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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Well, this didn't turn out to what I thought it would be.
But wow, another brilliant story by Claire North.
Mostly, we have seen art and read literature about how one shouldn't confirm to society. We are encouraged to follow our train of thoughts and marvel in our own individualism. Be you. Be original.
And who could deny that? It's a perfect theory to practice.
But then there's Hope Arden. She's forgettable. And because she doesn't exist for the world in its past or its future, she's basically not a part of it. She's only part of our now. So is she lucky she has no one to answer to? Memory is everything, right? Because sure, something beautiful is happening right now and we are living it and it's amazing but this moment is going to pass and it will become a memory, will it not? Memories are how we hang on to the beauty that ceases to exist. And the world has no memories of Hope Arden.
North argues why it's a necessity that we are bound by this society and its law. Why we live as a community. What is it really like to be lonely. Through the lack of it in her character, the author manages to portray an amazing balance between individualism and being a part of something.
Another thing that's a pretty heavy and consistent theme in this story is: accountability. Owning up to your actions. Who's telling you it's a wrong idea if nobody remembers you?
Just amazing.
My only problem with the book was that it was a bit lengthy and could have been shortened and concised.
But Claire North definitely has some interesting things on her mind, if she's writing books like The Sudden Appearance of Hope and The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. Can't wait for more.
But wow, another brilliant story by Claire North.
Mostly, we have seen art and read literature about how one shouldn't confirm to society. We are encouraged to follow our train of thoughts and marvel in our own individualism. Be you. Be original.
And who could deny that? It's a perfect theory to practice.
But then there's Hope Arden. She's forgettable. And because she doesn't exist for the world in its past or its future, she's basically not a part of it. She's only part of our now. So is she lucky she has no one to answer to? Memory is everything, right? Because sure, something beautiful is happening right now and we are living it and it's amazing but this moment is going to pass and it will become a memory, will it not? Memories are how we hang on to the beauty that ceases to exist. And the world has no memories of Hope Arden.
North argues why it's a necessity that we are bound by this society and its law. Why we live as a community. What is it really like to be lonely. Through the lack of it in her character, the author manages to portray an amazing balance between individualism and being a part of something.
Another thing that's a pretty heavy and consistent theme in this story is: accountability. Owning up to your actions. Who's telling you it's a wrong idea if nobody remembers you?
Just amazing.
My only problem with the book was that it was a bit lengthy and could have been shortened and concised.
But Claire North definitely has some interesting things on her mind, if she's writing books like The Sudden Appearance of Hope and The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. Can't wait for more.
I'm quite envious of Claire North's ability. (Yes I know she's really Catherine Webb.) She writes with such apparent fluidity and ease. This isn't her best work but even lesser Claire North is still pretty darned good. She's the master at taking an intriguing high concept notion and successfully spinning it into a pleasing tale.
Not as great as her previous novels, but still very enjoyable.
Great idea that would have made an excellent short story. I've enjoyed earlier books by Claire North, but this one was painful. I've never read a book with so much filler. Random rantings not related to the story, and repetition. I really don't understand how this book gets such a high rating in Goodreads.....
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really wanted to love this book and still love the concept of it. However, I just couldn't get into the stream of consciousness writing style and felt like the ending was very much rushed... or as if the author didn't know how to end it so just kind of left things they way they were. Either way, I didn't enjoy my time reading this one.
I rather enjoyed _The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August_, so when looking for something fictional after reading depressing history, I found it at the library. This is a true first person narrative, with many instances where it is simply stream of consciousness. But I really dug the premise.
It is actually quite simple, though never fully explained. Hope disappears from people’s minds. Except for dogs and the crazy. This makes her an exceptional thief, but lonely. It is that concept drives everything. Think Memento, but reversed.
Perfection is a mutant Facebook. It is an example of when people trust their apps more than actual humans. What happens to a person when all they do is follow an algorithm? Are they still a person, or more a robot being lead from one marketing campaign to the next. Gamification of your life, with the elusive goal of being perfect.
I enjoyed the world view through Hope’s eyes. It isn’t always pleasent, but I could understand her actions. Living by algorithm is already here, just a bit more subtle. I, for one, will not be forgetting Hope any time soon.
It is actually quite simple, though never fully explained. Hope disappears from people’s minds. Except for dogs and the crazy. This makes her an exceptional thief, but lonely. It is that concept drives everything. Think Memento, but reversed.
Perfection is a mutant Facebook. It is an example of when people trust their apps more than actual humans. What happens to a person when all they do is follow an algorithm? Are they still a person, or more a robot being lead from one marketing campaign to the next. Gamification of your life, with the elusive goal of being perfect.
I enjoyed the world view through Hope’s eyes. It isn’t always pleasent, but I could understand her actions. Living by algorithm is already here, just a bit more subtle. I, for one, will not be forgetting Hope any time soon.
4+ stars
Claire North, aka Catherine Webb, is one clever cookie. Just saying.
She's also a very creative and modern writer.
"The Sudden Appearance of Hope" (great title, by the way) is a wondrous, thought-provoking novel.
It is kind of genre-less. Scratch that. There is a genre called 'urban magic'. Forgive me, I'm kind of ignorant when it comes to all these subgenres.
When I saw that some people categorised it as SciFi and/or fantasy, I was kind of dispirited, as those are not genres I enjoy reading. But for those of you who might have the same apprehensions as me, let me assure you that you shouldn't worry.
Sure, the main heroine, Hope Arden, is forgotten by everyone who sees her within one to two minutes of not seeing her. But other than that, it is in many ways a contemporary novel, about present day issues.
Hope Arden's forgettability affords her to get away with stealing, which she has to do in order to survive. She's become a professional thief.
Through Hope, Claire North is taking a good look at some of the new social matrices related and regarding the internet; the apps; the quest for perfection as deemed by the media and Hollywood; at the increasing divide between the rich and the poor. But all these things ultimately relate to identity.
What is wrong and what is right? How would you behave if you could get away with everything? Can you be your own person without the influence of parents, siblings, teachers, societal norms etc? There are lots of things to ponder.
There really is a lot packed in this novel, a very ambitious project.
I do feel it was a tad too long, it could have done with a tighter editing.
But other than that, it was a brilliant, original and a very compelling novel.
I will definitely read more novels by Claire North/Catherine Webb/Kate Griffin because I'm intrigued. (Really authors, what the? Way to confuse us. I can deal with an author writing different genres, I totally can. I have more of a problem remembering names. Rant over.)
I've received this novel via a Goodreads giveaway (my first! :-) and only :-( ). Many thanks to Orbit Books, Hachette for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover:5 stars
Claire North, aka Catherine Webb, is one clever cookie. Just saying.
She's also a very creative and modern writer.
"The Sudden Appearance of Hope" (great title, by the way) is a wondrous, thought-provoking novel.
When I saw that some people categorised it as SciFi and/or fantasy, I was kind of dispirited, as those are not genres I enjoy reading. But for those of you who might have the same apprehensions as me, let me assure you that you shouldn't worry.
Sure, the main heroine, Hope Arden, is forgotten by everyone who sees her within one to two minutes of not seeing her. But other than that, it is in many ways a contemporary novel, about present day issues.
Hope Arden's forgettability affords her to get away with stealing, which she has to do in order to survive. She's become a professional thief.
Through Hope, Claire North is taking a good look at some of the new social matrices related and regarding the internet; the apps; the quest for perfection as deemed by the media and Hollywood; at the increasing divide between the rich and the poor. But all these things ultimately relate to identity.
What is wrong and what is right? How would you behave if you could get away with everything? Can you be your own person without the influence of parents, siblings, teachers, societal norms etc? There are lots of things to ponder.
There really is a lot packed in this novel, a very ambitious project.
I do feel it was a tad too long, it could have done with a tighter editing.
But other than that, it was a brilliant, original and a very compelling novel.
I will definitely read more novels by Claire North/Catherine Webb/Kate Griffin because I'm intrigued. (Really authors, what the? Way to confuse us. I can deal with an author writing different genres, I totally can. I have more of a problem remembering names. Rant over.)
I've received this novel via a Goodreads giveaway (my first! :-) and only :-( ). Many thanks to Orbit Books, Hachette for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Cover:5 stars