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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
What a fascinating story. A dystopia of sorts set in the not-so-distant future, in ways that are unsettling and really has me wanting to delete my Facebook like woah. It was somehow absurd and yet totally believable. I think this story will stick with me for a long time.
This was like a long Black Mirror episode. Mostly I liked it. My interest was starting to wane and I was leaning toward 3 stars before the “spill” event was finally explained. Then I was back.
I couldn't put this down, despite the fact that I didn't like it at first. The world building was really fun, especially by the middle of the book where the near past and mid-future worlds were established, but their convergence was not yet clear. The last quarter or so became too plot-driven for me.
Overall I didn't find the commentary on celebrity and privacy particularly mordant, but I quite enjoyed the read.
Overall I didn't find the commentary on celebrity and privacy particularly mordant, but I quite enjoyed the read.
Audiobook. Thought provoking. I wonder what future generations will think of social media and being influencers? Will there be a huge back lash against sharing everything little thing on social media? Cyber security is fragile at best. Nothing is private, for sure!
Interesting plot, no "bad guys," realistic female friendships, characters that you don't always like but wind up loving.
An excellent read.
An excellent read.
The premise of Followers is so scary, because it felt a little *too* real. The story jumps between present day (2051) and past (2015), and it takes a bit for all the dots to connect. I was frustrated at times that we didn't totally know what was going on - because so much of the narrative is happening in the past and that's what set up the future timeline - but take that for what it is. I didn't love the ending, but otherwise enjoyed this one.
Covering the issue of our addiction to technology and social media, and the implications of sharing all of our most personal details with corporations who don't hold our privacy in their best interests, [a:Megan Angelo|18044292|Megan Angelo|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1565558563p2/18044292.jpg] imagines a catastrophic privacy breach that results in the collapse of the internet as we know it today. The resulting dystopia brings a government-controlled internet and a Truman Show-style media outlet that encourages Americans to resume their habit of following social influencers and oversharing their own details--all for their own protection, of course. It's an enjoyably ambitious story that makes some very good points, but it was flawed enough on execution to break my suspension of disbelief and keep me from loving this book. P.S. That's just not how the 404 error works.
Alternating narrators and timelines, Followers is told by Orla in 2015/2016 and Marlow in 2051. Flossy is the tie between the two storylines - Orla's best friend in present-day and Marlow's mom in the future.
Flossy has an insatiable appetite for fame. She enlists her roommate Orla, a blogger, to help make her internet famous. In a time when your Instagram and online profiles define your true self, Flossy will be whoever will gain her the most followers.
Flash forward to 2051, after the Fog and after the world has dramatically shifted, Flossy still seeks the limelight. But times have changed and now Flossy is willing to even sell out her daughter, Marlow, in order to achieve the fame she seeks. Set in a "Truman-like" setting, almost every move Marlow makes is broadcast 24/7 for followers all around the world to watch, judge, comment, buy products, hate, and worship.
But within these fabricated worlds, there are secrets waiting to be exposed and no matter how many followers or how popular you are, the secrets can ruin you.
I loved the present-day storyline to which we can all relate in part. I particularly liked the future world and the detail Angelo wove to enhance the narrative - for example, creating a world to push a brand or market a product, designing and essentially manufacturing children, the advancements of technology to read our minds and persuade our thinking. This book was incredibly relevant and very unique...and maybe even a little frightening! Now... FOLLOW ME FOREVER!!
Flossy has an insatiable appetite for fame. She enlists her roommate Orla, a blogger, to help make her internet famous. In a time when your Instagram and online profiles define your true self, Flossy will be whoever will gain her the most followers.
Flash forward to 2051, after the Fog and after the world has dramatically shifted, Flossy still seeks the limelight. But times have changed and now Flossy is willing to even sell out her daughter, Marlow, in order to achieve the fame she seeks. Set in a "Truman-like" setting, almost every move Marlow makes is broadcast 24/7 for followers all around the world to watch, judge, comment, buy products, hate, and worship.
But within these fabricated worlds, there are secrets waiting to be exposed and no matter how many followers or how popular you are, the secrets can ruin you.
I loved the present-day storyline to which we can all relate in part. I particularly liked the future world and the detail Angelo wove to enhance the narrative - for example, creating a world to push a brand or market a product, designing and essentially manufacturing children, the advancements of technology to read our minds and persuade our thinking. This book was incredibly relevant and very unique...and maybe even a little frightening! Now... FOLLOW ME FOREVER!!