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kirkspockreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Reader, I cried.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Gun violence and Abortion
bluejayreads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.0
Weird, sad, and ultimately unsatisfying. I initially really loved the bizarre, disjointed style, the wacky observations, the over-the-top and yet also completely spot-on depiction of internet culture. The text from the unnamed protagonist's mother was a turning point, but not in the way I expected. It was less "sudden tragedy causes protagonist to reevaluate her time online" and more "tragic news causes protagonist to switch from being consumed by internet to consumed by other situation." It wasn't bad, necessarily, but it was emotionally intense and less an intentional reevaluation (which is what I wanted to see) than the protagonist spending less time online due to circumstances outside her control and becoming less internet popular because of it. The first half was great, I just wanted the second half to be something else entirely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism and Infidelity
kstericker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, and Abortion
the_bitchy_booker's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is an addictive, stunning account of being absolutely immersed in the internet and then, suddenly, coming unplugged.
The narrator is internet-famous for asking whether or not dogs can be twins. The first half of the book reads and feels exactly like falling down the rabbit hole of the internet, where one thought follows another follows another and they all begin to warp together, to warp each other, to warp you.
Then, suddenly, her sister becomes pregnant. This does not dislodge her from the whirlwind behind the screen. What does it is the diagnosis in utero of a life -threatening rare genetic disease. I can't be the only person who stopped reading to Google the baby's illness, which in itself makes you reflect on the theme of the novel. What does it is her sister not being able to get an abortion or even an early induction. What does it is the marvelous, miraculous short life of a beloved child, into whom we are all absorbed.
The tone of the novel shifts, and we never again fall back into the reality of the internet. It never gets a hold on us, or the narrator, after coming face to face with incontrovertible, undimmable life.
A stunning reflection on life in these bizarre times.
Could this novel win the Booker? It's about the internet and very political so probably not. (I know the award has been announced but I haven't checked the winner so please don't spoil me).
TW for mention of rape, child illness, infant death, sexually crude language.
Passing reference to the existence of LGBTQ+ people.
The narrator is internet-famous for asking whether or not dogs can be twins. The first half of the book reads and feels exactly like falling down the rabbit hole of the internet, where one thought follows another follows another and they all begin to warp together, to warp each other, to warp you.
Then, suddenly, her sister becomes pregnant. This does not dislodge her from the whirlwind behind the screen. What does it is the diagnosis in utero of a life -threatening rare genetic disease. I can't be the only person who stopped reading to Google the baby's illness, which in itself makes you reflect on the theme of the novel. What does it is her sister not being able to get an abortion or even an early induction. What does it is the marvelous, miraculous short life of a beloved child, into whom we are all absorbed.
The tone of the novel shifts, and we never again fall back into the reality of the internet. It never gets a hold on us, or the narrator, after coming face to face with incontrovertible, undimmable life.
A stunning reflection on life in these bizarre times.
Could this novel win the Booker? It's about the internet and very political so probably not. (I know the award has been announced but I haven't checked the winner so please don't spoil me).
TW for mention of rape, child illness, infant death, sexually crude language.
Passing reference to the existence of LGBTQ+ people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
Minor: Sexual assault and Abortion
connieischill's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault