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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Complicated
SECOND READ NOVEMBER 2023
Reading this feels almost nostalgic, maybe because it's so much more optimistic than most other things I've consumed recently.
FIRST READ JULY 2020
This is certainly the "I need a moment after finishing this" type of book, not unlike the first book of the series.
I'm having a hard time coming up with specific reasons why I love The Carls duology so much because in so many ways they just are, well, exactly my thing, whatever that is. I love sci-fi a lot, especially sci-fi that asks how humanity would react to a new thing (that isn't a boring as alien invasion) and how our society would look like in the future. This series has more of the first but also some of the second, because the books take place basically now but just so slightly in the future that everything technology-related makes more sense.
Another thing I'm very interested in is discussions about social media and fame, and boy, there's basically as much of that in this book as in An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. There's a lot of talk about power and doing the good thing and being in public and being a brand and all of these things are incredibly fascinating to me. I feel like Hank Green really knows what he's writing about and these (especially in fiction) rarely discussed topics just fit so perfectly into this story about society and aliens, great!
There's also a lot more science in this book than in the first one and I'm living for it. I feel like Hank Green gave each of his characters one or two of his many interests and Miranda got the chemistry bit and I love it. I'm also really satisfied with how the different point of view characters were portrayed. Every one of them is so unique and complex and their stories interact in wonderful ways. I do feel like Hank Green did not get the memo about what you are allowed do to your protagonist(s), because, damn, there were some deeply horrifying moments in A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor (they all made sense, though).
Despite all the horrible things happening to the protagonists and the world, this is still a really hopeful book. I think there are some carefully placed and some very obvious messages about humanity and our actions, our future, in there and I think especially the way Carl talked about "us" was really interesting. I don't think any of the people in this book "got it right" or has any solution to our predicaments, but that doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile thinking about it.
Also, I’m sure this book hits differently now than it would have in another year. I’m quite certain that there are some sentences or words Hank Green would have used less or not at all if he’d had the chance to change them but isn’t it also fascinating how the world can change so quickly that we now experience a book differently? In a way, 2020 has made this book even more topical than it already was.
Reading this feels almost nostalgic, maybe because it's so much more optimistic than most other things I've consumed recently.
FIRST READ JULY 2020
This is certainly the "I need a moment after finishing this" type of book, not unlike the first book of the series.
I'm having a hard time coming up with specific reasons why I love The Carls duology so much because in so many ways they just are, well, exactly my thing, whatever that is. I love sci-fi a lot, especially sci-fi that asks how humanity would react to a new thing (that isn't a boring as alien invasion) and how our society would look like in the future. This series has more of the first but also some of the second, because the books take place basically now but just so slightly in the future that everything technology-related makes more sense.
Another thing I'm very interested in is discussions about social media and fame, and boy, there's basically as much of that in this book as in An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. There's a lot of talk about power and doing the good thing and being in public and being a brand and all of these things are incredibly fascinating to me. I feel like Hank Green really knows what he's writing about and these (especially in fiction) rarely discussed topics just fit so perfectly into this story about society and aliens, great!
There's also a lot more science in this book than in the first one and I'm living for it. I feel like Hank Green gave each of his characters one or two of his many interests and Miranda got the chemistry bit and I love it. I'm also really satisfied with how the different point of view characters were portrayed. Every one of them is so unique and complex and their stories interact in wonderful ways. I do feel like Hank Green did not get the memo about what you are allowed do to your protagonist(s), because, damn, there were some deeply horrifying moments in A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor (they all made sense, though).
Despite all the horrible things happening to the protagonists and the world, this is still a really hopeful book. I think there are some carefully placed and some very obvious messages about humanity and our actions, our future, in there and I think especially the way Carl talked about "us" was really interesting. I don't think any of the people in this book "got it right" or has any solution to our predicaments, but that doesn't mean that it's not worthwhile thinking about it.
Also, I’m sure this book hits differently now than it would have in another year. I’m quite certain that there are some sentences or words Hank Green would have used less or not at all if he’d had the chance to change them but isn’t it also fascinating how the world can change so quickly that we now experience a book differently? In a way, 2020 has made this book even more topical than it already was.
“You will always struggle with not feeling productive until you accept that your own joy can be something you produce. It is not the only thing you will make, nor should it be, but it is something valuable and beautiful.”
4.5 stars ** I felt like this sequel surpassed its predecessor in terms of story/plot -- lots of twists and turns throughout. It gets more technical and explores many human issues. Andy is just so unlikable, but I think that's part of the point.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Given how entertaining and enjoyable I found the first book, I was disappointed with this sequel. It possibly might have sat better if I had re-read the first book first, as there wasn't much of a recap. There was a lot commentary on society, investing and social media, which felt like unsolicted advice at times. This may have irked me more as an older reader, and the intended YA audience may not have be bothered by this.
Each chapter was important to the overall story, and there's nothing wrong per say with the story, it just didn't have the novelty and enthusiasm of the first.
Each chapter was important to the overall story, and there's nothing wrong per say with the story, it just didn't have the novelty and enthusiasm of the first.
I liked this one better than An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. It felt less preachy, or maybe I'm just in a different headspace, or maybe Green is just preaching about different things. I enjoyed the story more, and April definitely was no longer living a charmed life! The characters each had a stronger voice and story of their own, even Carl.
informative
reflective
tense
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
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes