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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
Read for the novel horizons meeting on Afrofuturism.
Really only read the title story and listened to the song it was based on, Dirty Computer.
Really only read the title story and listened to the song it was based on, Dirty Computer.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Unapologetically queer and hopeful fiction with urgent things to say, but not didactic. Janelle Monáe is an accomplished storyteller in the medium of the concept album. In this book, she collaborates with five fiction writers to create stories set in the dystopian world of her album Dirty Computer. Dystopian fiction is often a genre of resistance and hope, and that’s the case here. The authors recognize the messiness of human nature: even in communities of peace and mutual aid, characters find fear and hate and betrayal. But these stories challenge us to imagine the world that can be, if we create it. As Mx. Tangee says in the final story, “They don’t own the future.”
Something about the way it is written just didn't keep me.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The last 3 stories were really good!
Honestly I'm surprised I didn't like this. I like the album Dirty Computer. I like Dirty Computer the Emotion Picture. I like Janelle Monae... but this was not a good book. I DNF. The first story was ok, but overly poetic with too much simile and metaphor to flow. The second story read like bad fan fiction with a totally unbelievable plot line. I mean if New Dawn has taken over everything where is the Pink Hotel even getting the clothing they salvage.. and like how are they handling basic survival things like obtaining FOOD. I could not suspend my disbelief enough to keep reading.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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:
No
The Memory librarian is a book where there is so much meaning in each of the stories and I was only able to see some of it. This is a novel that's a tie-in to Janelle Monáe's album Dirty Computer.
Overall my enjoyment of the various stories differed. I found the title story actually the hardest to get into and it stopped me from continuing on in the book a few times. The story still had a lot of interesting ideas, so if anyone else is encountering anything similar, I suggest either pushing through or getting the audiobook as then you can just let it play.
My favorite story was Nevermind, especially the sections with Neer and Bat and the discussions of womanhood and who fit within it.
Overall my enjoyment of the various stories differed. I found the title story actually the hardest to get into and it stopped me from continuing on in the book a few times. The story still had a lot of interesting ideas, so if anyone else is encountering anything similar, I suggest either pushing through or getting the audiobook as then you can just let it play.
My favorite story was Nevermind, especially the sections with Neer and Bat and the discussions of womanhood and who fit within it.
These stories hit on some important themes, but so heavily that it sometimes took away from the freshness of the storytelling. But I'm always happy to support Janelle Monae in a new creative endeavor, and I'm excited to see what she does from here!
3.5 + I tend to round up on star ratings. Spoiler-ish...
Overall, I liked these short dystopian/sci-fi stories. I thought the characters felt tangible, the vibe was right and the collection of stories complemented each other in building the New Dawn/"Dirty Computer" world. I didn't love how heavy-handed the theming is though. The old adage is "show, don't tell," and it's like Monae got the "show" part right, but not the "**don't** tell" part.
For example, when the villain in the Pynk House is revealed, all the characters gather around her and detail all the ways she wrongly defines feminism and womanhood. We already saw all this play out in the story, maybe a final line would've been better than pages of pointed dialogue?
In the last story, the characters are told explicitly and repeatedly that to move forward they must **remember,** because, you know, Nevermind is the bad drug that erases memory, and the opposite is remembering. Yes, got it.
Also, minor complaint: I find a few things a little cheesy. Pynk instead of Pink. Most of the names of the characters in the "Pynk House" story are shortened versions of what they do so Pel = A Capella, Neer = Engineer, Gui = Guitar, Bat = Combat. Not book, but just using the phrase "emotion picture..."
Overall, I liked these short dystopian/sci-fi stories. I thought the characters felt tangible, the vibe was right and the collection of stories complemented each other in building the New Dawn/"Dirty Computer" world. I didn't love how heavy-handed the theming is though. The old adage is "show, don't tell," and it's like Monae got the "show" part right, but not the "**don't** tell" part.
For example, when the villain in the Pynk House is revealed, all the characters gather around her and detail all the ways she wrongly defines feminism and womanhood. We already saw all this play out in the story, maybe a final line would've been better than pages of pointed dialogue?
In the last story, the characters are told explicitly and repeatedly that to move forward they must **remember,** because, you know, Nevermind is the bad drug that erases memory, and the opposite is remembering. Yes, got it.
Also, minor complaint: I find a few things a little cheesy. Pynk instead of Pink. Most of the names of the characters in the "Pynk House" story are shortened versions of what they do so Pel = A Capella, Neer = Engineer, Gui = Guitar, Bat = Combat. Not book, but just using the phrase "emotion picture..."
It didn't keep my attention. Janelle Monae's voice is amazing but way too monotone.