mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
5.0
I've not been real impressed by any of the last few Connie Willis books that I've read. Perhaps I should have been reading her shorter work. This novella is fantastic. And yet why would anyone (even the library) pay $45 for a novella - even with really nice black-and-white artwork? Don't think I agree with the premise of this story and I certainly didn't get the movie or play references. But somewhere in hear was something that described what it meant to be human and it was worth reading and thinking about.
lisalark's review against another edition
4.0
Connie Willis kills it again. I think the ratings are lower on this one for two reasons: 1) if you don't know musical theater and movies, a lot of this going to sail right over your head 2) the ending was a bit abrupt. Not like inconclusive abrupt, I was fine with where she left it plotwise, but it felt like a stuttered stop, which is rare for Willis.
Read it.
Dance ten, looks three. Get the bingo-bongos done . . .
Read it.
Dance ten, looks three. Get the bingo-bongos done . . .
libkatem's review against another edition
5.0
Willis has my number, my MO, my tastes....
I adored this book. Again. Rockettes? Old movies? (OH HAI THERE DESK SET), musicals.... ROBOTS?
This novel is short, sweet, and highlights what it means to be human.
I adored this book. Again. Rockettes? Old movies? (OH HAI THERE DESK SET), musicals.... ROBOTS?
This novel is short, sweet, and highlights what it means to be human.
1_and_owenly's review against another edition
4.0
Fun novelette. Lots of references to classic cinema and Broadway, but with an underlying SF heart that deals with such themes as those of free will, and the nature of humanity.
valhecka's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully done snappy novella about the intersection of acting and AI. I loved it.
onceandfuturelaura's review against another edition
3.0
Lightweight and readable. The prose sparkled. If there was a little deeper level, I missed it.
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Anything by Connie Willis is squee-worthy for me. I've found that her novellas are usually just a hint of what she can do with the longer form, but reading her stuff is such a joy. She can take something mundane and make it interesting. She can make you care about her characters in just a few short pages. She can keep you reading to see what happens next, without making it look like there's any effort to it at all.
I love the way Willis conveys so much of the exposition through natural dialogue. This novella begins with the main character, Claire Havilland, a theater actress, having a conversation with her manager, and in those few pages, we understand the setting, the premise, the central conflict, and the main character. She does this with so many of her stories, and does it so naturally, that this is the first time I've really noticed it.
She also has a knack for adding her commentary of any social construct into her stories. Willis has made satirical attacks on movies and Hollywood before, and she does the same thing here, even if the story is about musicals. In true Willis form, theater is the new trend, and like Hollywood, the newest trend in the new trend is to remake all of the old movies into musicals (including High School Musical: The Musical). She peppers the story with sly references to current events, even though this story is clearly set in a near future of ours.
Is All About Emily as good as Bellwether, To Say Nothing of the Dog, or Doomsday Book? No. But it is Connie Willis at her peak, showing you just how deft of a writer she is.
I love the way Willis conveys so much of the exposition through natural dialogue. This novella begins with the main character, Claire Havilland, a theater actress, having a conversation with her manager, and in those few pages, we understand the setting, the premise, the central conflict, and the main character. She does this with so many of her stories, and does it so naturally, that this is the first time I've really noticed it.
She also has a knack for adding her commentary of any social construct into her stories. Willis has made satirical attacks on movies and Hollywood before, and she does the same thing here, even if the story is about musicals. In true Willis form, theater is the new trend, and like Hollywood, the newest trend in the new trend is to remake all of the old movies into musicals (including High School Musical: The Musical). She peppers the story with sly references to current events, even though this story is clearly set in a near future of ours.
Is All About Emily as good as Bellwether, To Say Nothing of the Dog, or Doomsday Book? No. But it is Connie Willis at her peak, showing you just how deft of a writer she is.
theartolater's review against another edition
5.0
It's a novella involving the theatre and robots, what's not to like? It's a very quick read about a getting-up-there-in-age actress and the robot that seemingly wants to be part of it. It's a perfect size book for this story, and entirely enjoyable. Really liked this, glad I picked it up.
l2intj's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
A cute little story, but nothing to get excited about. She's definitely written better.