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A review by laurieb755
Playground by Richard Powers
3.0
The best I can say about this book is it provoked thought and conversation; my husband having read a copy at the same time we had much to discuss. Did I like this story - not really, but it did keep us engaged during yesterday's morning walk.
Early on I was not keen on journeying into the tale, thinking that dementia was going to usurp much of the plot. My Dad had dementia; I've spent plenty of time with the illness and tend to avoid revisiting when possible. Once it was apparent there would be an entire backstory to read plus others to meet I was willing to go with the flow and the characters I met were interesting and unusual.
This is a story about the magnificence of oceans and the proliferation of artificial intelligence; about dedication, determination and single-minded focus; about an island as family and growing up in dysfunctional families; about hope and despair; about reality and fantasy. By book's end I was tossed around like waves during a storm - what was 'real' and what actually happened? what was A.I. and what were figments of a distracted mind? who was alive and who died long ago? The ending is ambiguity at its best.
PS Interestingly, I quite liked another book by Richard Powers, The Overstory, yet see from my review that that story, as well, leaves room for interpretation…
Early on I was not keen on journeying into the tale, thinking that dementia was going to usurp much of the plot. My Dad had dementia; I've spent plenty of time with the illness and tend to avoid revisiting when possible. Once it was apparent there would be an entire backstory to read plus others to meet I was willing to go with the flow and the characters I met were interesting and unusual.
This is a story about the magnificence of oceans and the proliferation of artificial intelligence; about dedication, determination and single-minded focus; about an island as family and growing up in dysfunctional families; about hope and despair; about reality and fantasy. By book's end I was tossed around like waves during a storm - what was 'real' and what actually happened? what was A.I. and what were figments of a distracted mind? who was alive and who died long ago? The ending is ambiguity at its best.
PS Interestingly, I quite liked another book by Richard Powers, The Overstory, yet see from my review that that story, as well, leaves room for interpretation…