Reviews tagging 'Rape'

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

38 reviews

bandysbooks's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

I had heard good things about this book from some friends who have similar tastes in books, so I went in with high expectations. Somehow, this still far exceeded said expectations.

Annie Bot is a brilliant novel that follows an AI who is auto-didactic and programmed to be a personal companion. As she experiences more and more, her consciousness begins to grow and shift to the point that people no longer can tell that she’s not human. What follows is a musing on sentience and bodily autonomy. 

Ugh. Some of these scenes in this book were hard to read. Some heartbreaking things happen to Annie and the author does not shy away from depicting them. As a woman reading this, there were certain aspects that made me cringe and have to take pauses while reading.

Midway through the book the tone of things start to change and I had an “oh shit. This author is going to ruin this book with some cliche ending” I’m glad I stayed with it though because the twist at the very end was a gut-punch. It was such a fresh and satisfying ending for a book that really digs into some uncomfortable places.

Consider me a new fan of Sierra Greer’s writing. This absolutely won’t be the last of her books that I pick up. And if you are interested in themes of power dynamics, sexism, bodily autonomy, sentience, and artificial intelligence, this is a must read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

jackbifrost's review against another edition

hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Physical abuse and Suicidal thoughts

ynadavis's review

reflective medium-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? No

2.5

I had written out a much more detailed and nitpicky review, but honestly, this is all I can focus on: This is largely a book about a woman dealing with the aftermath of being raped, yet it's never acknowledged as such. The character is even repeatedly shamed for feeling pleasure at the time... BECAUSE SHE'S A LITERAL SEX ROBOT WHO'S PROGRAMMED TO DO SO. 

I genuinely enjoyed this book otherwise, but what the fuck.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape and Toxic relationship

fkshg8465's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book was very different than what I’d expected. Every time I thought I got a bead on where it was going next, I found myself pleased to be wrong. It’s a science fiction Handmaid’s Tale (a nod included after concluding so). It’s clever, and even the characters I thought I would hate ended up invoking my empathy. The sad thing is, I actually can imagine a future just like this, especially if the current patriarchy continues to dominate the world.

I would love to teach this book at a college level. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol

sari_lyr's review against another edition

inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, Rape, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Body shaming and Gaslighting

kaelilili's review

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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? It's complicated

5.0

Being unhappy implies that she has a capacity to be happy, but she does not have the right to be happy.

This is the best book I have read in a long time. It is a representation of having a narcissistic partner, and how your sense of self is tied to their perception of you. This was a powerful and challenging read that makes you question what it means to be a human with free will.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Death and Fatphobia

Minor: Terminal illness, Transphobia, and Vomit

Vivid depiction of Annie being trapped in a closet with her libido set to 10. She is in agony until she lets her battery die, and as a result has some sexual trauma. She is then left in the closet for 7 weeks.

Very controlling and emotionally abusive “partner.”

ilana_pop's review

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

jp_riemersma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective tense fast-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and War

bizupto's review

challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

librarianeno's review

adventurous mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This book explores the romantic relationship between a man, Doug, and his Annie, a robot that he specified the design on. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting

very unhealthy relationship between Doug and Annie. Also, at one point, Doug locks Annie in a closet for several weeks.