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woahno 's review for:
The Memory Librarian: And Other Stories of Dirty Computer
by Janelle Monáe
Another book I read nearly two months ago. I'm still working through the backlog. First, Janelle Monáe is pretty great. I'm not a huge fan and haven't listened to a full album or anything but to be so talented in multiple different mediums I find incredibly impressive. This is what led me to pick up this short story book.
The Memory Librarian has a great concept. It really drives the stories here and creates cohesion for the collection. How memories are treated in this world, how they are regulated and used against people is an ingenious way to talk about some serious topics in current events. It also allows for an interesting way to reevaluate how we see real life. Like I said, it is a great concept, and it provides a great sandbox to play in for these authors.
All in all, though, I think the concept and the world doesn't make up for the weak execution. A lot of the aesthetic and imagery blend into other genre dystopian sci-fi worlds. A lot of the characters and their relationships are similar in that they do not stand out or create the memorable moments that I am looking for in my reading. With that said, I would still be interested in more from this setting. More books or a movie or show could be cool.
The Memory Librarian has a great concept. It really drives the stories here and creates cohesion for the collection. How memories are treated in this world, how they are regulated and used against people is an ingenious way to talk about some serious topics in current events. It also allows for an interesting way to reevaluate how we see real life. Like I said, it is a great concept, and it provides a great sandbox to play in for these authors.
All in all, though, I think the concept and the world doesn't make up for the weak execution. A lot of the aesthetic and imagery blend into other genre dystopian sci-fi worlds. A lot of the characters and their relationships are similar in that they do not stand out or create the memorable moments that I am looking for in my reading. With that said, I would still be interested in more from this setting. More books or a movie or show could be cool.