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A review by loochysue
Tell the Machine Goodnight by Katie Williams
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I listened to Tell the Machine Goodnight, and I adored it. From the gorgeous literary imagery to the little details of the near-future world in which the characters live, it was a treat. Each character is fully developed, and I quite like how we get to see their world from different perspectives, personalities, and histories.
Generally, the book is about a mom, Pearl, her anorexic teenage son, Rhett, and his dad, Elliot. Pearl works as happiness pathologist, helping people learn what will actually make them happy - results taken from an easy DNA test. Rhett is recovering from a life-threatening bout of an eating disorder and navigates school and relationships.
It's a book about their relationships with one another and away from one another. It's a book whose characters orbit happiness but rarely land. It's a book about boundaries and secrets and how everyone's past and current self-development shape them.
If you had access to a machine that told you how to be happy, would you use it? And is happiness what we should all aim to achieve?
Generally, the book is about a mom, Pearl, her anorexic teenage son, Rhett, and his dad, Elliot. Pearl works as happiness pathologist, helping people learn what will actually make them happy - results taken from an easy DNA test. Rhett is recovering from a life-threatening bout of an eating disorder and navigates school and relationships.
It's a book about their relationships with one another and away from one another. It's a book whose characters orbit happiness but rarely land. It's a book about boundaries and secrets and how everyone's past and current self-development shape them.
If you had access to a machine that told you how to be happy, would you use it? And is happiness what we should all aim to achieve?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder and Animal death
Minor: Body horror, Mental illness, and Emotional abuse