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readingwithkt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Somehow managed to race through this book, devouring it in less than 24 hours. Feel this book spoke to me at a very particular time in my life, and thus I feel I picked it up at a perfect time.
It’s both an exploration of technology - the way we use it in our lives, the way it’s designed to use us - and a portrait of a friendship/love lost - of how it is to go on when there’s a gaping hole in our lives, about how humans can try to fill such holes by whatever means necessary (alcohol, sexual relationships, overworking).
The flaws of the characters, of technology, of our modern lives, are truly the centre point of this book.
I don’t know what else to say, I low key loved this one and I’m sure it’s gonna leave me with lots of thoughts for a little while to come.
It’s both an exploration of technology - the way we use it in our lives, the way it’s designed to use us - and a portrait of a friendship/love lost - of how it is to go on when there’s a gaping hole in our lives, about how humans can try to fill such holes by whatever means necessary (alcohol, sexual relationships, overworking).
The flaws of the characters, of technology, of our modern lives, are truly the centre point of this book.
I don’t know what else to say, I low key loved this one and I’m sure it’s gonna leave me with lots of thoughts for a little while to come.
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Bullying, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Car accident
Minor: Hate crime, Suicide, Stalking, Sexual harassment, and War
thenovelmaura's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'd like to say something profound about this book, but it was so entirely forgettable that I hardly know what points to bring up. I can see it appealing to fans of literary fiction; since I don't fall into that category I found it rather slow and uneventful. While I appreciated the commentary on tech companies and startups (given that I work in the tech industry and was previously at a startup), the borderline-satirical tone of this commentary didn't really mesh with the rest of the book. It is clear that Nguyen has experience in the tech world and his insights into being a minority in the industry are sadly accurate. A pointed and introspective read, but it just didn't work for me and I can't say with certainty what would have improved it.
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Death and Grief
risemini's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Alcohol
poisoned_icecream's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
sad
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
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