Kat 's Reviews > In the Lives of Puppets
In the Lives of Puppets
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Kat 's review
bookshelves: adventure, contemporary-fiction, adult-fiction, diversity, fantasy, favorites, friendship, humor, lgbtq, romance
Jan 14, 2023
bookshelves: adventure, contemporary-fiction, adult-fiction, diversity, fantasy, favorites, friendship, humor, lgbtq, romance
For a book that’s almost entirely inhabited by androids and machines, this may be one of the most human books I’ve read in a long time!
Synopsis: Giovanni Lawson, an android and inventor, has built a home in the forest with his human son, Victor, and two machines Victor salvaged: Rambo, an adorably neurotic and talkative vacuum and Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill), who’s loyal, hilariously blunt and just a wee bit sociopathic! When Victor, Rambo and Nurse Ratched discover a decommissioned and damaged android who they name Hap, after his visible letters H.A.P.,Victor doesn’t realize his well-intentioned efforts to restore it will cause a cascade of events that unearths Gio’s past and threatens all of their futures.
Soon it becomes clear that the machines have no room for humanity in their plans. Only Victor’s peril-filled journey to the City of Electric Dreams with Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Hap to rescue Gio will decide what everyone’s future holds … or if there will be one at all.
My Thoughts: I LOVE this story. I’ve read three books now by TJ Klune and every one of them has made me laugh, cry, worry, grumble and just FEEL all the things. There’s so much insight and thought in what he writes that it never feels like “just a story”. You may not agree with every idea presented, but I guarantee they’ll make you think and that’s always a good thing!
The blurb says the story is inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio. I see some nods and references, but this is very much its own story, which I was so thankful for since I’m not a Pinocchio fan. Don’t let the word “puppets” scare you off, because there are NO creepy, nose-growing puppets in this story! It seems more a reference to the strings of thought that pull one to think and behave the way they do. There were also some Wizard of Oz vibes for me with the destination journey of one human with their three trusted friends. Overall it was a riveting adventure!
I’m not a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi, so it says something that I already know this will be one of my favorites for this year. The writing is filled with heart, humor and hope, the plotting and world-building is fantastic and the characters are so memorable. Nurse Ratched and Rambo alone are worth this read, but I loved Victor and Hap’s dynamic and Gio as well!
If you want a story that includes adventure, romance, diverse representation, fantasy, sci-fi and a little bit of inspiration from the classics, this is perfect. I can’t wait to see what TJ Klune comes up with next!
★★★★★ ❤
Thanks to Tor Books, NetGalley and author TJ Klune for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on April 25, 2023.
Synopsis: Giovanni Lawson, an android and inventor, has built a home in the forest with his human son, Victor, and two machines Victor salvaged: Rambo, an adorably neurotic and talkative vacuum and Nurse Ratched (Nurse Registered Automaton to Care, Heal, Educate, and Drill), who’s loyal, hilariously blunt and just a wee bit sociopathic! When Victor, Rambo and Nurse Ratched discover a decommissioned and damaged android who they name Hap, after his visible letters H.A.P.,Victor doesn’t realize his well-intentioned efforts to restore it will cause a cascade of events that unearths Gio’s past and threatens all of their futures.
Soon it becomes clear that the machines have no room for humanity in their plans. Only Victor’s peril-filled journey to the City of Electric Dreams with Nurse Ratched, Rambo and Hap to rescue Gio will decide what everyone’s future holds … or if there will be one at all.
My Thoughts: I LOVE this story. I’ve read three books now by TJ Klune and every one of them has made me laugh, cry, worry, grumble and just FEEL all the things. There’s so much insight and thought in what he writes that it never feels like “just a story”. You may not agree with every idea presented, but I guarantee they’ll make you think and that’s always a good thing!
The blurb says the story is inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio. I see some nods and references, but this is very much its own story, which I was so thankful for since I’m not a Pinocchio fan. Don’t let the word “puppets” scare you off, because there are NO creepy, nose-growing puppets in this story! It seems more a reference to the strings of thought that pull one to think and behave the way they do. There were also some Wizard of Oz vibes for me with the destination journey of one human with their three trusted friends. Overall it was a riveting adventure!
I’m not a big fan of fantasy and sci-fi, so it says something that I already know this will be one of my favorites for this year. The writing is filled with heart, humor and hope, the plotting and world-building is fantastic and the characters are so memorable. Nurse Ratched and Rambo alone are worth this read, but I loved Victor and Hap’s dynamic and Gio as well!
If you want a story that includes adventure, romance, diverse representation, fantasy, sci-fi and a little bit of inspiration from the classics, this is perfect. I can’t wait to see what TJ Klune comes up with next!
★★★★★ ❤
Thanks to Tor Books, NetGalley and author TJ Klune for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s due to be published on April 25, 2023.
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Reading Progress
January 10, 2023
–
Started Reading
January 14, 2023
– Shelved
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
adventure
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
contemporary-fiction
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
adult-fiction
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
diversity
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
fantasy
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
favorites
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
friendship
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
humor
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
lgbtq
January 14, 2023
– Shelved as:
romance
January 14, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 121 (121 new)
message 1:
by
CarolG
(new)
Jan 14, 2023 04:36PM
Excellent review Kat. I'm almost tempted to give this a try! Like you, I'm not a fan of fantasy or sci-fi.
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Wonderful review! I wasn’t sure if this one would be for me-but you have convinced me it is! Adding! 💕
Carol wrote: "Excellent review Kat. I'm almost tempted to give this a try! Like you, I'm not a fan of fantasy or sci-fi."
Thanks, Carol! I think Klune's stories so focus on the characters that I almost forget it's fantasy and sci-fi. It's a rare author that can do that for me! 💗
Thanks, Carol! I think Klune's stories so focus on the characters that I almost forget it's fantasy and sci-fi. It's a rare author that can do that for me! 💗
Jayme wrote: "Wonderful review! I wasn’t sure if this one would be for me-but you have convinced me it is! Adding! 💕"
Thanks, Jayme! I just love his storytelling and characters. I hope you'll enjoy them as well! 💗
Thanks, Jayme! I just love his storytelling and characters. I hope you'll enjoy them as well! 💗
GirlWithThePinkSkiMask WAAY BEHIND & CATCHING UP!! wrote: "Glad this was another banger !😍 Great review 👍"
Thanks, Pink! It's nice to get a 5-star read early in the year! 💗
Thanks, Pink! It's nice to get a 5-star read early in the year! 💗
NZLisaM wrote: "Very intriguing review. I really need to get around to reading this author. 💚"
Thanks, Lisa! If you love fantastical worlds and stories with wonderful, funny, creative characters, you may like him! 💗
Thanks, Lisa! If you love fantastical worlds and stories with wonderful, funny, creative characters, you may like him! 💗
That’s a satisfying range of emotions to have when reading a book. Glad you loved Kat. Fabulous review 💖
Splendid review, Kat. Surprisingly, when I started reading your comments I immediately thought of "The Brave Little Toaster." 😊
Margaret M - Semi Hiatus - wrote: "That’s a satisfying range of emotions to have when reading a book. Glad you loved Kat. Fabulous review 💖"
Thanks, Margaret! It's lovely to have a full emotional response to a book! 💗
Thanks, Margaret! It's lovely to have a full emotional response to a book! 💗
Sujoya (lots of catching up to do! Happy New Year to all my GR friends!)) wrote: "Fantastic review, Kat! 🧡 Glad you loved this one!"
Thanks, Sujoya! 💗
Thanks, Sujoya! 💗
Bob (aka Bobby Lee) wrote: "Splendid review, Kat. Surprisingly, when I started reading your comments I immediately thought of "The Brave Little Toaster." 😊"
Ah, the memories! I used to watch that with my kids when they were little. I can see why you'd think that! Thanks, Bob! ✨
Ah, the memories! I used to watch that with my kids when they were little. I can see why you'd think that! Thanks, Bob! ✨
Christine wrote: "Great review Kat, I'll definitely have to check this book out."
Thanks, Christine! 💗
Thanks, Christine! 💗
Paromjit wrote: "Fantastic review, Kat…..you have me interested! ❤️"
Thanks, Paromjit! I think you might enjoy it! 💗
Thanks, Paromjit! I think you might enjoy it! 💗
Woohoo! I'm not a fan of "Pinocchio," either, so I am very happy to hear it doesn't hold tightly to the original tale. I hope it's a five-star read for me, too. Super review, Kat! :)
Melissa wrote: "Woohoo! I'm not a fan of "Pinocchio," either, so I am very happy to hear it doesn't hold tightly to the original tale. I hope it's a five-star read for me, too. Super review, Kat! :)"
I was so relieved, Melissa! I don't know the original Pinocchio story - only the Disney movie, so it may be closer to the book than I realize, but it didn't feel that way when reading it. I hope you'll love it too! Thanks! 💗
I was so relieved, Melissa! I don't know the original Pinocchio story - only the Disney movie, so it may be closer to the book than I realize, but it didn't feel that way when reading it. I hope you'll love it too! Thanks! 💗
Excellent review, Kat, and my first thought was it had Wizard of Oz vibes! I can't wait to listen to the audiobook (after publication) so I can experience the voices of all these magical characters. This author has amazing creativity and I'll most likely follow him anywhere for as long as I can!🥰
Claude's wrote: "Love this author too, Kat! Fantastic review and adding this book ❤️📚"
His books are so likeable! Thanks, Claude! I hope you'll enjoy this too. 💗
His books are so likeable! Thanks, Claude! I hope you'll enjoy this too. 💗
Terrie ("in and out" intermittently) wrote: "Excellent review, Kat, and my first thought was it had Wizard of Oz vibes! I can't wait to listen to the audiobook (after publication) so I can experience the voices of all these magical characters..."
Thanks, Terrie! I personally felt way more Wizard of Oz vibes than Pinocchio, but again, I didn't read the original Pinocchio so I can't say how much inspiration was taken from it. I love his audiobooks, so I think that's a wonderful way to go. I'm sure you'll love it! 💗
Thanks, Terrie! I personally felt way more Wizard of Oz vibes than Pinocchio, but again, I didn't read the original Pinocchio so I can't say how much inspiration was taken from it. I love his audiobooks, so I think that's a wonderful way to go. I'm sure you'll love it! 💗
preoccupiedbybooks wrote: "Wow this definitely sounds interesting! Glad you loved it Kat!"
Thanks, Fran! It was so much fun! 💗
Thanks, Fran! It was so much fun! 💗
This sounds like an excellent combination of elements. Fabulous review, Kat! I'm glad it was a winner!✨
Wonderful review, Kat! 💛 I love your first line of this review. I would never have selected this for myself but now you have me reconsidering. 🤔
What a tantalizing review, Kat! 😍 Your first para itself was more than sufficient to sell me on the book. Will definitely keep an eye out for this. I've gotta read this author soon!
I cannot wait to read this one, I love all the different emotions that Klune can conjure! I am so glad this is going to be a favourite for you this year Kat! Amazing review! 🧡