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nhnabass's reviews
104 reviews
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
4.0
This was gifted to me for my birthday by a close friend who knows my taste in book pretty well, so I went it with an open mind and completely blind.
This was the first book I had read since graduation that was a non-academic, "fun" reading book. This did not disappoint! It was not what I was expecting and really kept me engaged the entire time. I am not usually a quick reader but this book kept pulling me, I was on the edge of my seat until the end! I really enjoyed the writing style-- it was easily palatable, albeit that does lead to a few awkward/cringe phrases and dialogue sometimes but it didn't bother me too much.
The story felt extraordinarily relevant to the contemporary human experience and it forced me to take it a little more seriously as it explored questions about existence we all find ourselves navigating.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighter novel that continues to provoke questions that make you want to keep reading all the way through the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
This was the first book I had read since graduation that was a non-academic, "fun" reading book. This did not disappoint! It was not what I was expecting and really kept me engaged the entire time. I am not usually a quick reader but this book kept pulling me, I was on the edge of my seat until the end! I really enjoyed the writing style-- it was easily palatable, albeit that does lead to a few awkward/cringe phrases and dialogue sometimes but it didn't bother me too much.
The story felt extraordinarily relevant to the contemporary human experience and it forced me to take it a little more seriously as it explored questions about existence we all find ourselves navigating.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a fun, lighter novel that continues to provoke questions that make you want to keep reading all the way through the last page. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
A Beautifully Foolish Endeavor by Hank Green
5.0
This is an excellent follow up to the first novel, "An Absolutely Remarkable Thing," and I think it's even better than its predecessor.
The story picks right back up and often references the earlier novel so if it's been a while since you read the first one, you won't have any trouble jumping right back in.
I was hesitant to the way the chapters were narrated at first and it was weird jumping between character perspectives and stories, but it very quickly became enjoyable and suspenseful to see how the plots all connected.
I found myself completely excited at what could possibly happen next in this seemingly absurd science fiction novel and it was quite impossible to put down. The writing style, again, is very palatable, written from perspective of several 20-something year olds so you can imagine the kind of dialogue and vernacular can be a bit awkward at times but it was never an issue for me.
The author further explored what it meant to be human in an era of technology and when, if ever, would we be doing too much too quickly. The parallels to today's world, especially the pandemic and just the entirety 2020, are not subtle but in the best possible way. The novel allowed space for the reader to reflect on, connect to, and explore the themes and motifs it presented without being too heavy handed in its attempt at answering the world's existential questions.
I, again, would recommend this sequel and series to anyone looking for a little light in these dark times that many are experiencing amidst the pandemic. It was silly, funny, heavy, and at times felt like holding up a mirror. I really enjoyed this and look forward to whatever Hank Green comes out with next.
The story picks right back up and often references the earlier novel so if it's been a while since you read the first one, you won't have any trouble jumping right back in.
I was hesitant to the way the chapters were narrated at first and it was weird jumping between character perspectives and stories, but it very quickly became enjoyable and suspenseful to see how the plots all connected.
I found myself completely excited at what could possibly happen next in this seemingly absurd science fiction novel and it was quite impossible to put down. The writing style, again, is very palatable, written from perspective of several 20-something year olds so you can imagine the kind of dialogue and vernacular can be a bit awkward at times but it was never an issue for me.
The author further explored what it meant to be human in an era of technology and when, if ever, would we be doing too much too quickly. The parallels to today's world, especially the pandemic and just the entirety 2020, are not subtle but in the best possible way. The novel allowed space for the reader to reflect on, connect to, and explore the themes and motifs it presented without being too heavy handed in its attempt at answering the world's existential questions.
I, again, would recommend this sequel and series to anyone looking for a little light in these dark times that many are experiencing amidst the pandemic. It was silly, funny, heavy, and at times felt like holding up a mirror. I really enjoyed this and look forward to whatever Hank Green comes out with next.