The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
georgiahb's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Graphic: Rape
tamaraepps's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-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
2.5
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Suicide
juliston's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
3.5
I enjoyed the plot of this book, and I sort of enjoyed the alternate timeline setting - it being so similar to our current society made me half think it was a commentary on the inevitability of how humans act with technology and half made me think there was a lack of imagination in how different a world cold be. Maybe Ian McEwan just didn't want to distract readers from the main themes by making it "obviously Sci-fi" novel in which we also had to understand a different worldly setting.Â
What I found really disappointing was that the themes and underlying messages about consciousness and technology and AI were rubbed so hard in the reader's face and there was no opportunity to face organic thought about them yourself because they were presented so blatantly as character thoughts or dialogue. The last Ian McEwan book I read (the cockroach, DNF was the same - we get it you think Brexit was stupid) and I feel like the lack of subtlety let down what could have been a really thought provoking novel.Â
What I found really disappointing was that the themes and underlying messages about consciousness and technology and AI were rubbed so hard in the reader's face and there was no opportunity to face organic thought about them yourself because they were presented so blatantly as character thoughts or dialogue. The last Ian McEwan book I read (the cockroach, DNF was the same - we get it you think Brexit was stupid) and I feel like the lack of subtlety let down what could have been a really thought provoking novel.Â
Graphic: Suicide and Rape
catayane's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Rape, War, and Suicide
xeriemoon's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
highlights:
- brilliantly written
- some genuinely hilarious lines
lowlights:
- depressing to think about the commonalities between this world and ours, regardless of how well crafted the novel is
- brilliantly written
- some genuinely hilarious lines
lowlights:
- depressing to think about the commonalities between this world and ours, regardless of how well crafted the novel is
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
Minor: War
georgiarybanks's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Minor: Rape, Suicide, and Forced institutionalization
cleomadra's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Rape
achillea's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
started skimming this book quickly abt two chapters in bc the narrator creeped me the eff out and everything was just so uncomfortable. but even when i managed to zone in, absolutely nothing happened bc the narrator was too busy talking abt himself. maybe it was just my exp with this book but i wouldn't recommend it to anyone who has some trauma from past relationships
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Infidelity
whoisthisjan's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Rape
kcross_'s review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Rape