196 reviews for:

Beggars in Spain

Nancy Kress

3.84 AVERAGE


Mesmerizing. Almost like 3 books in 1? Don't think I need to read the sequels, but I adored this one.

I was reminded of this novel because I read an article on a woman who can't forget anything. This book is about people who don't have to sleep. Fascinating.

Some interesting concepts explored here—rationalism, utopianism, separatism, eugenics, biopower, the alleged struggle of brilliance—but it didn't grab me the way I had hoped. 2.5 stars rounded up
dark mysterious sad slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
challenging reflective slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The principle concept in the story is genetic engineering has lead to the "customizing" of kids including removing the need to sleep. These "sleepless" kids are smarter, and live longer, plus are more emotionly stable. Though stable doesn't really mean sane. The book itself turns into a series of events in the main characters life dealing with issues between the sleepless and sleepers (normal folks) about those being bias against the sleepless and the sleepless who think they deserve so much more. The book was drawn out and preachy with lengthly speeches by certain characters that were even tedious in audio format. I am not sure if I want to listen or read book 2 or 3
dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Fascinating story! Intriguing ideas about human nature wrapped in a sci-fi book—just mystical enough to encourage analysis without feeling too attacked. Most of me was completely focused while reading, because there were so many lessons and unreliable narrators.

The other part of me was reading this and desperately wishing that I was a Sleepless.

I would make my child a sleepless. Even a first generation.
hopeful reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Ostensibly a book asking the question “what if a small middle class group of the population didn’t need sleep and where 1/3rd more productive”, this books delves into fantastic questions about community vs the individual and the nature of thought. 

The characters were hard to love but the idea was so well realized Instill can’t stop thinking about it.