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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
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
A fun page-turner, but the ending was underwhelming, and it also feels a bit dated too soon because in the real world, .
Spoiler
the internet did not collapse in 2016
Reading this right now as we're all experiencing something we've never seen before was eerie: Followers contemplates another type of future, one in which the consequences of us living our lives online comes back to haunt each and every one of us. This was a quick read and a captivating and unnerving exploration of the consequences of how much of our lives we live online, clamoring for influence and attention.
Compelling but not my favorite. This makes me want to delete all my social media. Twitter is just too compelling!
Followers features a unique dystopian narrative that slowly get eroded by card board characters and a non-existent plot. As the novel progresses, the narrative becomes so clunky and slow to the point where it becomes a chore in reading this. Slow-burn plots can be enjoyable if done right or if done incorrectly can turn a reading experience into a horrific experience. Followers had such an intriguing premise with excellent characters, but it sadly devolves into a chaotic mess.
Followers was an engaging read, up until the conclusion, which took a long time to wrap things up while not really adding anything to the story. The science fiction elements were believable but not all that inventive, and the "smartphones are bad" messages got to be a bit much after a while. I found the cuts between the two stories increasingly frustrating - the "cut away at the most exciting moment" technique really irritates me.
The relationship between the two friends was well done, there was enough nuance for it to be believable - it avoided the trap of having a "bitch" character who is totally unlikeable, which could easily have happened with a story like this. I also liked the way the "influencers/followers" theme was integrated into all of the characters.
The relationship between the two friends was well done, there was enough nuance for it to be believable - it avoided the trap of having a "bitch" character who is totally unlikeable, which could easily have happened with a story like this. I also liked the way the "influencers/followers" theme was integrated into all of the characters.
Interesting concept & storyline that kept me curious. Two hindrances for me:
(1) I found it hard to keep up with at times. Characters would be introduced once, briefly, then referred to by name only without context clues to remind me who they were (namely the parents! Rarely were they “mom” or “dad.”)
(2) the ending felt rushed. :/ it feels like there were a lot of loose ends that were abandoned.
(1) I found it hard to keep up with at times. Characters would be introduced once, briefly, then referred to by name only without context clues to remind me who they were (namely the parents! Rarely were they “mom” or “dad.”)
(2) the ending felt rushed. :/ it feels like there were a lot of loose ends that were abandoned.
It was pretty good. I enjoyed some of the ideas Angelo's exploring, I think the thematic underpinnings were a bit of whiplash. Is it about; Family? Motherhood? Celebrity? Friendship? Coming of Age? It's about all of these, and how technology intersects with each of them, but I can't help but think more focus and less themes would have made for a stronger work.
This is a novel I didn’t know needed to exist in my life. It is several mysteries wound inside a near-past and near-future examination of social media and self.
I don’t consider myself to be especially into the “look at me” culture, but the story of Orla and Floss barreling towards the story of Marlow was perfectly written. It’s a novel about youth, dreams, middle age, and the technology that strokes our egos or gives us purpose.
It painted a very real possible future for us all, and despite the grimness of the entertainment culture, gave me hope that we aren’t all doomed to kowtow to the cloud and the “likes.”
I don’t consider myself to be especially into the “look at me” culture, but the story of Orla and Floss barreling towards the story of Marlow was perfectly written. It’s a novel about youth, dreams, middle age, and the technology that strokes our egos or gives us purpose.
It painted a very real possible future for us all, and despite the grimness of the entertainment culture, gave me hope that we aren’t all doomed to kowtow to the cloud and the “likes.”