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3.02 AVERAGE
3.02 AVERAGE
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
De Rosnay has a history of creating emotion in her writing and atmospheric settings that suck you into her stories. This book was no different. The mystery and paranoia Clarissa felt were palpable on the other side of the page and I was engrossed from the start to see how it would end. I didn’t love it as much as her other works but I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to friends. I look forward to more from her..
De Rosnay has a history of creating emotion in her writing and atmospheric settings that suck you into her stories. This book was no different. The mystery and paranoia Clarissa felt were palpable on the other side of the page and I was engrossed from the start to see how it would end. I didn’t love it as much as her other works but I did enjoy the book and would recommend it to friends. I look forward to more from her..
A little suspense and paranoia, with no actual danger, and way more talk of than I had ever expected to get.
Spoiler
sex robots
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book.
I had written a review (that was obviously amazing and insightful), but I mistakenly did not save it, so here is a condensed version of the review.
Set in the near future in Paris, this book has two threads, both centered around a Clarissa, a sixty-something year old (?) writer. One thread follows Clarissa's break up with her husband, Francois, and involves a slow reveal of the reason for Clarissa's departure from the marriage. The other involves Clarissa's experience in her new home (where she moved after leaving Francois) and the technology in the home that was monitoring most aspects of her life. The second thread was pretty good - Clarissa became more and more paranoid about the technology and its role in her life. The first thread is where the book kind of lost me. As some other reviewers have mentioned, about 75% of the way through the book, things veered off into the unexpected. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to inadvertently give a spoiler, but after that I felt that the second story line was kind of dropped and wasn't really resolved. I thought much of the book was very well written and it was a quick read and left me thinking about the role of technology in our lives. 2.5 stars.
I had written a review (that was obviously amazing and insightful), but I mistakenly did not save it, so here is a condensed version of the review.
Set in the near future in Paris, this book has two threads, both centered around a Clarissa, a sixty-something year old (?) writer. One thread follows Clarissa's break up with her husband, Francois, and involves a slow reveal of the reason for Clarissa's departure from the marriage. The other involves Clarissa's experience in her new home (where she moved after leaving Francois) and the technology in the home that was monitoring most aspects of her life. The second thread was pretty good - Clarissa became more and more paranoid about the technology and its role in her life. The first thread is where the book kind of lost me. As some other reviewers have mentioned, about 75% of the way through the book, things veered off into the unexpected. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to inadvertently give a spoiler, but after that I felt that the second story line was kind of dropped and wasn't really resolved. I thought much of the book was very well written and it was a quick read and left me thinking about the role of technology in our lives. 2.5 stars.
This is a brilliant book. I would describe it as a cross between "Brave New World" and 1984", but with a heart. As with all of her other work, Tatiana de Rosnay has penned a tale that is nearly impossible to put down. It is the story of author Clarissa Katsef, who finds herself at a crossroads in her life and seeks refuge in a brand new artists residency in the Paris of the future. Being accepted into this special residence for artists is a dream come true. But shortly after moving in, Clarissa begins to feel that thing are not as they should be. She starts to feel unwell, suffering from nightmares, weight loss, and the eerie feeling of being watched. Is she starting to suffer from the dementia that once plagued her mother? Or is something more sinister afoot? Highly recommended.
I decided to give Tatiana de Rosnay another chance because she is a good writer, plus I was in the mood for a suspense novel. I just wish I'd read Sarah's Key instead of this one because it's so claustrophobic and depressing. Maybe de Rosnay has been negatively affected by the lockdowns in Paris because there's definitely a nod to "the great reset, terrorist attacks, climate change, big tech privacy intrusion, and being lockdowned." Clarissa has chosen to give up her rights, especially her right to privacy, for high tech security.
I was interested in reading this book because the story's main character takes her pen name Clarissa from the title character of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. Each chapter begins with excerpts from Virginia Woolf's suicide note as well as French writer Romain Gary's suicide note (he was married to controversial American actress Jean Seberg). These quotes are more delightful than the story itself.
I liked the book for the most part, though, until I found out why Clarissa has left her husband and moved into the creepy modern apartment. It's so bad that I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Plus this dystopian tale rings a bit too true and more "now" than the near-future.
I was interested in reading this book because the story's main character takes her pen name Clarissa from the title character of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway. Each chapter begins with excerpts from Virginia Woolf's suicide note as well as French writer Romain Gary's suicide note (he was married to controversial American actress Jean Seberg). These quotes are more delightful than the story itself.
I liked the book for the most part, though, until I found out why Clarissa has left her husband and moved into the creepy modern apartment. It's so bad that I cannot recommend this book to anyone. Plus this dystopian tale rings a bit too true and more "now" than the near-future.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
As someone who recently has gone through a traumatic birth, I couldn’t enjoy this story. If I’d listened to it a few months ago it might not bother me, but as such I couldn’t stand it.
Clarissa Katsef has problems. Struggling with writer's block and her husband's recent betrayal, she makes an impulsive decision to move into CASA, a high-tech Paris apartment complex that offers low rent to select artists. Her virtual home assistant, Mrs. Dalloway, helps monitor her health, visitors, and writing - but Clarissa can't shake the feeling that she's being watched for more nefarious purposes. As the story unfolds, Clarissa discovers shocking secrets abound all around her - will she be able to escape this multilayered nightmare?
This novel was a wonderful fusing of multiple genres: literary fiction, thriller/suspense, and science fiction. I enjoyed how de Rosnay slowly opened up Clarissa's world to the viewer - I gasped at a few of her reveals! Clarissa also made for a good narrator - her age and wisdom were well-balanced by the youth of her granddaughter Andy. I flew through this book in one sitting - it is a great choice to lose yourself in on a rainy day. You may find yourself wanting to disable your smart devices after reading this literary equivalent of a Black Mirror episode.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novel was a wonderful fusing of multiple genres: literary fiction, thriller/suspense, and science fiction. I enjoyed how de Rosnay slowly opened up Clarissa's world to the viewer - I gasped at a few of her reveals! Clarissa also made for a good narrator - her age and wisdom were well-balanced by the youth of her granddaughter Andy. I flew through this book in one sitting - it is a great choice to lose yourself in on a rainy day. You may find yourself wanting to disable your smart devices after reading this literary equivalent of a Black Mirror episode.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Loved the writing and themes, but the plot resolution felt lacking and I wanted more exposition of CASA and discussion of the AI themes introduced towards the end.
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes