Junior and Henrietta (Hen) live in the middle of nowhere...One day a Full review here on my blog "We don’t get visitors. Not out here. We never have."
Junior and Henrietta (Hen) live in the middle of nowhere...One day a man called Terrence arrives. He's from a company working with the government. He declares himself as the bringer of good news. Oh, annoying he seems, he speaks professionally. He knows the best.
Junior has been selected/long listed as a possible candidate to go to space to start installation of a new settlement. This will take a long time, if he actually gets selected. So he will need to leave Hen alone. But they've thought everything. They have a solution for Hen, so that she doesn't feel lonely.
Oh, god this was such a good read. Spot on to say it's for fans of Black Mirror, so true. Even the names of the characters are beautifully put, Hen(!) and Junior.
It's not an eventful book, but a psychological and philosophical story set between 3 characters, a touch of science fiction but not heavy on sci-fi side at all. Could easily be adapted to a theatre play. There are a few surprises in the end, which you can actually guess if you read really carefully.
I love it when a writer captures a situation in 250-ish pages, not using one unnecessary word. This is one of the short and powerful books.
I am happy to discover Iain Reid, will be reading more from him in the future.
Thanks for the publisher, and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review....more
Now there's a guarantee I am giving to you: If you liked Station Eleven you will love this book.
I have never heard of Karen Thompson Walker before, bNow there's a guarantee I am giving to you: If you liked Station Eleven you will love this book.
I have never heard of Karen Thompson Walker before, but felt intrigued by the book description on NetGalley. I am so glad I have read this book. It is one of the fabulous finds, a book you pick by instinct and left you amazed.
I can summarise this as a borderline science fiction character drama- just like Station Eleven it swirls around lives of a bunch of people after a catastrophe- although in this book it's not a world-wide event, but a small town disaster, Walker masterfully delivering the intense feel of a lock down. There is sadness in this book but it's not cringe, beautiful as if a form of art.
Set in fictional university town Santa Lora in California, the book starts when some college girls fall asleep and fail to wake up. They dream. But no one knows what's causing this. Story moves between different point of views, Sara and Libby with their paranoid dad, a young married couple, Ben and Annie with their new born baby girl Grace, two castaway college students, Mei and Matthew, and a man named Nathaniel. I found almost all character's point of views really enjoyable and loved the way the story was delivered. The last chapter is one to remember.
I personally think the situation of a virus spread was handled excellently- no exaggeration, o unnecessary drama, as if a dish with all proper ingredients and a spot on pinch of spices. If you like psychological books with touch of sci-fi I will highly recommend. 5 stars and will definitely read Walker again. ...more
Oh I liked this book! The psychological thriller combined with sci-fi: an excellent mix!
Can't wait to watch the movie adaption now.
A spacecraft is fouOh I liked this book! The psychological thriller combined with sci-fi: an excellent mix!
Can't wait to watch the movie adaption now.
A spacecraft is found underwater...There is a sphere inside it. A group of scientists are sent to investigate but of course, strange things start to happen. Tense and gripping....more
Unfortunately didn't finish- although reading up to 77%
The start was perfect. Over a hundred years old and a dedicated lifer, Lea has an accident afteUnfortunately didn't finish- although reading up to 77%
The start was perfect. Over a hundred years old and a dedicated lifer, Lea has an accident after seeing her longtime lost dad- and she cannot tell anyone about this. Because her dad is kind of a criminal. So the authorities think she was trying to kill herself by throwing herself under a car. And then she has to get inspected.
Then there is Anja, her once famous opera singer mum is hundreds of years old and bound to machines, and she's trapped in her own life as her mum's heart is trapped in hers. I won't lie- I found Anja's story far more poetic and beautiful. However the book is mainly about Lea.
These two's path intersect in a support group-ish session. Beyond this point the story became very boring, and uninteresting. Of course there is also the Suicide Club, with ties to Lea's dad, assisting people to kill themselves and somehow celebrating death rather than life.
I was astonished by the start and got myself ready for a dystopian sci-fi. However it didn't take long for it to transform into a story of these two women's lives and personal problems. We are introduced to tougher human bodies with technologies as Diamond skin, good-for-you lab food nutripacks, etc. But the world building unfortunately doesn't go beyond that.
After 77% I realised that I am no longer interested in what will happen. I wanted to like this book so much, as I think the subject is so promising and a great idea however it didn't work for me, such a shame. 2.5 stars rounding up to 3.
Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review....more
Wyndham could be one of the most underrated writers of British literature. While reading The Sphere (M. Crichton) earlier this month I thought of ChocWyndham could be one of the most underrated writers of British literature. While reading The Sphere (M. Crichton) earlier this month I thought of Chocky.
This book was so well written, there wasn't a single unnecessary word or sentence and the overall idea was delivered fantastically. This kid, Matthew speaking weirdly, is he talking himself, an invisible friend, or something else entirely? Thinking of it still gives me goosebumps!...more
I've read this book when I wasn't even 20 and would love to re-read sometime. I know hardcore sci-fi books are not too much fun to read, especially ifI've read this book when I wasn't even 20 and would love to re-read sometime. I know hardcore sci-fi books are not too much fun to read, especially if they are in the space (My eyes bled while I read 2001: A Space Odyssey) but I remember really enjoying parts of this book, although overall finding it very long....more
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