, North/Webb preferred for Hope to mostly emote in anger and frustration that was expressed outwardly. Making it the relatively light read that I was hoping for, even though it led to me wondering if it was a copout by the author for not writing a more emotionally complex work. Definitely a case of me trying (needlessly) to appear balanced. Hope is complex enough. Her petulance and almost childish vindictiveness at times is what precipitates the Perfection story (that was smartly left out of the blurb). Whilst there's a fair bit of leaving bruised bullies baffled as to why they're in that state, Hope's more than just an angry young woman out to wreak consequence-free havoc.
A lot of Hope's existence is about the battle of morals versus ethics. (My understanding of morals being ones personal recognition of right and wrong. Ethics being the generally agreed upon rights and wrongs perceived by a group or society. When these two ideas clash what an individual does shows what they value more. It's a conversation I love having.) Hopes affliction of being forgotten frees her from societies consequences and forces her to set limits on herself. Eventually. There's nothing subtle about this or the social commentary on inequality and mental health impacts of envying the rich & 'beautiful', which under a lesser author could have been an eye rolling bore. Hegel and his Phenomenology of Spirit could have learnt something from this.
Staying on the topic of subtlety, there's at least 400 instances of the word 'fuck' in this book and yet it never felt vulgar (to me).
I haven't quite figured out what to say about the other people in the story and their challenging relationships with Hope. There was enough to the characters to avoid being caricatures which satisfied me, but I suspect others may find reason to grumble. There's far too much good in this story and how it's told for me to nitpick more than I already have though.
My advice is to read this book and then read it again.
I'm basking in the joy of reading a book that titillated so many of my philosophical and self determinant interests. The temptation to dive right back in for a re-read is yet to wane.
I don't think what I say below is really spoilery, but I'll tag it nonetheless.
I was initially worried that it would dwell in loneliness and depression with a suicide attempt or three. Fortunately, North/Webb preferred for Hope to mostly emote in anger and frustration that was expressed outwardly. Making it the relatively light read that I was hoping for, even though it led to me wondering if it was a copout by the author for not writing a more emotionally complex work. Definitely a case of me trying (needlessly) to appear balanced. Hope is complex enough. Her petulance and almost childish vindictiveness at times is what precipitates the Perfection story (that was smartly left out of the blurb). Whilst there's a fair bit of leaving bruised bullies baffled as to why they're in that state, Hope's more than just an angry young woman out to wreak consequence-free havoc.
A lot of Hope's existence is about the battle of morals versus ethics. (My understanding of morals being ones personal recognition of right and wrong. Ethics being the generally agreed upon rights and wrongs perceived by a group or society. When these two ideas clash what an individual does shows what they value more. It's a conversation I love having.) Hopes affliction of being forgotten frees her from societies consequences and forces her to set limits on herself. Eventually. There's nothing subtle about this or the social commentary on inequality and mental health impacts of envying the rich & 'beautiful', which under a lesser author could have been an eye rolling bore. Hegel and his Phenomenology of Spirit could have learnt something from this.
Staying on the topic of subtlety, there's at least 400 instances of the word 'fuck' in this book and yet it never felt vulgar (to me).
I haven't quite figured out what to say about the other people in the story and their challenging relationships with Hope. There was enough to the characters to avoid being caricatures which satisfied me, but I suspect others may find reason to grumble. There's far too much good in this story and how it's told for me to nitpick more than I already have though.
My advice is to read this book and then read it again.
Forced myself to read 15 pages a day. When I can only stand 10, time to put the book down.
I read this as an audio book. I found it long and not quite sure of the point of the story in the end. It seemed like there were a lot of loose ends and the title didn't fit. I kept waiting for Hope to appear, either metaphorically or in reality. There was just enough to keep you going to see where it would go but not enough to say "wow". In the end it was not a particularly great book.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Uma das coisas que mais gosto quando leio um livro é que me leve a reflectir, ainda que com base em fantasia como foi o caso deste livro, tal como já tinha acontecido com As Primeiras Quinze Vidas de Harry August, primeiro livro que li desta autora.
Neste livro há duas situações paralelas e que me deixaram a pensar. Primeiro, Hope, a nossa narradora, é uma pessoa de quem ninguém tem memória. Logo que Hope sai de perto, quem esteve com ela esquece-se que ela existe. Hope apenas vive nas memórias digitais, em fotos ou gravações. Ninguém a retém na memória e, por isso, Hope não tem família ou amigos ou qualquer relação duradoura. Será essa condição uma libertação ou uma maldição? como será viver nessas circunstâncias?
E depois temos Perfection, uma aplicação que quer tornar as pessoas perfeitas. Que diz o que devem ou não comer, o que devem fazer, as idas ao ginásio, as roupas, as relações, os trabalhos. Tudo, mas mesmo tudo, controlado por uma aplicação no telemóvel, e que recompensa, com pontos, sempre que são seguidos os seus conselhos, sendo que, quando se atinge um determinado número de pontos se tem acesso ao clube restrito dos perfeitos. Levado ao exagero, não será, mais ou menos, o que já acontece na sociedade, condenando quem é maior, mais forte ou até diferente?
Claire North leva-nos a questionar, em vários pontos do livro, sobre a sociedade actual, sobre a nossa própria vida, sobre o esquecimento - desejado ou não. A liberdade do esquecimento e a escravatura da perfeição, em quatrocentos e cinquenta páginas escritas por uma autora que, pelos vistos, gosta de nos puxar pelas ideias, de nos obrigar a pensar fora da caixa, de forma absorvente, intensa e emocional.
Creio que, sem exagero, me estou a tornar numa fã desta autora...
Neste livro há duas situações paralelas e que me deixaram a pensar. Primeiro, Hope, a nossa narradora, é uma pessoa de quem ninguém tem memória. Logo que Hope sai de perto, quem esteve com ela esquece-se que ela existe. Hope apenas vive nas memórias digitais, em fotos ou gravações. Ninguém a retém na memória e, por isso, Hope não tem família ou amigos ou qualquer relação duradoura. Será essa condição uma libertação ou uma maldição? como será viver nessas circunstâncias?
E depois temos Perfection, uma aplicação que quer tornar as pessoas perfeitas. Que diz o que devem ou não comer, o que devem fazer, as idas ao ginásio, as roupas, as relações, os trabalhos. Tudo, mas mesmo tudo, controlado por uma aplicação no telemóvel, e que recompensa, com pontos, sempre que são seguidos os seus conselhos, sendo que, quando se atinge um determinado número de pontos se tem acesso ao clube restrito dos perfeitos. Levado ao exagero, não será, mais ou menos, o que já acontece na sociedade, condenando quem é maior, mais forte ou até diferente?
Claire North leva-nos a questionar, em vários pontos do livro, sobre a sociedade actual, sobre a nossa própria vida, sobre o esquecimento - desejado ou não. A liberdade do esquecimento e a escravatura da perfeição, em quatrocentos e cinquenta páginas escritas por uma autora que, pelos vistos, gosta de nos puxar pelas ideias, de nos obrigar a pensar fora da caixa, de forma absorvente, intensa e emocional.
Creio que, sem exagero, me estou a tornar numa fã desta autora...
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Aquest ha sigut un dels millors llibres que he llegit últimament, i no forma part de cap sèrie, cosa que és d'agrair!
El llibre ens explica la història de la Hope, una noia que tothom oblida. No sabem com, ni per què, però al cap de pocs minuts d'haver deixat de tenir-hi interacció (parlar o veure), la gent s'oblida d'ella. Recorda el que feia, però recorda que estava sol.
Però no és només la història de la Hope. És també la història d'una aplicació per mòbil, Perfection. La gent es dóna d'alta i van guanyant punts cada cop que fan coses per ser més perfectes, i en perden quan fan alguna cosa mal feta. La gent que té molts punts accedeix a uns tractaments, que encara et fan més perfecte.
És la història de la Hope. L'escriu ella. I ella ens fa plantejar-nos moltes coses. Si ningú et recorda, com et pots guanyar la vida? No pots tenir feina estable, no pots compartir pis, si estàs malalt el metge no es recordarà de tu... Ella escull ser lladre. Ser lladre és fàcil quan ningú es recorda d'haver-te vist enlloc. Quan si la policia t'agafa, s'oblida de tu i et pots escapar. Però, on és el límit? Com diu ella en una conversa, si ningú es recordarà del que has fet, o si tu no et recordaràs del que has dit, qui t'impedeix fer alguna cosa dolenta? On és el límit?
És la història d'en Luca Evard, un policia que l'intenta atrapar. Un bon home, però la Hope està destinada a amargar-li la vida.
És la història de dos germans fills d'un gran magnat. Un dels dos, vol fer diners. L'altre, vol investigar.
I és la història de dos ex-agents, que havien sigut parella. Un, està a la seguretat privada dels germans. L'altre, vol fer que el món sigui un lloc millor, i per això necessita que desaparegui l'aplicació Perfection.
Tot el llibre és genial, però hi ha trossos que es surten de bons. Com la conversa entre la Hope i en Luca. O els pocs moments d'amistat que comparteix la Hope amb la Philipa.
Si li hagués de posar un però al llibre, seria que no acabem sabent per què és així la Hope, i les dues persones que podien curar-la o entendre la seva condició al final del llibre ja no poden. Però el llibre és més que bo i molt recomanable de llegir.
When I read [b:The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August|35066358|The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August|Claire North|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1493966668l/35066358._SY75_.jpg|25807847], I immediately fell in love with Claire North's writing, and her books I have read since have done nothing to cool my ardour. As well as her beautiful prose, she builds fascinating characters and wonderfully intriguing ideas. Her novels are thought experiments, what-ifs of the highest order, using the interface of a single fantastical idea set in the mundane world to examine what it is to be human.
In this novel, we meet Hope Arden. When she was a teenager people began to forget her - teachers, school friends, family. When out of sight for more than a few moments, the concept of "Hope Arden" leaks from their minds and then they are meeting her for the first time.
Grown up, Hope has come to terms with this ability, this existence outside of people's perception - outside of society, because how can someone be part of a society that has no knowledge of them from one moment to the next. She has found, by necessity, a use for her peculiar talents; she has become the world's greatest thief. It isn't just that she can't be picked out of a line-up; if someone is chasing her and she ducks out of sight, her her pursuer will suddenly not recognise her as the woman they were chasing - or remember they were chasing anyone at all. How useful to be able to case a location again and again and again, with nobody able to spot the repetition.
And it is pursuing this calling, at a high class party in Dubai, that she finds herself in the presence of Perfection. It is not just an app, it is not just a life-coach, it is not just a lifestyle; it is a way of life that enables and encourages - even requires - its adherents to seek to perfect themselves. the perfect look, the perfect job, the perfect gym, the perfect partner, the perfect life.
Hope's investigation into Perfection is the perfect setting for North to examine society and belonging, social media and self image, status and identity.
Of course, the real take away message:
Read Claire North. She really is very good indeed.
In this novel, we meet Hope Arden. When she was a teenager people began to forget her - teachers, school friends, family. When out of sight for more than a few moments, the concept of "Hope Arden" leaks from their minds and then they are meeting her for the first time.
Grown up, Hope has come to terms with this ability, this existence outside of people's perception - outside of society, because how can someone be part of a society that has no knowledge of them from one moment to the next. She has found, by necessity, a use for her peculiar talents; she has become the world's greatest thief. It isn't just that she can't be picked out of a line-up; if someone is chasing her and she ducks out of sight, her her pursuer will suddenly not recognise her as the woman they were chasing - or remember they were chasing anyone at all. How useful to be able to case a location again and again and again, with nobody able to spot the repetition.
And it is pursuing this calling, at a high class party in Dubai, that she finds herself in the presence of Perfection. It is not just an app, it is not just a life-coach, it is not just a lifestyle; it is a way of life that enables and encourages - even requires - its adherents to seek to perfect themselves. the perfect look, the perfect job, the perfect gym, the perfect partner, the perfect life.
Hope's investigation into Perfection is the perfect setting for North to examine society and belonging, social media and self image, status and identity.
Of course, the real take away message:
Read Claire North. She really is very good indeed.