Reviews

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

musicsaves's review against another edition

4.0

FIRST LINE REVIEW: “It was religious yearning granted hope, it was the holy grail of science.” As in every one of the Ian McEwan novels I’ve read over the years, this one traveled unique territory while still living in a “world” that felt very familiar. This time we’re in an alternate-reality 1980s that is far more advanced than the ‘80s we all know (or knew). Kennedy narrowed missed being assassinated, the Beatles reunited and are no longer popular, cell phones are common and...the hub of this novel...artificial intelligence has been put into humanoid robots that can fall in love...among other things.

It all makes for a quick, but rather profound and probing read, pushing the envelope on ethical/moral challenges and how we might have acted had we lived in that world.

guz's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

oli_igloo's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

bookswithlydscl's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

glad I've read it but it didn't capture my attention and I lost interest by the end.

gemma_the_edgy_librarian's review against another edition

challenging reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

ally_rb's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

It was just okay. I wasn't a fan of the decision to set this In alternative british 1980s setting nor the waffling on about certain sub plots - especially the adoption of mark. 
I did enjoy the conversations around AI on what it means to have a logical, all knowing and rational sentient living with irrational humans. I enjoyed seeing how those decisions played out. 

alex_wordweaver's review against another edition

It was really boring. I'm not sure if it was just the person doing the audio recording narration or the book itself, but omfg, it was boring. I just couldn't get into it. I saved myself time and read a bunch of reviews and a sparknotes summary.

megacorta's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

blakeisgreene's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

x0pherl's review against another edition

4.0

An interesting exploration of what the introduction of human-appearing-artificial-intelligence might be like, for some reason set in an alternate-past-80s London (in addition to the speed-up of technology, due partly to Alan Turing not committing suicide the failed defense of the Faukland Islands is happening during the story).
The story was enough to pull me along although not what I would call “suspenseful”, but the book was thought provoking for sure.