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A review by queen_susan
The Lost Cause by Cory Doctorow
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.