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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.
I can appreciate the irony of taking about this book when I received it in digital form and am encouraged to talk about it on social media in order to promote it. While reading this, I couldn't help feeling like I was reading a Black Mirror episode. In fact, if they don't option for this to be adapted into one of their episodes or even a movie, I'd be very surprised. This sort of premise is right up their alley: technology and the internet has evolved in such a way that it's inside a person's head, and it communicates in the first person. Moreover, reality TV has gotten to where a person's entire life is on display with only small spaces as private-- with the network reminding them to go into an on-camera area if they stay away too long.
This book is pretty brilliant in that it feels so true in what it's portraying. The way these people's lives are scripted from who they marry to when they have children, how some of them are sponsored and are expected to have a certain image, how outsiders view celebrities and how quickly they can turn on someone. It also does great with social media and how quickly something can escalate from those platforms. It's also not entirely unbelievable for the government to control the internet, though I think the reaction to the Spill was maybe a little too over-the-top? Though it's hard to say how people would actually react to such a thing.
I like how there is no villain in this. Not even the network and the Spill feels like a villain, more like antagonists. They're just forces working in opposition to our characters' goals. Bad things certainly happen, but none of it feels truly evil. They're all just flawed humans trying to make this world work in their favor, and it's all very relateable. It feels more like a story of self-discovery and finding peace with yourself and your life than anything. I don't want to say more and influence how people read this book. I also liked the different ways the term "follower" was used in the story. Again I don't want to say too much, but I saw three different definitions of the word playing out, and that's clever.
The book is clearly taking place in an alternate universe, but it's one that's close enough to our reality that I think we can glean something valuable from it if we want.
I can appreciate the irony of taking about this book when I received it in digital form and am encouraged to talk about it on social media in order to promote it. While reading this, I couldn't help feeling like I was reading a Black Mirror episode. In fact, if they don't option for this to be adapted into one of their episodes or even a movie, I'd be very surprised. This sort of premise is right up their alley: technology and the internet has evolved in such a way that it's inside a person's head, and it communicates in the first person. Moreover, reality TV has gotten to where a person's entire life is on display with only small spaces as private-- with the network reminding them to go into an on-camera area if they stay away too long.
This book is pretty brilliant in that it feels so true in what it's portraying. The way these people's lives are scripted from who they marry to when they have children, how some of them are sponsored and are expected to have a certain image, how outsiders view celebrities and how quickly they can turn on someone. It also does great with social media and how quickly something can escalate from those platforms. It's also not entirely unbelievable for the government to control the internet, though I think the reaction to the Spill was maybe a little too over-the-top? Though it's hard to say how people would actually react to such a thing.
I like how there is no villain in this. Not even the network and the Spill feels like a villain, more like antagonists. They're just forces working in opposition to our characters' goals. Bad things certainly happen, but none of it feels truly evil. They're all just flawed humans trying to make this world work in their favor, and it's all very relateable. It feels more like a story of self-discovery and finding peace with yourself and your life than anything. I don't want to say more and influence how people read this book. I also liked the different ways the term "follower" was used in the story. Again I don't want to say too much, but I saw three different definitions of the word playing out, and that's clever.
The book is clearly taking place in an alternate universe, but it's one that's close enough to our reality that I think we can glean something valuable from it if we want.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I just found it lacking
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book had strong writing, but the themes felt like they’d been done before. It also had this sort of pessimistic tone about it that made it not fun for me to read. Maybe it wasn’t trying to be fun.
This book had me hooked. If I had to describe it in a few words I would say it's like Truman Show meets modern day technology/Internet culture. The world described is incredibly fascinating exploring how a life of constant exposure to social media and the need to share and be seen can affect people and their relationships with one another. The characters were nuanced in that all were flawed in deeply human ways that made them relatable. Angelo's writing really transports you to this world that is somehow different yet not so different at all from our own. I did feel the ending was the weakest part of the story, but I really enjoyed reading this novel nonetheless.
this was SO eerie to read i loved it. there were parts that felt a little preachy but for the most part this was such an interesting story to read and i loved the characters so five stars for emotional impact i guess
This book had me captured so quickly. I had no idea what I was getting into and I absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed how the sci fi aspects came out slowly so it felt like the story was unwrapping like a present.
I’m taking away one star cause although the ending wrapped up nicely, I wanted a little more of a confrontation. But I love this book soooo much and I’m definitely going to recommend it to all my friends!
I’m taking away one star cause although the ending wrapped up nicely, I wanted a little more of a confrontation. But I love this book soooo much and I’m definitely going to recommend it to all my friends!
A realistic look at our probable future rife with warning signs about social media, security, and our concept of privacy.