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3.31 AVERAGE
3.31 AVERAGE
Like all Amor Towles books, I did not want this to end — intriguing premise. Hopefully it will get spun out into a limited tv series.
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This was.. just weird. Mentions of "genetic nudging" or being able to choose how your child "leans" into their personality, aptitudes, and behaviors. The idea of being able to choose your child in itself is crazy - but being able to mold them even further is even more terrifying.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Generally, I have really liked the stories in the Forward collection, but this one just left me mystified. I never quite grasped the point, and when it stopped, I was left wanting to shake the book and find where the missing section went. I also did not enjoy the narration on this one – the narrator sounded both rushed and bored at the same time, at least to my ears.
The first half was interesting but it fell flat for me in the end, I guess I was expecting a more mind-boggling conclusion. Placed 6th out of the 6 books in the collection for me.
This short is a thought-provoking story highlighting the ethical conundrum of genetic manipulation in unborn children with the selection of "desirable" traits as determined by the parents. Eugenics 2.0 if you will. In that the process also takes on the nurture side of human development, it sheds light on those aspects of our lives we haven't closely examined. Self-revelation is a bitch. Sam's presentation in the last scene is rather TMI, but I think it vividly illustrates the author's point - taking back our lives with the knowledge that we are who we are through both the good and the bad.
The first half was very interesting. Then the second half felt like a different book to me. Meh.