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bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars
I like fiction like this, where it's as readable as genre fiction but also has plenty of meat on its bones. That's not to say I'm opposed to reading purely for entertainment; that's something I often enjoy. But the books that tend to stick with me the most are those that make me think, and this was one of them. If I don't have to feel like I'm suffering on the road there, as some literary fiction makes me feel, all the better.
Anyone who has experience working in startups will probably get more from that aspect than I did. It was very clear to me it was partially a send up of that particular culture, and I appreciated it, but it wasn't what stuck with me the most. What did really stick with me were two themes: 1) the ways in which society will often make allowances for "genius", as if it's inevitable that genius requires harming others and/or stomping over them on the path to genius and 2) the compromises women are often required (or at least feel required) to make in order to concentrate on the things that really matter to them.
The first point interests me because I think it's a worthwhile moral question. I'm often bemused by the way society will excuse some seriously shitty behavior on the part of people (and, of course, they are almost always men) who run the gamut from terrible human beings to complete monsters, all in the name of sanctifying genius. It's as if society believes that as long as some good comes of it, it's probably okay for "visionaries" to be utter garbage human beings because greater good or something. Given our current political climate in the U.S. and given all the fallout from movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, I find it really hard that people still seem to think it's okay to defend the position that others must suffer in order for geniuses to do what they do. Shouldn't it maybe occur to people that those suffering might be geniuses of an even greater order, whose brilliance can't flourish because of the oppressive behavior of the supposed "visionary" they work for? Cyrus wasn't as terrible as some of the awful people making headlines lately, but he did plenty of terrible things, from minimizing his wife's contributions and robbing her of some of her agency to ignoring the advice and misgivings of others so he could feed his own ego. He was a good example of how having good intentions shouldn't excuse the bad things you do.
As for the second point, I wouldn't place all the blame on Cyrus. There were times when Asha acquiesced to Cyrus rather than standing up for herself, but it's also undeniable that there's such a cult of admiration surrounding Cyrus that the other people in their orbit would sometimes dismiss Asha in favor of doing what Cyrus wanted. I was particularly disturbed by the advice Mira offers her when Asha goes to her for advice. Again, I think this is reflective of society, as the U.S. is a culture that tends to not only reward but encourage hubris, and even when hubris proves to be the downfall of the person exemplifying it, society makes excuses. At some point I think we need to stop worshiping people simply because they exude confidence or an aura of competence and start looking more closely at the quality of the ideas they're presenting. I also think it's undeniable that Cyrus is given as much leeway as he is because he's a man. Had Asha behaved the way he did, she wouldn't have gotten away with anything close to what Cyrus is able to pull off.
I really appreciated the time I spent with this book and plan on looking for more from this author.
I like fiction like this, where it's as readable as genre fiction but also has plenty of meat on its bones. That's not to say I'm opposed to reading purely for entertainment; that's something I often enjoy. But the books that tend to stick with me the most are those that make me think, and this was one of them. If I don't have to feel like I'm suffering on the road there, as some literary fiction makes me feel, all the better.
Anyone who has experience working in startups will probably get more from that aspect than I did. It was very clear to me it was partially a send up of that particular culture, and I appreciated it, but it wasn't what stuck with me the most. What did really stick with me were two themes: 1) the ways in which society will often make allowances for "genius", as if it's inevitable that genius requires harming others and/or stomping over them on the path to genius and 2) the compromises women are often required (or at least feel required) to make in order to concentrate on the things that really matter to them.
The first point interests me because I think it's a worthwhile moral question. I'm often bemused by the way society will excuse some seriously shitty behavior on the part of people (and, of course, they are almost always men) who run the gamut from terrible human beings to complete monsters, all in the name of sanctifying genius. It's as if society believes that as long as some good comes of it, it's probably okay for "visionaries" to be utter garbage human beings because greater good or something. Given our current political climate in the U.S. and given all the fallout from movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter, I find it really hard that people still seem to think it's okay to defend the position that others must suffer in order for geniuses to do what they do. Shouldn't it maybe occur to people that those suffering might be geniuses of an even greater order, whose brilliance can't flourish because of the oppressive behavior of the supposed "visionary" they work for? Cyrus wasn't as terrible as some of the awful people making headlines lately, but he did plenty of terrible things, from minimizing his wife's contributions and robbing her of some of her agency to ignoring the advice and misgivings of others so he could feed his own ego. He was a good example of how having good intentions shouldn't excuse the bad things you do.
As for the second point, I wouldn't place all the blame on Cyrus. There were times when Asha acquiesced to Cyrus rather than standing up for herself, but it's also undeniable that there's such a cult of admiration surrounding Cyrus that the other people in their orbit would sometimes dismiss Asha in favor of doing what Cyrus wanted. I was particularly disturbed by the advice Mira offers her when Asha goes to her for advice. Again, I think this is reflective of society, as the U.S. is a culture that tends to not only reward but encourage hubris, and even when hubris proves to be the downfall of the person exemplifying it, society makes excuses. At some point I think we need to stop worshiping people simply because they exude confidence or an aura of competence and start looking more closely at the quality of the ideas they're presenting. I also think it's undeniable that Cyrus is given as much leeway as he is because he's a man. Had Asha behaved the way he did, she wouldn't have gotten away with anything close to what Cyrus is able to pull off.
I really appreciated the time I spent with this book and plan on looking for more from this author.
mollyhyland's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-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
4.0
em_r's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Wanted to like this more, it was a fun read for the most part but ultimately I found the MC lacking in self respect and integrity. This was disappointing because the blurb described it as a "blistering novel about big ambitions, speaking out and standing up for what you believe in". I think that the book could have focused more on friendship/family/self development (the latter of which was kinda crammed in at the end) rather than the anchor point of Asha and Cyrus. I was already sceptical of the romance aspect when Asha described being in love with him from school (aka being in one of his classes and never talking to him, seriously?) But when they reunite as adults it's rushed and, while they do get to know eachother more, ultimately the relationship didn't feel deep enough to root for.
I also thought the book could have taken a deeper look at the human penchant for ritual/separating it from organised religion (the basis of the social media platform the MC codes) than it did.
I also thought the book could have taken a deeper look at the human penchant for ritual/separating it from organised religion (the basis of the social media platform the MC codes) than it did.
quinn_fields's review against another edition
4.0
Will have to come back to review fully, but highly recommend!
seisha's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes I wonder whether the global publishing market has an almost magically sensitive barometer of the consumer's wants and wishes, as this was the exact book I had been searching for. A book with a female entrepreneur ánd programmer as its main character - this must be my lucky day. But perhaps I did the author a disservice by inflating my expectations and forming a preconceived notion of what the story should be, and inevitably disappointing myself a bit in the end.
The novel's strong suits were its insightful descriptions of the challenges, absurdities and rewards of the enigmatic startup world, likely based on the author's own experiences, and the power struggles the brilliant Asha faces with the person she held closest. The tragedy of a woman choosing her relationship over her company while loosing both in the process was a heart-breaking but engaging read.
This book seems to have an identity crisis, though. Is it a romantic novel? Is it literary fiction? A large part of the plot is too realistic for it to be a deliciously pulpy romance, while some plot points are too romanticised for it to be a literary novel, causing a confusing vicissitude of tones. This fact is most prominent in the ending, which was suddenly quite optimistic. Though Asha does gain the understanding she was partly to blame for being pushed out of the board by being too accommodating, the plot depends too much on Cyrus's sudden change of heart to make Asha CEO. It would have been enjoyable to see Asha learn to stand up for herself instead.
3.5 stars
The novel's strong suits were its insightful descriptions of the challenges, absurdities and rewards of the enigmatic startup world, likely based on the author's own experiences, and the power struggles the brilliant Asha faces with the person she held closest. The tragedy of a woman choosing her relationship over her company while loosing both in the process was a heart-breaking but engaging read.
This book seems to have an identity crisis, though. Is it a romantic novel? Is it literary fiction? A large part of the plot is too realistic for it to be a deliciously pulpy romance, while some plot points are too romanticised for it to be a literary novel, causing a confusing vicissitude of tones. This fact is most prominent in the ending, which was suddenly quite optimistic. Though Asha does gain the understanding she was partly to blame for being pushed out of the board by being too accommodating, the plot depends too much on Cyrus's sudden change of heart to make Asha CEO. It would have been enjoyable to see Asha learn to stand up for herself instead.
3.5 stars
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Asha is a bit of a typical pHD candidate coder..brilliant, sarcastic, socially awkward, and self-conscious... she is working on her pet project: an AI platform. Then she reconnects with her high school crush, Cyrus, an enigmatic guy who excels at creating personalized rituals for people. The two quickly decide to get married and, with their best friend Jules, create a start-up combining Asha's AI platform and Cyrus' knack for personalized rituals. They create kind of a new age alternative to social media. The trio rides the roller coaster of start-up life and all the related drama.
This book had a lot of dark humor and cynicism, which I appreciate, and having worked in high-tech for forever and ever, I enjoyed it. Parts of it, including the ending, fell slightly flat for me, though. I would read other stuff by the author, though. :)
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a lot of dark humor and cynicism, which I appreciate, and having worked in high-tech for forever and ever, I enjoyed it. Parts of it, including the ending, fell slightly flat for me, though. I would read other stuff by the author, though. :)
3.5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
melodys_library's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this more than I thought I would! It’s written from the first-person perspective of the main character Asha, and I grew to really like and empathize with her - especially with the stresses of being a woman of color in the male-dominated tech world.
saffron7's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
lastpaige111's review against another edition
5.0
I rate books highly, because as a writer, I appreciate the blood and tears that go into making them and how imperfect they are, just like their authors and readers, a meta-personification that makes cosmic sense.
Then, I come across a novel like this one and I falter. I have abused the five stars. I need to give this one six stars for its near perfection, for its heart and truth and incisive fearlessness. Where is the sixth star for the truly extraordinary, the boldly unique?
A visionary story of a visionary, with all the right feminist underpinnings, this story will stay with me as strongly as the chaos that serves as the deus ex machina for not just this story but also all of us limping along, fragile and worn, in 2021. Very few plots do stay with me, which can be embarrassing for an English professor. I am certain that this one, like Austen’s and Atwood’s and Kingsolver’s and Murdoch’s and Roy’s … this one will.
Then, I come across a novel like this one and I falter. I have abused the five stars. I need to give this one six stars for its near perfection, for its heart and truth and incisive fearlessness. Where is the sixth star for the truly extraordinary, the boldly unique?
A visionary story of a visionary, with all the right feminist underpinnings, this story will stay with me as strongly as the chaos that serves as the deus ex machina for not just this story but also all of us limping along, fragile and worn, in 2021. Very few plots do stay with me, which can be embarrassing for an English professor. I am certain that this one, like Austen’s and Atwood’s and Kingsolver’s and Murdoch’s and Roy’s … this one will.