Reviews

Tell the Machine Goodnight, by Katie Williams

causearuckus's review against another edition

3.0

Perfectly serviceable novel.

stayathomereader's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective relaxing sad medium-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

3.75

dillarhonda's review against another edition

Somehow, a machine that can tell you exactly what you need to do to make you happy is the least interesting part of Katie Williams' latest novel Tell the Machine Goodnight. The novel's greatest success lies in the idiosyncratic sadnesses of each of the characters -- a young man recovering from an eating disorder, a woman dosed by a drug called 'zom,' a performance artist, a scream queen. With each chapter structured like a short story, Williams is somehow able to trace an arc for each of her characters as well as to explore the concept of happiness itself. Unsurprisingly, the machine doesn't turn out to be the key to happiness, but thankfully Williams plays this revelation as a grace note rather than the point of her novel. Rather than platitudes, what she seems to be after is something more mercurial and much more magical.

leexmaria's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

bbyrne's review

reflective 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

bgintherr's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

miss_vonnegut's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

This was a really interesting book. I loved that it made me think about happiness in more depth. What it means, why and how we want it, and if we ever really have it--at least in the long-term. It definitely got dark at times and left me wanting to read something in the YA genre as a sort of palate cleanser. Again, it wasn't bad, just a little dark. Definitely check content warnings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, and Eating disorder

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Drug use

Minor: Animal cruelty and Rape

The animal death is

Spoiler

baby mice that get fed to a pet.

helenferg's review

emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Fire/Fire injury, and Self harm

soapa's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-paced

3.75

snowbenton's review against another edition

2.0

Cool idea, but literally nothing happens. Insanely boring characters. The POV changes are poorly transitioned.