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restaurantjunkie's review
2.0
it pains me to say this, but this is not a good book. I struggled to finish it, I even debated whether or not to leave it as a DNF.
it reads a little like a “world of tomorrow!“ newsreel from the 50s. it explains and details a world of the near future, I even think it probably does a fairly accurate job of detailing these details. I deeply respect Cory Doctorow’s nonfiction work, but this book doesn’t really have a story or a point.
It gets very bogged down in details, and not necessarily interesting or educational details. Other people have mentioned this in their reviews, but Doctorow seems oddly fascinated with every scrap of food that goes into his characters’ mouths. As a person who works with food, some of that was interesting, but a fair amount of it sounded ridiculous, especially the “black licorice kombucha.” Gross.
The world created in this book is very believable. It is also remarkably uninteresting. It might be worth reading for the educational details, but it’s not a gripping read.
it reads a little like a “world of tomorrow!“ newsreel from the 50s. it explains and details a world of the near future, I even think it probably does a fairly accurate job of detailing these details. I deeply respect Cory Doctorow’s nonfiction work, but this book doesn’t really have a story or a point.
It gets very bogged down in details, and not necessarily interesting or educational details. Other people have mentioned this in their reviews, but Doctorow seems oddly fascinated with every scrap of food that goes into his characters’ mouths. As a person who works with food, some of that was interesting, but a fair amount of it sounded ridiculous, especially the “black licorice kombucha.” Gross.
The world created in this book is very believable. It is also remarkably uninteresting. It might be worth reading for the educational details, but it’s not a gripping read.
henniganmedia's review
Does what Doctorow is good at — less a 21st century Gibson than a liberal Ayn Rand
queen_susan's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Maybe I was just too dumb to understand this book and the political theory behind it but it didn't really land for me.
It felt at turns optimistic and fatalistic. None of the characters really seemed to have empathy for people who thought differently than them, and any time someone did it was shut down by the narrative.
The climax of the novel was odd - after most of the book explaining how institutional authority was mismanaged and too slow to act and calling the cops was just as bad (or worse) than doing nothing, the pivotal turning point in the book hinges on ignoring that message.
Also, this book was extremely online. All the characters use a lot of online slang, talk in ways that are extremely indicative of online culture (actively acknowledging consent negotiations as they're ongoing), and none of them ever engage in casual pastimes or hobbies that aren't screen based. I am fully aware how ridiculous it is to complain about that when I'm online so often and I'm literally posting right now on a review website, but I didn't like how the only time a character actually reads is to hate-read a novel, complain about how much he hates it, and then to wonder in not so many words if all storytelling is manipulative and disingenuous. I would hope that by engaging with novels, even ones I don't like, that I'm expanding my horizons and not getting locked in an echo chamber of opinions.
It felt at turns optimistic and fatalistic. None of the characters really seemed to have empathy for people who thought differently than them, and any time someone did it was shut down by the narrative.
The climax of the novel was odd - after most of the book explaining how institutional authority was mismanaged and too slow to act and calling the cops was just as bad (or worse) than doing nothing, the pivotal turning point in the book hinges on ignoring that message.
Also, this book was extremely online. All the characters use a lot of online slang, talk in ways that are extremely indicative of online culture (actively acknowledging consent negotiations as they're ongoing), and none of them ever engage in casual pastimes or hobbies that aren't screen based. I am fully aware how ridiculous it is to complain about that when I'm online so often and I'm literally posting right now on a review website, but I didn't like how the only time a character actually reads is to hate-read a novel, complain about how much he hates it, and then to wonder in not so many words if all storytelling is manipulative and disingenuous. I would hope that by engaging with novels, even ones I don't like, that I'm expanding my horizons and not getting locked in an echo chamber of opinions.
mreinbold's review
3.5
Some neat, big ideas hamstrung by melodrama. There aren't fully realized characters, rather one-dimensional stand-ins for ideological stereotypes, with a weird obsession with food minutia.
geegee98's review against another edition
challenging
funny
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Felt like a 355 page philosophical debate about how to manage differing views on the climate crisis. The number of monologues from characters meant to be in their late teens to late twenties where they made complex arguments about refugees, housing, utopic states, bitcoin, libertarianism, extremism, radical socialism, aid work, and more was as unbelievable as it sounds. By the end I was skim reading a lot of the denser paragraphs just because I hate DNRing books.
elibtronic's review
2.0
You can spot what is going to the main character from miles away, mostly just philosophical vignettes presented as dialogue between characters, I like his non-fiction better.
imaginaryswede's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
tealightfultomes's review against another edition
I think I might have started reading this at the wrong time - it's definitely an interesting take and something I'd have absolutely devoured when I was at uni. I agree with the author's politics but I might be a bit too tired politically for it at the moment, will probably try it again if things settle down in a few years. Would hugely recommend to anyone wanting a frank but hopeful look at the climate and right wing emergencies and how things could unfold.
Have to say I struggled with the concept of millennials largely being MAGA loons in 30 years time though - I suppose some would be but we've lived through so many "unprecedented times" I can't imagine us becoming so aggressive as a generation. We're too damn tired for that and we don't tend to be xenophobic climate change deniers either.
Definitely be ready to suspend disbelief in some parts and make sure you're not feeling too much despair at the state of the world before you go in if you read this one.
Have to say I struggled with the concept of millennials largely being MAGA loons in 30 years time though - I suppose some would be but we've lived through so many "unprecedented times" I can't imagine us becoming so aggressive as a generation. We're too damn tired for that and we don't tend to be xenophobic climate change deniers either.
Definitely be ready to suspend disbelief in some parts and make sure you're not feeling too much despair at the state of the world before you go in if you read this one.
shermansays's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
xmunoz's review
4.0
Corny at times, but I'm giving this 4 stars because:
- Detailed descriptions of what people were eating. I love that the book highlights the importance of food in organizing, community building and cultural expression, as well as a source of nourishment and pleasure.
- Relevance to the present moment. This book is a timely exploration of where we go from here
- Nostalgia. I spent much of my adult life living in California, and while I no longer live there, this book feels like California. It takes place in Burbank, and it captures some very California-specific, 2010s/2020s ambiance.
- Detailed descriptions of what people were eating. I love that the book highlights the importance of food in organizing, community building and cultural expression, as well as a source of nourishment and pleasure.
- Relevance to the present moment. This book is a timely exploration of where we go from here
- Nostalgia. I spent much of my adult life living in California, and while I no longer live there, this book feels like California. It takes place in Burbank, and it captures some very California-specific, 2010s/2020s ambiance.