Reviews - A Brief History of Living Forever

81 reviews for:

A Brief History of Living Forever

Jaroslav Kalfař

3.7 AVERAGE

mynameisrebecca's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

pollysioux's review against another edition

4.0

reflective

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ostensibly a sci-fi work about different ways to maintain some type of life after life, the undercurrent is strong and dark, an evisceration of extreme capitalism and the jingoism that is rampant in the United States. This book made me reconsider my career and my impact on the world around me.

quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition

3.0

Book Summary:

In a future not as distant as we'd like, the world is heavily focused on the idea of living forever. Combined with the increased risk of surveillance, everyone lives in constant anxiety. (Feel familiar?)

Adéla is perhaps one of the few not focused on living forever. This is fortunate, given her recent terminal diagnosis. Now she's on a quest to find her daughter, whom she gave up many decades ago. What follows will be a surprise to everyone.

My Review:

I'll be the first to say that I think now was the wrong time for me to read a book like A Brief History of Living Forever. I'm currently dealing with two significant losses in my life, which made this book hit heavier – for better and for worse.

Honestly, I am happy to have read it, even if it wasn't quite the book I wanted (needed?). I hope my sentiment makes sense here. I love the overall concept – a near (and dark) future with realistic scenarios twisted to a more sci-fi extreme. It's my jam!

If there's one thing you can count on with A Brief History of Living Forever, it will make you stop and think. I mean it – I think I sat there for probably twenty minutes just processing everything I had read.

Highlights:
Storytelling Style
Dystopia
Emotional

Trigger Warnings:
Terminal Illness
Family Separation

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