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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Cool story about what happens if you remove the need for sleep, and it gives other benefits as well? I didn't buy all the economics, but it's a more fun look at objectivist philosophy and space stations and the advantages of intellect vs compassion and what happens when you have too much of either.
A lot of the books I read don't really cause me to think and ponder about the themes presented. This was one of the few that did. It's an examination of community and duty and the changing definition of "other", through the conceit of a class of people genetically modified to no longer need sleep.
The craft of this tale was lovely; full of highly-relatable characters who I was always interested in hearing from. The tale is truly much more about the social constructs of these people than scientific detail, which is a good thing.
Here's to reading more books in 2020! 4 of 5 stars.
The craft of this tale was lovely; full of highly-relatable characters who I was always interested in hearing from. The tale is truly much more about the social constructs of these people than scientific detail, which is a good thing.
Here's to reading more books in 2020! 4 of 5 stars.
hopeful
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoying this so far despite the unfortunate Angelina Jolie-esque circa Hackers face on the cover...
This was great and so smart. Kress takes the premise--of humans genetically modified not to sleep--and shows how prejudice and politics mount in the lives of the Sleepless, who possess superior intelligence to boot, and the Sleepers, who are slowly outclassed. It stretches the premise in plausible ways while telling a compelling story with three-dimensional characters. Really, really impressive and thought-provoking.
my booktalk video
This was great and so smart. Kress takes the premise--of humans genetically modified not to sleep--and shows how prejudice and politics mount in the lives of the Sleepless, who possess superior intelligence to boot, and the Sleepers, who are slowly outclassed. It stretches the premise in plausible ways while telling a compelling story with three-dimensional characters. Really, really impressive and thought-provoking.
my booktalk video
Beggars in Spain is a bit like a sci-fi version of Animal Farm, with some interesting information about the workings of the brain thrown in. You'll think about economics, human society, American history, and more --- the book is definitely thought-provoking.
The first quarter really sucked me in, but then we jumped ahead a couple of decades and added some more characters. By the time I was into that new world, another jump, and then later another jump. Intellectually, the four time frames of the book really worked, but it made the book less riveting for me. I think that what I would have liked better was to have each quarter of the book be a bit more fleshed out and really be a separate book, turning this one book into a four part series.
The first quarter really sucked me in, but then we jumped ahead a couple of decades and added some more characters. By the time I was into that new world, another jump, and then later another jump. Intellectually, the four time frames of the book really worked, but it made the book less riveting for me. I think that what I would have liked better was to have each quarter of the book be a bit more fleshed out and really be a separate book, turning this one book into a four part series.
Terrifically interesting premise, but Kress seems to lose track of what she's working with. By the second half of the book the story becomes thematically confused. It meanders through time and eventually trails off into formulaic, operatic, early-90s sci-fi. I would give it two and a half stars for creativity and a truly authentic-feeling main character, but must choose between two or three stars, and so will give it two.
I'm of two minds on this one - on one hand this is a fascinating discussion of political, social, & economical ramifications of creating a genetic upper class. On the other hand, the plot & characters themselves left a lot to be desired.
I'd give the first half 10 stars if I could, but the second half lagged for me. I regretted any time spent away from Leisha.
A very good sf novel (though I'm not a great judge of sf).
A very good sf novel (though I'm not a great judge of sf).