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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
I read this with JP and we commented to each other on our impressions. I SO enjoyed that! I do really enjoy Neal Stephanson, who delights, confuses and makes me think--all at once.
So JP and i agree that nano-technology is a serious threat to humanity. Read this and think.
So JP and i agree that nano-technology is a serious threat to humanity. Read this and think.
Stephenson tends to get bogged down in unnecessary details, it's true. But, he keeps that to a minimum (well, compared to, say, Cryptonomicon), and the story is interesting. There are times when it veers wildly off course, but it's worth slogging through the goofy parts.
the diamond age is amazing and frustrating at the same time. the world he creates and the ideas he explores are 2nd to none but the rabbit holes and tangents can be very trying. compared to most of his books his left turns and payed off better then usual but along the way i was really losing patience. i guess in some ways you could say that there is something for everybody in his books and the diamond age will probably piss you off at some point but at the end of the day the journey was unforgettable and the ideas explored were awe inspiring
Honestly, I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. Characters are strong and well drawn, plot is intricate, but mostly clear. Overall, very readable. Explores some interesting themes around education, economics, social life and what it means to be human.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
God allmite.
Still shocked I enjoyed this as much as I did but it just goes to show it's sometimes nice to step out of one's comfort zone and trust a friend with a recommendation. I did find small parts of the narrative a bit weaker and less engaging, hence the dropped star, but all in all this was really good - fantastic plot building, really interesting and three-dimensional characters, and, best of all - technological advances that even someone who rarely reads any sci-fi literature can wrap her head around.
The beginning of the book...totally amazing. Its worth reading just because it is so cool. But the last part of the book starts getting sloppy. Some parts of the story start feeling entirely artificial and the end is pretty unsatisfying. But it is still a fun read.
Probably my second favorite Stephenson - an exciting and powerful coming of age story.
I'm slowly making my way through some of the well-known, sci-fi authors, exploring beyond fantasy. This was the first Stephenson I tackled. As with Asimov and Hamilton and Gibson, it took me some time to get into it. Once I am emotionally invested in the characters, I'm able to appreciate more facets of the usual sci-fi work -- descriptions of society, the word, the politics, the technology, etc. I am surprised at how much I enjoyed this. The pace, plot and characters were all awesome, but it was really the ending that pushed this one to five stars. Seeing Nell evolve from a toddler to young adult ... Hackworth and Miranda and Carl are all so well done. Absolutely loved it.