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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Overall I liked it, though the world felt a little hollow. Good set dressing with very little holding it up. Definitely not the next Neuromancer, or the next thing in a post-cyberpunk landscape, but definitely worth reading.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
4/5
This book was simply fab. Tendeka is a revolutionary plotting a revolt. Letaro is a corporate schemer. Kendra is a struggling artist who gets addicted to Ghost, and Toby is a young whippersnapper who schmoozes all around the city. The complex weaving of these 4 people's lives into each other is something else. And Lauren Beukes gives each character their own personality that comes sparkling through on the page.
This book was simply fab. Tendeka is a revolutionary plotting a revolt. Letaro is a corporate schemer. Kendra is a struggling artist who gets addicted to Ghost, and Toby is a young whippersnapper who schmoozes all around the city. The complex weaving of these 4 people's lives into each other is something else. And Lauren Beukes gives each character their own personality that comes sparkling through on the page.
Got about a third of the way through this and realized it wasn't for me.
I've had this book on my to read list forever and finally got around to it. Boy am I glad I did. The liberal use of argot and shifting perspectives can be annoying for some readers, though I'm not one of those so I really liked that aspect of the book. The story was fast-paced and a new enough take on corporate dystopia that it didn't feel particularly derivative.
There were a few moments of imperfection in the tale that as an editor I would have cut but overall it was a fun, entertaining and thought-provoking read. I'm going to have to find her next book, now.
There were a few moments of imperfection in the tale that as an editor I would have cut but overall it was a fun, entertaining and thought-provoking read. I'm going to have to find her next book, now.
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really, this is 2.5 stars for me. And I think it's probably 5 stars for some other readers: the author is clever and knows how to weave a story but I really don't like books where I don't like most of the characters. The only one who isn't a jerk is Kendra, and she's a bit bland. The basics of the story that tell the parable of runaway classism in a brutal corporatocracy are good and I appreciate the afterward where Beukes explains the real-life inspirations for the main elements, but having to suffer through 3 jerks and a bland person's perceptions of it wasn't what I wanted. I think that this story could have been told very well with some kind of lookers on who observed what the main characters were going through.
I found this to be a quick and easy read but I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters, good or bad. I would have preferred to have heard the story through a third person narrative. The first person narratives I found to be clunky, especially where dialogue was concerned. The superficial aspects of the story actually fit the plot as the story focuses on controlling and being controlled by technology and techie gadgets. The ending was very abrupt, it felt like it came out of nowhere, and suddenly all ends are tied. I'd definitely like to read more by Lauren Beukes. The energy she brings to the page drew me in and there are some vivid images that will stay a while. The premise of The Shining Girls has me intrigued so I think that will be my next Beukes.