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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The deeply unsatisfying ending to this came up in a conversation, and I decided to reread it (again). The ending is still deeply unsatisfying. Just as it's starting to get really interesting, it's over. Still a great book, though.
This was supposedly a "young adult" book by the author who wrote Anathem. However, within a few pages, it had already clobbered me with the "f" word. So I'm not reading it. I'm disappointed. Sigh.
Normally when I start either reading, or in this case listening, to a Stephenson book I have trouble putting it down until I finish.
I first tried reading this book in the 90s when it was first released and it just didn't hold my interest. I picked it up a couple more times over the decades with similar results.
Even in audiobook form, I had trouble getting through it.
I enjoyed the concept and ideas but it felt disjointed and still had difficulty making it through the last third and it ended just when the story seemed to be coming back on track.
It gets three stars entirely due to the overarching ideas, the world-building, and exploration of nano-tech.
Otherwise, it would be 1 1/2.
I first tried reading this book in the 90s when it was first released and it just didn't hold my interest. I picked it up a couple more times over the decades with similar results.
Even in audiobook form, I had trouble getting through it.
I enjoyed the concept and ideas but it felt disjointed and still had difficulty making it through the last third and it ended just when the story seemed to be coming back on track.
It gets three stars entirely due to the overarching ideas, the world-building, and exploration of nano-tech.
Otherwise, it would be 1 1/2.
Reading a book by Stephenson is a full throttle intellectual pursuit. You can race thru pages and then suddenly you feel like you have been in the mental ring with a Mensa scholar. This is a great book but there are so many concepts and discussions flying that sometimes I found myself putting the book down just to regroup. I am not too comfortable with how Stephenson illustrates the passage of time but that is on of his peccadillos that you just get used to. An engaging look at what we may become.
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:
No
A captivating coming of age story about a young girl in a future where every basic need can be made in a matter compiler.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Racism
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape
I really enjoyed this book, especially the middle third of it. It is a complete world, believable and fascinating. The protagonists are likable. The story threads are interesting. Stephenson spends alot of time at the end of this novel contemplating the nature of the machine and how mankind will eventually be symbiotic/equivalent with/to it.
The first Part was pretty cool, With this mix of steampunk and Mario World (Nintendo), but I found the second Part boring and I was Looking Forward to the end.... that was a pity!
La prima parte Mi é piaciuta molto con questo mischietto di Steampunk e Mario World. La seconda parte invece Mi hä annoiato molto e non vedevo CHE FINISSE.
La prima parte Mi é piaciuta molto con questo mischietto di Steampunk e Mario World. La seconda parte invece Mi hä annoiato molto e non vedevo CHE FINISSE.