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m4rtt4's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Like Overstory, this book also gave me so much to think about — what is important in life, what even is life? It was also highly emotional and gave an interesting insight on raising a child on the spectrum. This book had so much potential, but it aimed too high. There were so much interesting concepts like decoded neurofeedback and the whole near-future dystopian world with all its catastrophes; it's almost criminal of Powers to create such future scenarios and only mention them in a single sentence, a fleeting moment. I was very intrigued at first, but I lost my interest more and more towards the ending because I knew that I'd never get the explanations I wanted. In that way the story kind of stayed true to itself, though — just like me, we as a society will never know enough about this world and all our answers might be wrong. The ending was lame, it was too dramatic for no reason and the results weren't even properly dealt with. the death of Robin was so unnecessary and didn't even give the story any emotional value as it was just quietly swept under the carpet — also you just can't end the book by him dying without even telling us the consequences?? just let him live, his death didn't even have the symbolic impact of 'we humans are doomed' as it probably was intended to.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Animal death, Ableism, Violence, Child death, Animal cruelty, and Car accident
alaina's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Utterly devastating and beautiful meditation on being a person who loves in a changing and challenging climate.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Deportation, Xenophobia, and Animal cruelty
Climate grief and environmental destruction are central to the story. Political division and the rise of fascism also present throughout.hwillustrator's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Child death
emcsquared's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Self harm
hippejulia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Aika masentava kuvaus jostain lähitulevaisuudesta joka ei edes ole ilmastokriisikuvauksillaan niin kauana todellisuudesta. Paikoitellen minusta vähän ableistinen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Car accident, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Ableism, and Mental illness
Minor: Medical content and Infidelity
jamesdavid's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, and Death of parent
booksinherhead's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I haven’t read something so destructive to my own happiness in a long time. But it was so so good.
BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers is not for the faint of heart--especially those who are sensitive to the climate crisis. But for those ready for an emotional novel--with high reward, this is the perfect read. This novel follows an astrobiologist named Theo as he navigates raising his sensitive son Robin in the aftermath of his wife's death. With the help of cutting edge technology and his wife's memory--Theo thinks he just might be able to raise Robin by himself. With lush scientific language and a poignant father-son dynamic, this novel is one to remember.
BEWILDERMENT by Richard Powers is not for the faint of heart--especially those who are sensitive to the climate crisis. But for those ready for an emotional novel--with high reward, this is the perfect read. This novel follows an astrobiologist named Theo as he navigates raising his sensitive son Robin in the aftermath of his wife's death. With the help of cutting edge technology and his wife's memory--Theo thinks he just might be able to raise Robin by himself. With lush scientific language and a poignant father-son dynamic, this novel is one to remember.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Car accident
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Seemingly unlike the masses, I didn’t love this one. My appreciation for it may have been affected by the dental work I was getting while listening to the audiobook, but who knows?
Theo and Robin are an interesting father-son duo. Robin is obsessed with animals, the environment, and doing what a nine-year-old can to save the world. He is also showing distressing symptoms of behavioral problems. He has outbursts, trouble reigning in his anger, and really just misses his mother.
At the heart of the novel is Theo. He loves his son and will do anything to keep safe, happy, and healthy—except medicate him.
So the story goes of Theo and Robin: their shared love for nature and Robin’s mom. The experimental program that helps Robin with science and his late mother’s soul. And the undeniable love between father and son.
It truly was a beautifully written novel, it just wasn’t the one for me.
Theo and Robin are an interesting father-son duo. Robin is obsessed with animals, the environment, and doing what a nine-year-old can to save the world. He is also showing distressing symptoms of behavioral problems. He has outbursts, trouble reigning in his anger, and really just misses his mother.
At the heart of the novel is Theo. He loves his son and will do anything to keep safe, happy, and healthy—except medicate him.
So the story goes of Theo and Robin: their shared love for nature and Robin’s mom. The experimental program that helps Robin with science and his late mother’s soul. And the undeniable love between father and son.
It truly was a beautifully written novel, it just wasn’t the one for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, and Death of parent