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Fails to Disappoint :)
This book certainly deserves its status as an essential modern classic.
It provides a somewhat sinister feel, but remains thought provoking. The overall story is short, but it incorporates such strong ideas that it makes up for it being a short read. Not only is it enjoyable, but it also serves to educate the reader on the dangers of attempting a utopian society. Its concept of why it is important to retain human memories – even the bad – in order that wisdom can exist, adds to the fascinating factor.
This book would be great to spur discussion and introspection. Although fans of contemporary dystopian novels will be sure to love this series, the book isn't solely the story of a depressing utopia. It's mainly the story of the relationship between the main characters: the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name, and of course, the baby Gabe. This book is a more of a mystery in which things don't much get answered- they're left to linger. That's part of the beauty and hopefulness in this book! Just read the damn book, then call me.
You won't be disappointed if you read it, because it's an enjoyable read. It contains a great plot, the community is interesting, and the ending is fantastic and JUST a little ambiguous!-- cool!
It provides a somewhat sinister feel, but remains thought provoking. The overall story is short, but it incorporates such strong ideas that it makes up for it being a short read. Not only is it enjoyable, but it also serves to educate the reader on the dangers of attempting a utopian society. Its concept of why it is important to retain human memories – even the bad – in order that wisdom can exist, adds to the fascinating factor.
This book would be great to spur discussion and introspection. Although fans of contemporary dystopian novels will be sure to love this series, the book isn't solely the story of a depressing utopia. It's mainly the story of the relationship between the main characters: the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name, and of course, the baby Gabe. This book is a more of a mystery in which things don't much get answered- they're left to linger. That's part of the beauty and hopefulness in this book! Just read the damn book, then call me.
You won't be disappointed if you read it, because it's an enjoyable read. It contains a great plot, the community is interesting, and the ending is fantastic and JUST a little ambiguous!-- cool!
Gritty narrative (1 more)
Twisting turning plot
Fantastic dystopian fantasy
This book came highly rated by people on the fantasy faction facebook group and goodreads, so I had high expectations when I started reading. The reader is thrown straight into the thick of this strange post-apocalyptic magical world and the terms and creatures therein.
The story follows Ryhalt Galharrow, a captain in the Blackwing, a group of soldiers and enforcers working for the supreme magician Crowfoot. They are charged with keeping order along the Range and tracking down dissenters and run-aways.
Galharrow quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot and a battle to save the republic from itself and the evil Deep Kings and their hordes of mutated zombies.
The narrative is extremely gritty and at times you can almost smell the filth and second-hand brandy.
While you are thrown into it without warning and without preamble, this is to McDonald's credit, as the reader pieces things together quite quickly, or can make up their own mind about how things look and work.
To sum this up, I would say it was like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie ghost-writing a Brandon Sanderson plot - with the best aspects of both sides (the gritty dialogue from the grimdark authors with the intricately designed magic system and urban landscape of the plotter).
A superbly crafted story with excellent flowing prose.
The story follows Ryhalt Galharrow, a captain in the Blackwing, a group of soldiers and enforcers working for the supreme magician Crowfoot. They are charged with keeping order along the Range and tracking down dissenters and run-aways.
Galharrow quickly finds himself embroiled in a plot and a battle to save the republic from itself and the evil Deep Kings and their hordes of mutated zombies.
The narrative is extremely gritty and at times you can almost smell the filth and second-hand brandy.
While you are thrown into it without warning and without preamble, this is to McDonald's credit, as the reader pieces things together quite quickly, or can make up their own mind about how things look and work.
To sum this up, I would say it was like Mark Lawrence or Joe Abercrombie ghost-writing a Brandon Sanderson plot - with the best aspects of both sides (the gritty dialogue from the grimdark authors with the intricately designed magic system and urban landscape of the plotter).
A superbly crafted story with excellent flowing prose.
Kaz (232 KP) rated I Am Mother (2019) in Movies
Jun 14, 2019
A Great Sci-Fi Thriller
I watched this yesterday afternoon and I thought is was a very enjoyable sci-fi thriller.
I'm a fan of films which explore interesting ideas and have twists and turns and so 'I am Mother' ,was just my kind of film.
The acting was very good, particularly by the young actress who plays 'daughter'. At first, because the actress is younger, I thought this was going to be a stereotypical teen dystopian movie with some cheesy teen romance through in for good measure, but I was pleasantly surprised how it was more mature than that.
The interesting relationship 'daughter' has with 'Mother' was really interesting. Even though 'Mother' is a machine, the two main characters have some real emotion in their relationship. I think that might have something to do with 'Mother' voice not being metallic, but more 'human'.
This film explores thought provoking ideas, as well has having great tension and action. I also liked the twist towards the end of the film.
The only slight complaint that I had with this film, was that the ending was a tad predictable. However, I still feel that this is satisfactory.
This film is really thought provoking sci-fi film and I would definitely recommend watching it.
I'm a fan of films which explore interesting ideas and have twists and turns and so 'I am Mother' ,was just my kind of film.
The acting was very good, particularly by the young actress who plays 'daughter'. At first, because the actress is younger, I thought this was going to be a stereotypical teen dystopian movie with some cheesy teen romance through in for good measure, but I was pleasantly surprised how it was more mature than that.
The interesting relationship 'daughter' has with 'Mother' was really interesting. Even though 'Mother' is a machine, the two main characters have some real emotion in their relationship. I think that might have something to do with 'Mother' voice not being metallic, but more 'human'.
This film explores thought provoking ideas, as well has having great tension and action. I also liked the twist towards the end of the film.
The only slight complaint that I had with this film, was that the ending was a tad predictable. However, I still feel that this is satisfactory.
This film is really thought provoking sci-fi film and I would definitely recommend watching it.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Radio Free Albemuth in Books
Mar 2, 2018
A lot of semi-autobiographical elements
While this is not PKD's best science fiction, the fact that much of it comes from his own experiences makes this an interesting read.
From being burgled, by what PKD believed to be an FBI covert operation, to hallucinatory visions, this posthumous book reveals much about his thought processes at the end of his life. Although this novel was written and scrapped, it was released in 1985 and has similar themes to his Valis series. In this, PKD plays a main character himself as a science fiction writer, while Nicholas Brady, a quirky record shop clerk, is his friend although he represents parts of the author himself.
In this dystopian science fiction, an alternate reality shows the US being run by a secret Communist regime despite appearing to be the opposite. Brady one day starts seeing visions in which he is controlled and he is able to communicate with an outer being who is trying to change the course of the country. His sceptic friend, PKD follows him wherever he goes only to find that there are some truths to his ravings.
It's quite a horrifying ending, and it does make you wonder how mentally stable PKD was at the end - but it definitely shows why PKD is still the master of sci-fi.
From being burgled, by what PKD believed to be an FBI covert operation, to hallucinatory visions, this posthumous book reveals much about his thought processes at the end of his life. Although this novel was written and scrapped, it was released in 1985 and has similar themes to his Valis series. In this, PKD plays a main character himself as a science fiction writer, while Nicholas Brady, a quirky record shop clerk, is his friend although he represents parts of the author himself.
In this dystopian science fiction, an alternate reality shows the US being run by a secret Communist regime despite appearing to be the opposite. Brady one day starts seeing visions in which he is controlled and he is able to communicate with an outer being who is trying to change the course of the country. His sceptic friend, PKD follows him wherever he goes only to find that there are some truths to his ravings.
It's quite a horrifying ending, and it does make you wonder how mentally stable PKD was at the end - but it definitely shows why PKD is still the master of sci-fi.
HOLY CRAP!!! THAT TWIST THOUGH!!!!
I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel. The way that Victoria Aveyard crafted the story made it very easy to get into the world. The rules of the world were set up really early on and there weren't too many of the usual YA tropes in it. I loved reading the character interactions in this story. They just felt really organic and lively. Mare was very well written. She was created with care and not condescended to in the writing. I felt like she, along with the other characters, were taken care of with the highest respect. That being said, it was really easy to start hating characters that I had previously loved. Thanks, Victoria. Like I didn't need my heart broken. I actually wasn't supposed to start reading this until after I finished my finals, but that is not what happened. It was too enticing and then I didn't want to put it down. The only reason I did was because I noticed that I actually had important assignments that I had to do.
I really recommend this novel to anyone who likes Fantasy and Dystopian novels. It is a perfect blend of the two and a really fun read. You will not want to stop until you finish!
I really enjoyed the writing style of this novel. The way that Victoria Aveyard crafted the story made it very easy to get into the world. The rules of the world were set up really early on and there weren't too many of the usual YA tropes in it. I loved reading the character interactions in this story. They just felt really organic and lively. Mare was very well written. She was created with care and not condescended to in the writing. I felt like she, along with the other characters, were taken care of with the highest respect. That being said, it was really easy to start hating characters that I had previously loved. Thanks, Victoria. Like I didn't need my heart broken. I actually wasn't supposed to start reading this until after I finished my finals, but that is not what happened. It was too enticing and then I didn't want to put it down. The only reason I did was because I noticed that I actually had important assignments that I had to do.
I really recommend this novel to anyone who likes Fantasy and Dystopian novels. It is a perfect blend of the two and a really fun read. You will not want to stop until you finish!
Anna Steele (111 KP) rated Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe #2) in Books
Jun 25, 2018
I am extremely shook
Neal Shusterman has just reinstated himself as my all-time favorite author. His books have been with me throughout my life. The Unwind dystology, The Skinjacker Trilogy, Bruiser, Challenger Deep, and now the Arc of a Scythe. Each one of these stories has touched me in a deep and unique way. Thunderhead is no exception. Book one of this series: Scythe, received my first 10/10 review on this platform and the sequel was even better. Shusterman provides jaw-dropping twists and turns to his narrative that will leave your head spinning and your blood pumping, (your nanites might even have to lower your adrenaline). The Thunderhead is a compassionate character like no other, who knew you could ever relate so strongly and feel so deeply for an artificial intelligence? It is witty and sly, calculating and benevolent, and can be brought into a fury or plunged into despair by the acts of the immortal humans who created it. I need the continuation of this series and I need it now, the final moments are so intense that I choked on my tears after the last line. This is the most mentally engaging dystopian society novel you will ever read. I hope to come back to Shusterman for more in the coming years.
TravelersWife4Life (31 KP) rated Apprentice (Collective Underground #1) in Books
Feb 24, 2021
First things first, WHEN DOES THE NEXT BOOK COME OUT KRISTEN YOUNG?
What an intense pull you in from the beginning type of book this is! I totally did not want to put this book down, I loved Flick’s dialogue and narration of the story, her interactions with the people around her, and her subtle descriptions of everyday life. They were conveyed in such a way that I looked up from the book expecting myself to have on a white jumper and see everyone else wearing one too! A truly great descriptive use of words in this book that make it come to life. The Love Collective is fascinating to try and understand (and I am looking forward to learning more about them in the next book), at first it was kind of confusing but in a good way as my brain was trying to figure out everything right along with Flick.
Very few books I read can make me mentally think about what is going on in the storyline but this one kept that part of my brain engaged the whole way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a clean sci-fi/ dystopian type of book! 5 out of 5 stars.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
What an intense pull you in from the beginning type of book this is! I totally did not want to put this book down, I loved Flick’s dialogue and narration of the story, her interactions with the people around her, and her subtle descriptions of everyday life. They were conveyed in such a way that I looked up from the book expecting myself to have on a white jumper and see everyone else wearing one too! A truly great descriptive use of words in this book that make it come to life. The Love Collective is fascinating to try and understand (and I am looking forward to learning more about them in the next book), at first it was kind of confusing but in a good way as my brain was trying to figure out everything right along with Flick.
Very few books I read can make me mentally think about what is going on in the storyline but this one kept that part of my brain engaged the whole way. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a clean sci-fi/ dystopian type of book! 5 out of 5 stars.
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
Colin Newman recommended Church Of Anthrax by John Cale in Music (curated)
John Bailey recommended Contempt (1963) in Movies (curated)
Leanne Crabtree (480 KP) rated Crewel (Crewel World, #1) in Books
Jan 12, 2021
I haven't read and enjoyed a dystopian book in years but as this was a bargain £1, I decided to buy it.
It didn't immediately grab me but I kept reading hoping that something would pull me in. I started reading this towards the end of March and it's taken me until now to finish it..
The storyline was original with talented females - Spinsters - being able to weave the world around them with the best of them, the Creweler, getting raw materials that the Spinsters then use. We hear how Adelice, one of those talented females, was supposed to purposely fail her spinster test but instead aced it and now knows that the Guild will come to take her to the Coventry where she will begin training on how to weave.
The romance in this didn't grab me at all. I wasn't that bothered which guy she ended up with out of Erik and Jost. Neither really did it for me, though there was a surprising little twist at the end.
I just wanted to know what was happening in the higher up areas of the Guild and what everything was leading up to with Adelice. I wasn't all that surprised by how this book ended and I won't be reading the other two books in this series.
It didn't immediately grab me but I kept reading hoping that something would pull me in. I started reading this towards the end of March and it's taken me until now to finish it..
The storyline was original with talented females - Spinsters - being able to weave the world around them with the best of them, the Creweler, getting raw materials that the Spinsters then use. We hear how Adelice, one of those talented females, was supposed to purposely fail her spinster test but instead aced it and now knows that the Guild will come to take her to the Coventry where she will begin training on how to weave.
The romance in this didn't grab me at all. I wasn't that bothered which guy she ended up with out of Erik and Jost. Neither really did it for me, though there was a surprising little twist at the end.
I just wanted to know what was happening in the higher up areas of the Guild and what everything was leading up to with Adelice. I wasn't all that surprised by how this book ended and I won't be reading the other two books in this series.