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mhah's review against another edition
4.0
A story about an overly sensible future.
Loved this. Its sci-fi prospects captures you and by the end its story all comes falling down beautifully.
Loved this. Its sci-fi prospects captures you and by the end its story all comes falling down beautifully.
manondragon's review against another edition
2.0
Euh, bon, c'est long au démarrage, ça part un peu dans tout les sens et les remarque sur l'autisme sont plus que limites ...
C'est dommage, ça aurait pu être une belle critique de notre monde capitaliste mais je ne trouve pas ça très aboutit ...
C'est dommage, ça aurait pu être une belle critique de notre monde capitaliste mais je ne trouve pas ça très aboutit ...
doritobabe's review
5.0
A solid 4.5/5 stars for Magnason's LoveStar.
I would have given the novel a 5/5 but there was one part in the book that gave me pause and that I didn't entirely like, so off goes half a point!
LoveStar is one of those blind reads for me: I saw it on a shelf in the library and the title (since the cover is so minimalist) partnered with the fact that it is an Icelandic translation AND has won awards made me dive right in without any further ado.
LoveStar follows two narratives: one of Indridi and Sigrid, two star-crossed lovers and normal people and Orvar Lovestar, a megalomaniacal business-owner who has taken over the world through his various Love-enterprises in the name of personal freedom. Interestingly, this "freedom" is all an illusion as everyone in the novel's version of the world, including Lovestar himself, is a victim of marketing and money schemes.
Indridi and Sigrid are in love, but aren't supposed to be. In this world, people are calculated with their soulmates as a way to promote peace and work against nationalist agendas, and during their relationship, Sigrid was calculated away from Indridi (plot #1). Plot #2 is focused around Lovestar and the creation of the Love-monopoly: inLove, iStar, LoveDeath, and newly discovered: LoveGod. (If this isn't obvious satire or social commentary, I don't know what is.)
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking read in the same vein as Vonnegut or even Philip K Dick (although infinitely more readable than Dick, but perhaps this is because it is translated). Would recommend for anyone who would like to think about contemporary society and where it may be headed (or expected to head by the writer pre-translation of 2012) with technological and social advancements at the forefront.
Would recommend as a thought provoking piece.
I would have given the novel a 5/5 but there was one part in the book that gave me pause and that I didn't entirely like, so off goes half a point!
LoveStar is one of those blind reads for me: I saw it on a shelf in the library and the title (since the cover is so minimalist) partnered with the fact that it is an Icelandic translation AND has won awards made me dive right in without any further ado.
LoveStar follows two narratives: one of Indridi and Sigrid, two star-crossed lovers and normal people and Orvar Lovestar, a megalomaniacal business-owner who has taken over the world through his various Love-enterprises in the name of personal freedom. Interestingly, this "freedom" is all an illusion as everyone in the novel's version of the world, including Lovestar himself, is a victim of marketing and money schemes.
Indridi and Sigrid are in love, but aren't supposed to be. In this world, people are calculated with their soulmates as a way to promote peace and work against nationalist agendas, and during their relationship, Sigrid was calculated away from Indridi (plot #1). Plot #2 is focused around Lovestar and the creation of the Love-monopoly: inLove, iStar, LoveDeath, and newly discovered: LoveGod. (If this isn't obvious satire or social commentary, I don't know what is.)
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking read in the same vein as Vonnegut or even Philip K Dick (although infinitely more readable than Dick, but perhaps this is because it is translated). Would recommend for anyone who would like to think about contemporary society and where it may be headed (or expected to head by the writer pre-translation of 2012) with technological and social advancements at the forefront.
Would recommend as a thought provoking piece.
lddlb's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lauryz's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
diego_duguo's review against another edition
3.0
Næstum því tvær stjörnur. Síðustu 70 bls komu henni rétt svo í þrjár. Mig grunar að endurlestur gerir hana betri.
alex_renee_is_reading_away's review against another edition
4.0
Started out a bit slow, but got very engaging. It's very scifi, but a little Romeo and Juliet vibes. Also, if you have been to Iceland or lived there, you will appreciate the local references.
fredlanthier's review against another edition
3.0
J'ai bien aimé l'ambiance au début du roman, mais celle-ci devient un peu loufoque vers la fin.
Ça m'a un petit peu perdu malheureusement.
Mais le concept de Lovestar et la société créée est géniale!
Ça m'a un petit peu perdu malheureusement.
Mais le concept de Lovestar et la société créée est géniale!
torpot2255's review against another edition
4.0
This book gives a futuristic look at society, where people are cordless and controlled by technology (much like now lol). Interesting concepts are interlaced throughout, like extravagant rocket burials, human advertisements, and calculated love interests at the hands of the government.
I enjoyed it
I enjoyed it