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bookswithline's review against another edition
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I did not even know Hank Green wrote a book, and here I sam, finding out so late. I don't read a lot of science fiction, but this book was so good! I loved the concept, and honestly Iwhen I read about the Carls, I lowkey thought about that huge hotdog sculpture in New York City.
jacqui_04's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
pastorashley's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
wonu's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cam356's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
baoluong's review against another edition
4.0
Part “memoir” and part science fiction, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a personal account of a possible first encounter with alien lifeforms. April May walks home from her demanding job at an upstart that still hasn’t paid her yet to pass by what she thinks is an art project. The towering mecha-like sculpture immediately fascinates and prompt her to respond through a sarcastic video with her friend Andy. The two are then propelled into fame as the world soon realizes all of the sculptures, dubbed “Carl” by April, are stranger than fiction.
What I appreciate about this book is simply the fact that April is a self-destructive human being who constantly makes terrible decisions. Her newfound fame begins to strip away her sense of individuality as she constantly puts herself on display. The way she treats those closest to her and the nerve she has to divide people into fans or not fans is pretty despicable. It never crosses the line however so she’s somehow always on the “right side of morality”. Honestly, I don’t think there is a better person to be the voice of this odd journey. Not the most wholesome but definitely not boring.
Instead, the story picks up momentum when the larger mystery at hand unfolds. What are the Carls and where do they come from? A world-wide effort to piece together the puzzle will have humanity drawing lines in a battle for the future. April stands at the head of it all in a role that’s more relegated to humanity’s ambassador rather than space fighting. So, this isn’t the action packed, star wars of life and death. The central conflict plays out on a smaller scale with April at the center of it all.
I recommend this to fans of the Green bothers, but also for weird hyper-realities about a plausible contingent in our existence. Let me know what you think down in the comments. ☟ I’m still trying to figure the twist at the end and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
B L O G 🐶
What I appreciate about this book is simply the fact that April is a self-destructive human being who constantly makes terrible decisions. Her newfound fame begins to strip away her sense of individuality as she constantly puts herself on display. The way she treats those closest to her and the nerve she has to divide people into fans or not fans is pretty despicable. It never crosses the line however so she’s somehow always on the “right side of morality”. Honestly, I don’t think there is a better person to be the voice of this odd journey. Not the most wholesome but definitely not boring.
Instead, the story picks up momentum when the larger mystery at hand unfolds. What are the Carls and where do they come from? A world-wide effort to piece together the puzzle will have humanity drawing lines in a battle for the future. April stands at the head of it all in a role that’s more relegated to humanity’s ambassador rather than space fighting. So, this isn’t the action packed, star wars of life and death. The central conflict plays out on a smaller scale with April at the center of it all.
I recommend this to fans of the Green bothers, but also for weird hyper-realities about a plausible contingent in our existence. Let me know what you think down in the comments. ☟ I’m still trying to figure the twist at the end and I’m not sure how I feel about it.
B L O G 🐶
bookhoarder2022's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bookgraphy's review
5.0
This book did things for me! it made me care, actually CARE about the characters and that's something I hadn't felt in a long time so just for that it deserves all the stars in the world. But it also was such an amazingly well written scifi mixed with some contemporary?, I loved the first contact concept, God knows I dream about that possibility more often than I should haha but this book does make you think about the fact that we are all in this planet together!