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torismazarine's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Stalking, and Death
Moderate: Trafficking, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Kidnapping, and Pedophilia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Panic attacks/disorders
saint_eleanor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This made me feel so many different emotions but ultimately was super unsettling and also so human, is the only way I can describe it. It asks lots of important questions, like about your consciousness and what is an ‘extension of u’ and what is not. Super close and intimate (sometimes too intimate) look at the human condition if it was ruled by little portals. Also, this book is translated beautifully.
Content Warnings
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, and Excrement
emily_koopmann's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying and Violence
Minor: Trafficking and Pedophilia
evelynritzi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
This one definitely was odd, familiar, and unsettling - black mirror vibes - as advertised! Technology at its worst. It really made me think about how loose we are about trusting strangers on the internet, revealing so much about our lives in subtle ways. Our social media is our Kentukis in a way, giving strangers a glimpse at our personal lives free of charge. At the same time, for viewers, we are so drawn to the most mundane content (get ready with me, eat with me etc) because in a way it provides a sense of adventure and connectedness. It also made me think a lot about “sharenting” and how parents are way too comfortable sharing everything about their kids without thinking about who is on the other end watching with ill intentions. It was a little hard to keep up with all the characters and locations, that would be my only complaint!
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Violence
house_of_hannah's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I couldn't picture these Kentukis as anything other than Furbys. Doesn't matter if it's described as a crow, bunny, or dragon, my brain says Furby.
I did end up overwhelmed by how many different POVs we are given here. Instead of being numbered, each chapter is titled with a town name. Some we only see once, others several times. We see new POVs almost right up until the end, so it would take me a few paragraphs sometimes to remember who the people are.
The first chapter is essentially what you first think is going to happen in a situation like this. Also, imagine my surprise when the first chapter is titled South Bend, which is only 30 minutes from my hometown, and a place I've been a million times. Definitely makes it more real, but that was one town the book only visited once.
We do get a variety of situations throughout the story, but I don't believe any of them are happy endings. Since there are so many POVs, it also feels like we are viewing the stories from a distance (maybe in our own Kentuki ?). For me I think I would have have been more interested in delving into some of these stories deeper, and understanding the characters a bit more, instead of having some of the one off POVs.
You definitely need to have a sense of disbelief going into this, as the entire concept is something that just would not work in reality. The legality of it is extremely sketchy, security would be a nightmare, but all countries agreeing on something like this would just never happen.
Overall this just ended up as an average read for me. I felt most of the POVs stayed too surface level, as the connections with the Kentukis would be cut right as things were getting interesting. There are two more books by this author that I am interested in reading though, so I will be checking out more of her writing.
I did end up overwhelmed by how many different POVs we are given here. Instead of being numbered, each chapter is titled with a town name. Some we only see once, others several times. We see new POVs almost right up until the end, so it would take me a few paragraphs sometimes to remember who the people are.
The first chapter is essentially what you first think is going to happen in a situation like this. Also, imagine my surprise when the first chapter is titled South Bend, which is only 30 minutes from my hometown, and a place I've been a million times. Definitely makes it more real, but that was one town the book only visited once.
We do get a variety of situations throughout the story, but I don't believe any of them are happy endings. Since there are so many POVs, it also feels like we are viewing the stories from a distance (maybe in our own Kentuki ?). For me I think I would have have been more interested in delving into some of these stories deeper, and understanding the characters a bit more, instead of having some of the one off POVs.
You definitely need to have a sense of disbelief going into this, as the entire concept is something that just would not work in reality. The legality of it is extremely sketchy, security would be a nightmare, but all countries agreeing on something like this would just never happen.
Overall this just ended up as an average read for me. I felt most of the POVs stayed too surface level, as the connections with the Kentukis would be cut right as things were getting interesting. There are two more books by this author that I am interested in reading though, so I will be checking out more of her writing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia, Confinement, and Sexual content
Minor: Kidnapping, Death, and Infidelity
savvylit's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Each chapter of Little Eyes features a perspective of either a kentuki keeper or dweller. What follows is possibly the best fictional take on human nature on the Internet. Kentukis serve as the perfect symbol for fully-online parasocial relationships. The concept of a kentuki seems exaggeratedly far-fetched at first -- who would want to let an anonymous stranger into their home in the form of a moving camera? However, how different is that from extremely online folks who chronicle most of their days for viewers? I'd say not very. Kentukis are the perfect vessel for Schweblin to explore socializing in the digital age and all of its motivations and consequences. Distilled to its essence, Little Eyes is an expertly crafted meditation on loneliness, voyeurism, cruelty, and projection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Death, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Kidnapping
kaabtik's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Read this for the Book Lust Reading Guild's BOTM.
A very unique premise that was executed well. The beauty in it was that it gave the readers enough of a glance of the world from all angles, but still keeping the story within that of the characters. It mirrored reality in a way that didn't come off as pretentious or too on the nose, which I appreciated. Also had me changing and fixing up my digital footprint lololol.
BOTM Discussion:
A very unique premise that was executed well. The beauty in it was that it gave the readers enough of a glance of the world from all angles, but still keeping the story within that of the characters. It mirrored reality in a way that didn't come off as pretentious or too on the nose, which I appreciated. Also had me changing and fixing up my digital footprint lololol.
BOTM Discussion:
Q1: Kentuki
Do you think that something similar to the kentuki could ever exist in the real world? Would you like it to be?
Though I wouldn't want there to be little anonymous people in my house, something similar to the Kentuki is definitely possible. Autonomous delivery robots already exist, and drones have become more commonplace.
Q2: Owner or dweller?
If the kentuki were real and you were to receive one (you can't say no!), would you prefer to be a dweller or to own one? Why?
Dweller, definitely, as I'm someone who liked to cut back on travel expenses as much as possible lolol. A pretty shallow reason but to be an owner and to have a stranger in my house at all times is something that would take years off my life every day.
Q3: The stories
Do you think the stories were easy to follow? Which ones did you like more? The creepy ones, the ones that gave just a glimpse of a connection, the sad ones...
The stories were pretty easy to follow, and I think I liked Emilia's and Grigor's the best as they were the most intriguing. Their stories were opposites, with Emilia having little tech experience to Grigor's wide understanding of it. I didn't like Marvin's a lot as I found the 'revolution' very meh and couldn't really get behind the whole cause. I did like the touch of how the kentuki would be involved in legal stuff though, but the whole "liberation" thing was... not it.
Q4: Characters
Which character (or characters) did you like best?
I liked Enzo the best as his interactions with his Kentuki were very sincere imo. Though it turned out for the worse, I still think he was acting out of a place of love for his son — and one out of loneliness.
Q5: The vibes
One thing I really enjoyed of this book was the subtle creepiness that emerged from time to time. What about you?
I liked how it didn't shy away from the darker aspects of the kentuki being used and what was in store for them. There had never been a moment in the book that I felt safe in the presence of the kentuki, yet I could see why the characters acted the way they did. Which made it more creepy and fun to read. A bit emotionally exhausting though, not going to lie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Sexual content, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Confinement, Death of parent, War, and Violence
allyjshand's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The concept behind the novel is brilliant. I was so intrigued by kentukis and their depicted global popularity. Whilst some argue that kentukis are unrealistic, I would disagree. Given the rate at which we have absorbed technologies into our homes that utilise voice recognition and cameras, I'd argue that the us machines like kentukis is not unlikely. The whole novel was reminiscent of the dystopian TV show Black Mirror which, like Little Eyes, uses futuristic technologies to reflect human nature. To top it off, the writing was extremely fluid and engaging - making it easy to fall into Schweblin's world. However, I found the novel quite dark and graphic at times (although, this is a matter of reader preference). Also, whilst the use of multiple perspectives was seamless, I felt that less POVs could have been included to allow for the remaining narratives to be developed more. Regardless, Little Eyes is a though-provoking novel that will definitely stay with me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content
elledanie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Sexual content
Minor: Bullying, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Cursing, and Toxic relationship
carissa230's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
In this vision of the future people can live within another robot like object called Kentuki. They’re cute little stuffed animal like objects that can follow a person around. One person lives in the kentuki and the other person owns it and it follows them around if it wants. The persons that is within the kentuki becomes like a part of it.
People have strange relationships with the Kentuki. Some people use them as replacements for family, some as sex objects, some as a release valve for their anger.
I feel like something was lost in translation. While the concept was good overall it never really came together for me. I am still not sure how the person that is “within” the kentuki is there. How are they able to live their lives while being inside another object? Some are kidnapped and tortured, but for what purpose? Can they feel it, if yes how? These are a few things I don’t think translated well.
People have strange relationships with the Kentuki. Some people use them as replacements for family, some as sex objects, some as a release valve for their anger.
I feel like something was lost in translation. While the concept was good overall it never really came together for me. I am still not sure how the person that is “within” the kentuki is there. How are they able to live their lives while being inside another object? Some are kidnapped and tortured, but for what purpose? Can they feel it, if yes how? These are a few things I don’t think translated well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content