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jacqueline234's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
misslisa11's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Book 59 of 2024: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Roaming through New York City at 3AM, April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship—like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor—April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world—from Beijing to Buenos Aires—and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight. Seizing the opportunity to make her mark on the world, April now has to deal with the consequences her new particular brand of fame has on her relationships, her safety, and her own identity. And all eyes are on April to figure out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.
@bookishswiftiesclub May read! This wasn’t a book that I would normally pick up but it was definitely entertaining. April was a really layered character and made a great protagonist as the reader got to see her navigating the Carl phenomenon and young adulthood together. She was snarky but also very real. I liked how the book approached first contact with an alien life force in the context of social media. The book was fast-paced and very easy to read and follow for a sci-fi story. I kept wanting to read to see what would happen next! This was a fun and quick read that lovers of modern media and sci-fi will enjoy!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Roaming through New York City at 3AM, April May stumbles across a giant sculpture. Delighted by its appearance and craftsmanship—like a ten-foot-tall Transformer wearing a suit of samurai armor—April and her best friend, Andy, make a video with it, which Andy uploads to YouTube. The next day, April wakes up to a viral video and a new life. News quickly spreads that there are Carls in dozens of cities around the world—from Beijing to Buenos Aires—and April, as their first documentarian, finds herself at the center of an intense international media spotlight. Seizing the opportunity to make her mark on the world, April now has to deal with the consequences her new particular brand of fame has on her relationships, her safety, and her own identity. And all eyes are on April to figure out not just what the Carls are, but what they want from us.
@bookishswiftiesclub May read! This wasn’t a book that I would normally pick up but it was definitely entertaining. April was a really layered character and made a great protagonist as the reader got to see her navigating the Carl phenomenon and young adulthood together. She was snarky but also very real. I liked how the book approached first contact with an alien life force in the context of social media. The book was fast-paced and very easy to read and follow for a sci-fi story. I kept wanting to read to see what would happen next! This was a fun and quick read that lovers of modern media and sci-fi will enjoy!
iheartfratlife's review
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.0
thefantasticalworldofsara's review
5.0
I avoided reading this book for awhile because I wasn't sure if it was something I was going to like (despite all the good reviews it was getting from people who's opinions I trust) and DANG IT!!! I should have read it sooner because it was AWESOME!!!
It's a book that talks about so many interesting things and does it in such a fascinating way; First contact with aliens, fame, addiction to social media, the news, Hank covers one hell of a lot. I found his portrayal and discussion of fame particularly interesting especially because I feel like stories of fame are often only shown in one way (ie. being famous is hard because it's hard so I'm going to drink a lot and take a lot of drugs). The idea that fame is weird and addicting and about power probably occurred to me in a subconscious way but I had never really actively thought of it that way before.
Also, THE MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE!!!!!! It was wonderfully paced and I am incredibly eager for his next book and where we chooses to take it.
I'm going to end this by saying: I hope this is a book that's read and analyzed in schools because there is a lot to unpack in it and I'm curious how teens would interpret some of the ideas in here!
Please go read this book!!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
pps. At the end of his acknowledgment section he mentions people who work at bookstores and I nearly cried
It's a book that talks about so many interesting things and does it in such a fascinating way; First contact with aliens, fame, addiction to social media, the news, Hank covers one hell of a lot. I found his portrayal and discussion of fame particularly interesting especially because I feel like stories of fame are often only shown in one way (ie. being famous is hard because it's hard so I'm going to drink a lot and take a lot of drugs). The idea that fame is weird and addicting and about power probably occurred to me in a subconscious way but I had never really actively thought of it that way before.
Also, THE MYSTERY AND INTRIGUE!!!!!! It was wonderfully paced and I am incredibly eager for his next book and where we chooses to take it.
I'm going to end this by saying: I hope this is a book that's read and analyzed in schools because there is a lot to unpack in it and I'm curious how teens would interpret some of the ideas in here!
Please go read this book!!
ps. The views expressed in this review are my own and do not reflect the views of Indigo Books & Music Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.
pps. At the end of his acknowledgment section he mentions people who work at bookstores and I nearly cried
audreylynn14's review against another edition
5.0
I flew through this book. Wow, I am so sad it took me so long to read this book. It's amazing and intriguing.
iotstorm's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
amandadelbrocco's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I really loved the plot of this but I HATED EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER SO MUCH. I wanted the story from someone else's point of view.
gouricanread's review against another edition
4.0
I love how well researched it was. I found April May stuck up, but April May found herself stuck up. So we were on okay terms.
I loved how human all of these characters felt. I love how it all came together. All the books that I had read this month made me feel like I was reading about things that weren't real due to the way they were written or made. But this was so unlike that.
I love that I was finally reading a well researched book after going through tones of usual YA crap.
I love that this book was not about a romantic relationship and the "relationships" that did form eventually were not even subplots.
I love Carl and I love Hank Green. I like that his way of writing turned out nothing like that of John Green's ( I did love TATWD though!) .
Looking forward to the second book.
I loved how human all of these characters felt. I love how it all came together. All the books that I had read this month made me feel like I was reading about things that weren't real due to the way they were written or made. But this was so unlike that.
I love that I was finally reading a well researched book after going through tones of usual YA crap.
I love that this book was not about a romantic relationship and the "relationships" that did form eventually were not even subplots.
I love Carl and I love Hank Green. I like that his way of writing turned out nothing like that of John Green's ( I did love TATWD though!) .
Looking forward to the second book.
shannonohannessian's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
This book had an interesting concept and was entertaining from start to finish, but the main character is one of the most annoying that I have ever read. Redeemed itself slightly with the ending.
This book had an interesting concept and was entertaining from start to finish, but the main character is one of the most annoying that I have ever read. Redeemed itself slightly with the ending.
jowithtwoiis's review against another edition
3.0
When I was reading it I enjoyed it but I also didn't feel that pull to pick it back up right away to find out what was going on. I might try reading it again later but right now? Meh. DNF