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A review by doritobabe
Lovestar by Andri Snær Magnason
5.0
A solid 4.5/5 stars for Magnason's LoveStar.
I would have given the novel a 5/5 but there was one part in the book that gave me pause and that I didn't entirely like, so off goes half a point!
LoveStar is one of those blind reads for me: I saw it on a shelf in the library and the title (since the cover is so minimalist) partnered with the fact that it is an Icelandic translation AND has won awards made me dive right in without any further ado.
LoveStar follows two narratives: one of Indridi and Sigrid, two star-crossed lovers and normal people and Orvar Lovestar, a megalomaniacal business-owner who has taken over the world through his various Love-enterprises in the name of personal freedom. Interestingly, this "freedom" is all an illusion as everyone in the novel's version of the world, including Lovestar himself, is a victim of marketing and money schemes.
Indridi and Sigrid are in love, but aren't supposed to be. In this world, people are calculated with their soulmates as a way to promote peace and work against nationalist agendas, and during their relationship, Sigrid was calculated away from Indridi (plot #1). Plot #2 is focused around Lovestar and the creation of the Love-monopoly: inLove, iStar, LoveDeath, and newly discovered: LoveGod. (If this isn't obvious satire or social commentary, I don't know what is.)
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking read in the same vein as Vonnegut or even Philip K Dick (although infinitely more readable than Dick, but perhaps this is because it is translated). Would recommend for anyone who would like to think about contemporary society and where it may be headed (or expected to head by the writer pre-translation of 2012) with technological and social advancements at the forefront.
Would recommend as a thought provoking piece.
I would have given the novel a 5/5 but there was one part in the book that gave me pause and that I didn't entirely like, so off goes half a point!
LoveStar is one of those blind reads for me: I saw it on a shelf in the library and the title (since the cover is so minimalist) partnered with the fact that it is an Icelandic translation AND has won awards made me dive right in without any further ado.
LoveStar follows two narratives: one of Indridi and Sigrid, two star-crossed lovers and normal people and Orvar Lovestar, a megalomaniacal business-owner who has taken over the world through his various Love-enterprises in the name of personal freedom. Interestingly, this "freedom" is all an illusion as everyone in the novel's version of the world, including Lovestar himself, is a victim of marketing and money schemes.
Indridi and Sigrid are in love, but aren't supposed to be. In this world, people are calculated with their soulmates as a way to promote peace and work against nationalist agendas, and during their relationship, Sigrid was calculated away from Indridi (plot #1). Plot #2 is focused around Lovestar and the creation of the Love-monopoly: inLove, iStar, LoveDeath, and newly discovered: LoveGod. (If this isn't obvious satire or social commentary, I don't know what is.)
Overall, this is a very interesting and thought provoking read in the same vein as Vonnegut or even Philip K Dick (although infinitely more readable than Dick, but perhaps this is because it is translated). Would recommend for anyone who would like to think about contemporary society and where it may be headed (or expected to head by the writer pre-translation of 2012) with technological and social advancements at the forefront.
Would recommend as a thought provoking piece.