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heliopteryx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a book! 5 out of 5 stars. An overlooked classic. It has the most incredible prose.
Katherine Mortenhoe, at 44, receives a diagnosis of a condition incurable even though medicine has advanced enough that pretty much every disease has been cured. Alternate sections are from Katherine's point of view or from the point of view of Roddie, a reporter/cameraman who's supposed to make a reality TV show about her. This story is about so many things. Freedom and how to be free from the expectations of society and others, how to tell a good story, and the complicated ties between people as friends, spouses, and coworkers. Some of the science and tech aspects show their age, but the parts about privacy and public opinion have aged amazingly well.
Seeing the characters' own interior struggles is so uncomfortable and definitely expects the reader to be paying attention. For example, the characters think unkind things about others as a reflection of themselves, not the others. This is clearest when Katherine is judging people living in a homeless commune, but it's not because they actually embody any of the traits she applies to them, it is because she is jealous of how carefree they live.
This story is set against a vague backdrop of authoritarianism, with ever-present bureaucracy, mention of rationing, and how you need so many forms of ID and licenses. There is civil unrest, portrayed in an ambiguous way. Being written in the early 1970s, I don't have detailed enough knowledge of history to know what the author would have been inspired by here, but you'd probably understand it better if you did.
Regarding diversity, we don't get detailed descriptions of anyone's appearance so technically you can imagine them however you please, but I'm sure this is a setting of only white British people. There is a likable gay character, and historically accurate homosexuality in this setting (it's not legal, though none of the characters are homophobes, so these relationships need to be hidden either literally or with euphemisms but the characters/reader know what's up).
Katherine Mortenhoe, at 44, receives a diagnosis of a condition incurable even though medicine has advanced enough that pretty much every disease has been cured. Alternate sections are from Katherine's point of view or from the point of view of Roddie, a reporter/cameraman who's supposed to make a reality TV show about her. This story is about so many things. Freedom and how to be free from the expectations of society and others, how to tell a good story, and the complicated ties between people as friends, spouses, and coworkers. Some of the science and tech aspects show their age, but the parts about privacy and public opinion have aged amazingly well.
Seeing the characters' own interior struggles is so uncomfortable and definitely expects the reader to be paying attention. For example, the characters think unkind things about others as a reflection of themselves, not the others. This is clearest when Katherine is judging people living in a homeless commune, but it's not because they actually embody any of the traits she applies to them, it is because she is jealous of how carefree they live.
This story is set against a vague backdrop of authoritarianism, with ever-present bureaucracy, mention of rationing, and how you need so many forms of ID and licenses. There is civil unrest, portrayed in an ambiguous way. Being written in the early 1970s, I don't have detailed enough knowledge of history to know what the author would have been inspired by here, but you'd probably understand it better if you did.
Regarding diversity, we don't get detailed descriptions of anyone's appearance so technically you can imagine them however you please, but I'm sure this is a setting of only white British people. There is a likable gay character, and historically accurate homosexuality in this setting (it's not legal, though none of the characters are homophobes, so these relationships need to be hidden either literally or with euphemisms but the characters/reader know what's up).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality and Chronic illness
boston_berry's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
Minor: Homophobia
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