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edgemegann's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ianmcnamara's review against another edition
5.0
I read this for a book club last year and really enjoyed it, not normally my type of breed but was pleasantly surprised. I found tang and Benz relationship very warm and lovely as it grew.
criticalmiss's review against another edition
5.0
If you want a feel good novel about an unlikely friendship, a globe trotting adventure, eye opening self discovery and a wonderful robot named Tang, then this book will enchant you, make you laugh and you will have a smile on your heave the entire time.
10 out of 5 stars! Absolutely adored this book!
10 out of 5 stars! Absolutely adored this book!
stacy_es's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Мабуть, не знайди я цю книжку на бібліотечних поличках, я б її не обрала на прочитання. Читалися англійською легко, певні ідеї на поміркувати були дуже гарно підсвічені, був гумор, але все рівно будо відчуття, що це підліткова якась книга (синові сподобалося, коли я перерозподілила йому історію мандрів та пошуків того, хто полагодить робота). Багато паралелей між роботом Тенгом, тим як вдосконалювався його AI та тим, як дитина вчиться та пізнає світ.
Було тут про дружбу, дорослішання, перші спроби брати на себе відповідальність, про пошук себе та того що важливо саме тобі, про життя в тіні, відчуття недооціненості, аутсайдерство, про проживання горя (втрату близьких), про бажання аби все виглядало ідеально про чуже око (поведінка дружини Емі).
Якщо коротенько, головний герой, несучасний андроїд, а досить антикварний робот, який зовнішньо не дуже, але при цьому володіє почуттями, розуміє що таке любов, має судження, вчиться брехати, а не просто виконує накази. Всю книгу ми шукаємо відповідь на питання, чому він поламаний, хто його створив, як він опинився саме в саду в Бена та чи його взагалі можливо полагодити, яка його доля майбутня.
Бен ніби потребував, когось слабшого за нього принаймні тимчасово, хто залежав би від нього, був йому вдячний. Та роль, яку він не міг зіграти ані для сестри, ані для дружини. Аби хтось щиро радів чомусь новому в його присутності, аби саме він міг приносити ці емоції. В нього також дійсна відбулася репетиція батьківства та погляд на себе та свої вчинки, типову поведінку в відносинах збоку.
jandi's review against another edition
5.0
My husband expected this to be a science fiction book, and even though there is a robot, this book is no sci-fi. While he was disappointed, I was delighted. It is a touching and quirky exploration of growing up, self-discovery and relationships that happens to feature an adorable robot as the main plot device. The language is casual and cheery, permeated with subtle humor, and even though the situations depicted border on the absurd, the characters keep them quite relateable.
"There is a robot in the garden", the book starts. A wife asks a husband to deal with it, just as fixing a gate or taking out the garbage. The robot is quite special, and requires some fixes, thus, the husband ends up in a trip around the world trying to figure out where the robot came from and how to fix it, and finding answers about himself in the process.
It is a lovely book, heart warming without being overly sentimental. It features at some point a hitchhiking wiener dog. And let's not forget about the adorable robot. You can't go wrong with that, right?
"There is a robot in the garden", the book starts. A wife asks a husband to deal with it, just as fixing a gate or taking out the garbage. The robot is quite special, and requires some fixes, thus, the husband ends up in a trip around the world trying to figure out where the robot came from and how to fix it, and finding answers about himself in the process.
It is a lovely book, heart warming without being overly sentimental. It features at some point a hitchhiking wiener dog. And let's not forget about the adorable robot. You can't go wrong with that, right?
snoakes7001's review against another edition
5.0
I admit, I blagged an ARC of this for no better reason than I liked the cover. If I'm totally honest, I thought it might be a bit too chic-lit to really be to my taste, but fortunately I was wrong about that. Set in the near future (essentially now, but with added androids), it's an engaging tale of Ben and Tang, the robot that turns up one day in his garden. If I have any (very slight) criticism it is that the setup of a driven, organised woman saddled with a feckless bloke is a bit of a cliché. However, it is only a cliché because it's a jolly good setup for a story, so don't let that put you off. Anyway the story isn't really about Amy and Ben - it's about Tang. And Tang is adorable. If you don't fall for him hook, line and sinker then you truly have a heart made of stone.
alee_reads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
enjoie_mes_codices's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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
3.75
maddie_09's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, charming, sweet, heart-warming, it made me smile, it made me teary-eyed and I just loved it. It's a beautifully written story of self-discovery, growing-up, love and friendship. The relationship between Ben and Tang is just lovely. Ben is a great main character and Tang an even greater companion. You must read that book. It's just stunning!
jnikolova's review against another edition
4.0
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
That is basically a summary of both the events and the mood of the book.
A Robot In The Garden is an extremely adorable and endearing book about the friendship between a sad man and a small, old broken robot.
When I read the description I was not totally sold, I expected to even be disappointed and/or bored. None of which happened. I really like this sweet and very positive story of friendship, love and adventure.
Another thing that impressed me was the fact that instead of going great lengths to manipulate our feelings, the author played it cheerful and without too much excessive drama. There were surely sad and negative events, but even they had a tint of hope and optimism and I really liked that. No low that the characters reached was too deep for them not to be able to come out of it.
The two main characters, Ben and Tang, were a great duo. I enjoyed their relationship so much, I had many "Awww" moments and I also laughed a lot during their adventures. Not to mention that I found it the best thing ever when from friendship they moved more to a father/son type of relationship and that opened way for so many amazing events, like Ben buying Tang a wardrobe so he can hide from the witches on Halloween. Adorable!
My favourite secondary character was the abovementioned radioactive sausage dog. You can't get any cooler than a hitchhiking radioactive sausage dog. That is not to say that the dog could talk or anything like that. It was just cool.
I found everything about the A Robot In The Garden very refreshing and cheerful and cute. It was a great feel-good book that I recommend to everyone, especially people who are feeling down.
"Now, I have to admit that the idea of traveling across the desert in a Dodge Charger with a retro robot and a radioactive sausage dog is not something I would have imagined myself doing. But life takes us in peculiar directions sometimes, and on those occasions the only thing to do is give it a high-five and roll with it.
That is basically a summary of both the events and the mood of the book.
A Robot In The Garden is an extremely adorable and endearing book about the friendship between a sad man and a small, old broken robot.
When I read the description I was not totally sold, I expected to even be disappointed and/or bored. None of which happened. I really like this sweet and very positive story of friendship, love and adventure.
Another thing that impressed me was the fact that instead of going great lengths to manipulate our feelings, the author played it cheerful and without too much excessive drama. There were surely sad and negative events, but even they had a tint of hope and optimism and I really liked that. No low that the characters reached was too deep for them not to be able to come out of it.
The two main characters, Ben and Tang, were a great duo. I enjoyed their relationship so much, I had many "Awww" moments and I also laughed a lot during their adventures. Not to mention that I found it the best thing ever when from friendship they moved more to a father/son type of relationship and that opened way for so many amazing events, like Ben buying Tang a wardrobe so he can hide from the witches on Halloween. Adorable!
My favourite secondary character was the abovementioned radioactive sausage dog. You can't get any cooler than a hitchhiking radioactive sausage dog. That is not to say that the dog could talk or anything like that. It was just cool.
I found everything about the A Robot In The Garden very refreshing and cheerful and cute. It was a great feel-good book that I recommend to everyone, especially people who are feeling down.