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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
mysterious
slow-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For a book set 30 years in the future, it's very strangely of its time (and more circa 2016-18, rather than its publishing date). And tbh maybe also it's place (NYC)? While I agree with what the book is trying to say to a point, It offers a strangely reserved viewpoint, lacking any real nuance. It hinges on the ideals of Phone Bad and "everyone wants to be famous" which are just. not believable blanket statements.
There's also a serious lack of followthrough on the science fiction elements. The origins of "The Spill" are never addressed; an internet-based attack only severely impacts the U.S.; people who continue to use screens after "The Spill" end up with some new kind of dementia for some unknown, uninvestigated reason. And I found it hard to believe that "The Spill" would be that destructive; while I don't doubt revealing certain figures' online activity would be an upset, I do believe the majority of people live an average, mediocre life, even on the internet.
That being said, I found the concept of Constellation and the seceded island interesting, and I enjoyed following these women's stories. This is one of those books where the promise of the premise exceeds the execution.
There's also a serious lack of followthrough on the science fiction elements. The origins of "The Spill" are never addressed; an internet-based attack only severely impacts the U.S.; people who continue to use screens after "The Spill" end up with some new kind of dementia for some unknown, uninvestigated reason. And I found it hard to believe that "The Spill" would be that destructive; while I don't doubt revealing certain figures' online activity would be an upset, I do believe the majority of people live an average, mediocre life, even on the internet.
That being said, I found the concept of Constellation and the seceded island interesting, and I enjoyed following these women's stories. This is one of those books where the promise of the premise exceeds the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Suicide, Violence, Abortion, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Classism
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Racism, Xenophobia, Dementia
The catastrophic event referred to as "the spill" involves everyone's darkest internet secrets coming to public light, which entails a number of crimes and possible triggers mentioned in briefest of detail. While the act of suicide itself is never described in detail, the event is talked about at length.
emotional
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Fahrenheit 451 meets Keeping Up with the Kardashians culture. A book that uses trending topics to become a thankfully "off trend" take on our dystopian future. My favorite thing about this book is that it feels like a throwback to the science fiction that first made me love dystopian novels, The Giver and Ray Bradbury. My biggest criticism of the book is that the main character from 2016 is disappointing as a person.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The third to last chapter should have been the whole book. Barely made it through any of the rest.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A friend recommended this to me... 3 years ago. Reading now as I have been trying to chip away at reading books I added a while ago and not just NEW HOTTT READZ. Plus, it's been a bit since I've read sci-fi, a genre I've only recently started reading, but have found I enjoy a lot, consumed on kindle.
This is pretty well reviewed, but didn't sing for me. I found the concept stronger than the execution, and had trouble staying engaged past about 70% in (when the connection between the two timelines comes together).
Overall, wouldn't recommend-- there's a Black Mirror episode that's pretty similar to this that I think executes this concept more poignantly.
This is pretty well reviewed, but didn't sing for me. I found the concept stronger than the execution, and had trouble staying engaged past about 70% in (when the connection between the two timelines comes together).
Overall, wouldn't recommend-- there's a Black Mirror episode that's pretty similar to this that I think executes this concept more poignantly.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Followers is a dystopia quite unlike anything I’ve read up until now. Half the book is set in 2051, mostly in the closed town of Constellation, California. Government-appointed celebrities live 99% of their lives in front of a camera, for the viewing pleasure of the rest of the country. Corporate sponsors dictate what happens in their lives, and the stars have zero input. No one is allowed to leave. Despite having millions of followers, that is precisely what Marlow wants to do when she learns her life is based on a lie.
The other half of the story is set from 2015 to 2016. In this portion of the story, you meet two women who share a singular goal. Orla Cadden is a blogger on a celebrity-gossip site, rather than the serious writer she wants to be. Floss Natuzzi, the wannabe star no one ever heard of, wants to be famous. Orla helps manipulate Floss onto the road of fame, and together, they become household names… all thanks to social media.
Then the Spill happened, plunging an entire generation into devastation and chaos. Things had to change, and they did—which eventually led to the creation of Constellation.
I liked the premise of this book, despite being initially puzzled about certain connections and events. Everything is explained, but there were times I felt impatient about how long it took to get there. In time, I could see why certain answers weren’t given sooner… and yet, the frustration lingered.
The tech used made sense in the story, but it didn’t have the wow factor for me. That probably has more than a little to do with the fact that I’m a HUGE fan of Star Trek and various other sci-fi, so I’m accustomed to more sophisticated sort of technology than the type described in this novel. The device (as it is referred to) was just fine for this story, but I didn’t finish the novel wishing I had one of my own. (A transporter or a holodeck, on the other hand… those fire up the imagination with possibilities!)
The characters were interesting, but I didn’t really feel a connection with them most of the time. Towards the end that changed somewhat, but it was late in the game for it to have any meaningful impact.
This all sounds incredibly negative, but it isn’t meant to be. With privacy being a constant concern in our digital lives, the premise of this book is not only unique, but relevant. Within the framework of this world, the cost of fame is the complete loss of privacy, raising the stakes even higher when someone attempts to regain what they (willingly) gave up. It also serves as commentary on the preoccupation with social media by the population at large, and invents a terrible consequence for it in this fictional setting… which can’t help but make the reader think about how much of their own time is spent on social media sites.
Most of the people who read advance copies of this book gave it four or five stars, but for me, three stars felt right. I enjoyed the book, but wasn’t moved to give it a high rating. Perhaps this is because I started reading Followers soon after I finished reading The Testaments by Margaret Atwood—a book I felt was exceptionally well done. Did my enthusiastic response to Atwood’s book color my perceptions of Angelo’s book? It’s definitely possible.
I’ll be curious to see what Angelo’s next book will be about, and I’ll be watching for it. I’m definitely willing to read more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Graydon House via Netgalley.
The other half of the story is set from 2015 to 2016. In this portion of the story, you meet two women who share a singular goal. Orla Cadden is a blogger on a celebrity-gossip site, rather than the serious writer she wants to be. Floss Natuzzi, the wannabe star no one ever heard of, wants to be famous. Orla helps manipulate Floss onto the road of fame, and together, they become household names… all thanks to social media.
Then the Spill happened, plunging an entire generation into devastation and chaos. Things had to change, and they did—which eventually led to the creation of Constellation.
I liked the premise of this book, despite being initially puzzled about certain connections and events. Everything is explained, but there were times I felt impatient about how long it took to get there. In time, I could see why certain answers weren’t given sooner… and yet, the frustration lingered.
The tech used made sense in the story, but it didn’t have the wow factor for me. That probably has more than a little to do with the fact that I’m a HUGE fan of Star Trek and various other sci-fi, so I’m accustomed to more sophisticated sort of technology than the type described in this novel. The device (as it is referred to) was just fine for this story, but I didn’t finish the novel wishing I had one of my own. (A transporter or a holodeck, on the other hand… those fire up the imagination with possibilities!)
The characters were interesting, but I didn’t really feel a connection with them most of the time. Towards the end that changed somewhat, but it was late in the game for it to have any meaningful impact.
This all sounds incredibly negative, but it isn’t meant to be. With privacy being a constant concern in our digital lives, the premise of this book is not only unique, but relevant. Within the framework of this world, the cost of fame is the complete loss of privacy, raising the stakes even higher when someone attempts to regain what they (willingly) gave up. It also serves as commentary on the preoccupation with social media by the population at large, and invents a terrible consequence for it in this fictional setting… which can’t help but make the reader think about how much of their own time is spent on social media sites.
Most of the people who read advance copies of this book gave it four or five stars, but for me, three stars felt right. I enjoyed the book, but wasn’t moved to give it a high rating. Perhaps this is because I started reading Followers soon after I finished reading The Testaments by Margaret Atwood—a book I felt was exceptionally well done. Did my enthusiastic response to Atwood’s book color my perceptions of Angelo’s book? It’s definitely possible.
I’ll be curious to see what Angelo’s next book will be about, and I’ll be watching for it. I’m definitely willing to read more of her work in the future.
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Graydon House via Netgalley.
This is a really interesting and intriguing (hopefully) fiction story that will make you question your internet and social media behavior!!