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blakethebookeater's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Sexism
Moderate: Abandonment, Body shaming, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Racism
Minor: Death and Murder
kelseyrae15's review
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Impostor Syndrome by Kathy Wang explores the world of Big Tech through the eyes of a Russian Spy, Julia Lerner, who has helped build and infiltrated one of the biggest companies in Silicon Valley, as COO. And she did it all on her own.
We also follow the life of Alice Lou, who currently works for Tangerine, Julia’s company, and see the extremely different lifestyles these two women lead. Alice, living paycheck to paycheck, working at a much lower level and having to fight to keep her job while Julia, has everything - money, family, a husband, and her career. What Alice doesn’t see is how hard Julia has to fight to keep her job as well. How cutthroat this industry is.
There were so many messages to take away from this book. I felt it was less about the Russian spy and the SPB aspect and more about the lives of women in the business field along with the power of technology. Not only just being women, but immigrants. What men get handed to them so easily, women have to fight twice as hard just to stay in the running.
Another thing I found interesting was that there’s a lot of degrading commentary about women between both the male characters and the women characters throughout the story, along with comments in reference to race. I think Kathy is trying to portray what many immigrants have gone through trying to chase that American dream and how hard it is to fit in being someone native to another country. Also I think she is trying to portray that women are just as horrible to each other as the men are to them.
Also, Impostor Syndrome made me realize just how much poster Big Tech Companies hold. With a click of a button, thanks to social sites and the internet itself, you can find out so much about a person. Personal things. It’s beyond scary. And it makes me question are these companies misusing this information, like Julia was? Where is our information actually going?
Overall, I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ due to the topics discussed throughout the story. I was fascinated and a little sickened to learn about the reach of technology, how our country can be, and how little we think of women still to this day. There was a bit that I didn’t understand as I don’t work or know much about Big Tech, but looking at the big picture, it was a very interesting read and one outside my comfort zone. My thoughts are a little sporadic as I am still trying to process this one, but I hope you can take find someone take aways from review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, and Racism
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