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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Hard for me to rate this fairly.
I think that Cory Doctorow writes important books that people should read, but also I genuinely enjoy a lot of them. Didn't enjoy this at all.
It might be because:
* Its too YA for me - the protagonist has all the energetic, optimistic golden-retriever-esque qualities of youth that I'm far too old and jaded to truly empathise with anymore
* Its too dark & real for me. This isn't the distant future and the first days of a better nation from [b:Walkaway|40604388|Walkaway|Cory Doctorow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529601317l/40604388._SY75_.jpg|50573549]. This is 30 years from now and everything needs to change in order for it to even start getting easier (not better necessarily, but we'll be better at it). Its a bitter pill for my techo-optimistic millennial ass to swallow.
I think that Cory Doctorow writes important books that people should read, but also I genuinely enjoy a lot of them. Didn't enjoy this at all.
It might be because:
* Its too YA for me - the protagonist has all the energetic, optimistic golden-retriever-esque qualities of youth that I'm far too old and jaded to truly empathise with anymore
* Its too dark & real for me. This isn't the distant future and the first days of a better nation from [b:Walkaway|40604388|Walkaway|Cory Doctorow|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529601317l/40604388._SY75_.jpg|50573549]. This is 30 years from now and everything needs to change in order for it to even start getting easier (not better necessarily, but we'll be better at it). Its a bitter pill for my techo-optimistic millennial ass to swallow.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Cory Doctorow is a very smart man and a good writer. But this particular novel was more a highlight for his ideas than a decent story. I enjoyed it, but the characters (especially the female presenting ones) felt flat.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
Yes
The lionization of the DSA and the Green New Deal is my only real complaint. Otherwise it’s a great book.
2.5/5
This book has such a compelling premise: If we finally start making progress on the climate, the divisions in our society aren't going to go away - what will that mean? But, sadly, execution lets The Lost Cause down badly.
First, the positives. In one sense this book does exactly what it promises - it looks at how the divisions and disparate views that characterise modern western societies could play out against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian disaster. And no effort is spared fleshing out the author's world and ideas about those divisions. It's also a fairly quick read.
But, even for an "idea forward" novel (which this is), the plot and characters are weak. More than anything, they respectively seem a setting and props to facilitate the author's musings and opinions. Without spoiling the storyline, certain events start and stop when it's time to move on to new ideas, rather than for reasons that feel authentic to the world Doctorow has created. The characters are generally thin, and hold the (sometimes inconsistent) views the author needs to show off the various competing "sides" in this near future world. The romantic arc is also really implausible - it's feels like it is there to provide more props for the author to work with and to tick a box.
The prose, while readable, is ... cliche. Rather than feeling like it belongs in a near future world, it feels like an attempt to be cool *now; for instance, I doubt slang will stay that static over the coming decades.
If you like the premise, try something like A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys instead.
Thanks to Head of Zeus, Netgalley and Cory Doctorow for this ARC (provided in exchange for an honest review).
This book has such a compelling premise: If we finally start making progress on the climate, the divisions in our society aren't going to go away - what will that mean? But, sadly, execution lets The Lost Cause down badly.
First, the positives. In one sense this book does exactly what it promises - it looks at how the divisions and disparate views that characterise modern western societies could play out against the backdrop of a worsening humanitarian disaster. And no effort is spared fleshing out the author's world and ideas about those divisions. It's also a fairly quick read.
But, even for an "idea forward" novel (which this is), the plot and characters are weak. More than anything, they respectively seem a setting and props to facilitate the author's musings and opinions. Without spoiling the storyline, certain events start and stop when it's time to move on to new ideas, rather than for reasons that feel authentic to the world Doctorow has created. The characters are generally thin, and hold the (sometimes inconsistent) views the author needs to show off the various competing "sides" in this near future world. The romantic arc is also really implausible - it's feels like it is there to provide more props for the author to work with and to tick a box.
The prose, while readable, is ... cliche. Rather than feeling like it belongs in a near future world, it feels like an attempt to be cool *now; for instance, I doubt slang will stay that static over the coming decades.
If you like the premise, try something like A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys instead.
Thanks to Head of Zeus, Netgalley and Cory Doctorow for this ARC (provided in exchange for an honest review).
challenging
dark
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cory is my favorite author but I’m seeing issues with some characters - the main character in this one Brooks in particular is overly dramatic, emotional, capable and smart IMO.
dark
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:
No
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
A pretty solid near-future read, with plausible sci-fi, and optimistic but ultimately realistic views of what politics may come to be.
There's smart humour and loveable characters I saw myself and my friends reflected in, and I really enjoyed my time in future Burbank!
There's smart humour and loveable characters I saw myself and my friends reflected in, and I really enjoyed my time in future Burbank!