andrewspink's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Sometimes people complain about the EU privacy laws, the GDPR, but this book makes you realise how necessary they are. The book was written ten years ago and is a dystopian view of what might happen if the big US tech companies were all merged into one and get more and more power. It is interesting to see what aspects have come true and what not. Manipulation of information and social media by foreign governments and extreme political movements, not to mention the polarization caused by the algorithms of the companies themselves, are examples of things which we were all blissfully unaware of ten years ago.
It is also interesting to see which of the tech gadgets have taken off (wrist warn wearables are indeed much better now than ten years ago) and which are still impossible (video cameras still use far too much power to wirelessly stream live video without being plugged into the mains). The rise of AI was not really visible ten years ago, and that would have given quite a different dimension to the book.
In the end, it is surprising how much of the book, which does centre on technical developments, still feels very realistic today, there is not much suspension of disbelief required.
The book is a real page turner, with the tension gradually building throughout. Various key pieces of information are held back from the reader, and some we can guess and some are surprises.
It is also interesting to see which of the tech gadgets have taken off (wrist warn wearables are indeed much better now than ten years ago) and which are still impossible (video cameras still use far too much power to wirelessly stream live video without being plugged into the mains). The rise of AI was not really visible ten years ago, and that would have given quite a different dimension to the book.
In the end, it is surprising how much of the book, which does centre on technical developments, still feels very realistic today, there is not much suspension of disbelief required.
The book is a real page turner, with the tension gradually building throughout. Various key pieces of information are held back from the reader, and some we can guess and some are surprises.
misscurlyfrog's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I first read this book almost 10 years ago and could relate to Mae a lot, even if I did not agree with alm her choices. I was fascinated with the way the conveniences of certain things were expressed, with the problematic aspects and afterthought that made you wonder what the "right way" would be.
Rereading it now was difficult. While I still see the usefulness of many of the ideas the whole Circle bothered me from the beginning on. And it scared me. It truly sounds like something that could happen exactly like this.
I will say that criticism und metaphors are only thinly veiled, but to me that's not necessarily a bad thing. It was definitely an interesting experience to reread this book after remembering it a little differently.
Rereading it now was difficult. While I still see the usefulness of many of the ideas the whole Circle bothered me from the beginning on. And it scared me. It truly sounds like something that could happen exactly like this.
I will say that criticism und metaphors are only thinly veiled, but to me that's not necessarily a bad thing. It was definitely an interesting experience to reread this book after remembering it a little differently.
carrix2's review against another edition
5.0
Well, this is a terrifying book! I have seen the movie before, so there were a few things I expected. And as frightening as the movie was, the book is even more so!
Set in the present day, or very near future, a private company based on google plans to "help" the world with spyware, small wireless cameras, and crowdsourcing. They push the advantages of shared knowledge (if you don't share your experiences, you're just selfish! Other people want to share them with you!) and compiling all information about all people in one central database. Put a tracker in every person - to help curb kidnappings! Have people wear a camera everywhere they go - don't you want to know what politicians do?
Of course, it is reminiscent of [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532714506l/40961427._SX50_.jpg|153313], but it takes that a step further with the use of current technology. If you have seen the show Black Mirror, it's similar to that as well.
I enjoyed this social horror book very much. It touches on several topics that scare me in today's world, especially being forced to be a social participant. I like doing my own thing with just myself and my close friends.
Set in the present day, or very near future, a private company based on google plans to "help" the world with spyware, small wireless cameras, and crowdsourcing. They push the advantages of shared knowledge (if you don't share your experiences, you're just selfish! Other people want to share them with you!) and compiling all information about all people in one central database. Put a tracker in every person - to help curb kidnappings! Have people wear a camera everywhere they go - don't you want to know what politicians do?
Of course, it is reminiscent of [b:1984|40961427|1984|George Orwell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1532714506l/40961427._SX50_.jpg|153313], but it takes that a step further with the use of current technology. If you have seen the show Black Mirror, it's similar to that as well.
I enjoyed this social horror book very much. It touches on several topics that scare me in today's world, especially being forced to be a social participant. I like doing my own thing with just myself and my close friends.
heylie_h's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
raemelle's review against another edition
4.0
I'd call this rating something between 3.5 and 4. Rounding up because I think my extreme dislike of this book might have largely been purposeful on the author's part.
Mae is extremely unlikeable from almost page one. As she evolves through the story I found her to be so distinctly unpleasant and unsympathetic, it was actually disappointing. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I really can't imagine Emma Watson playing a character like this. I can only assume/hope they toned it down a bit.
Yes, this was definitely one big soapbox for the author - warning against the apparently slippery slope between social media and a totalitarian regime. Also a big slap in the face to the majority of the first world population. The author doesn't seem to think much of the general internet using population. I don't blame him, but it was still pretty frustrating to have to read through nearly 500 pages of this pretty one-sided speculative social media dominated story.
I can't give it five stars because it was actually pretty predictable. Everything from character reveals to the ending was visible from a mile away.
And the first sex scene was just so fricking weird. One sentence they're talking about their wrist monitors and vital signs. Literally the next she has her hand down his pants. I actually had to stop and go back to see if I'd missed some kind of connecting segue. Nope. All of the sex scenes were just awkwardly placed. It's like he wrote the story, then dropped the scenes in right before printing as an afterthought. I still don't get the whole climbing-over-bathroom-stalls scene. Some seriously random fantasy stuff being played out.
I know to a certain extent showing the Inner Circlers to be socially awkward was probably purposeful, but even the normal (at first) Mae was taking it in a weird stride that I didn't like. She kind of just let everyone walk all over her without defending herself in any way. I can understand wanting to make a good impression with a new job, but not asking for clarification or bothering to truthfully explain her side of things was just weak.
I know I'm giving this 4 (well, let's say 3.75) stars, but I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone. Read it if you like speculative fiction about the beginnings of a totalitarian "utopia," I guess. But be prepared to be frustrated.
Mae is extremely unlikeable from almost page one. As she evolves through the story I found her to be so distinctly unpleasant and unsympathetic, it was actually disappointing. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I really can't imagine Emma Watson playing a character like this. I can only assume/hope they toned it down a bit.
Yes, this was definitely one big soapbox for the author - warning against the apparently slippery slope between social media and a totalitarian regime. Also a big slap in the face to the majority of the first world population. The author doesn't seem to think much of the general internet using population. I don't blame him, but it was still pretty frustrating to have to read through nearly 500 pages of this pretty one-sided speculative social media dominated story.
I can't give it five stars because it was actually pretty predictable. Everything from character reveals to the ending was visible from a mile away.
And the first sex scene was just so fricking weird. One sentence they're talking about their wrist monitors and vital signs. Literally the next she has her hand down his pants. I actually had to stop and go back to see if I'd missed some kind of connecting segue. Nope. All of the sex scenes were just awkwardly placed. It's like he wrote the story, then dropped the scenes in right before printing as an afterthought. I still don't get the whole climbing-over-bathroom-stalls scene. Some seriously random fantasy stuff being played out.
I know to a certain extent showing the Inner Circlers to be socially awkward was probably purposeful, but even the normal (at first) Mae was taking it in a weird stride that I didn't like. She kind of just let everyone walk all over her without defending herself in any way. I can understand wanting to make a good impression with a new job, but not asking for clarification or bothering to truthfully explain her side of things was just weak.
I know I'm giving this 4 (well, let's say 3.75) stars, but I don't think I'd recommend this to anyone. Read it if you like speculative fiction about the beginnings of a totalitarian "utopia," I guess. But be prepared to be frustrated.
ashcleaver1629's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
camille570912's review against another edition
reflective
tense
slow-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? No
2.0
It was just disappointing. Not bad writing and a fine story, but I kept expecting things to happen that didn’t, and what actually happened was a lot more boring.
rachrose's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0