Lelou commented on Lelou's update
Lelou is re-reading...

Monstrous Regiment
Terry Pratchett
Lelou commented on Lelou's review of Yesteryear
This was all right, I enjoyed it enough to finish it. I thought the twist was a little underwhelming when I felt it had been very hyped up. There were parts that I really enjoyed, like Natalie and her familys relationship with religion was interesting, especially how her mom and sister developed in that sphere and their contrast to Natalie. Overall, I felt the book could have been a little bit shorter, there was a lot of the same. I expected a very mindblowing book but I guess that's a risk you take reading very hyped books. It was fine, I think it will make a good movie and I will definitely watch it!
This book reminded me of Kuang's Yellowface and King's Carrie. Actually I thought about Carrie a lot reading this, Natalie made me think a lot of Carries mom.
Lelou commented on Plankton's review of Hum
Everything you do is being recorded and might be used against you. Do you consent?
This book is an eery reminder of what happens when all our data becomes capital, when we are transparent and nothing is freely available anymore. Against the background of a bleak, hot, smoky city Helen Philips explores humanity, connection, and the dangers of data collection and AI.
Every few pages this book made me think of our current reality - be it social networks that try to capture and disconnect us, surveillance systems that spread out at increasing speed or AI that is advertised as the solution to everything, when it only amplifies our most pressing problems.
The plot is easy to follow, and May is, while deeply flawed, a character that I think almost everyone will empathize with. She's desperate for connection, desperate to survive and desperate to escape this dystopia she is living in.
I really enjoyed this book, especially cause it prompted a lot of reflection and it showed how dangerous giving up control over our data and lives actually is.
Lelou wrote a review...
This was all right, I enjoyed it enough to finish it. I thought the twist was a little underwhelming when I felt it had been very hyped up. There were parts that I really enjoyed, like Natalie and her familys relationship with religion was interesting, especially how her mom and sister developed in that sphere and their contrast to Natalie. Overall, I felt the book could have been a little bit shorter, there was a lot of the same. I expected a very mindblowing book but I guess that's a risk you take reading very hyped books. It was fine, I think it will make a good movie and I will definitely watch it!
This book reminded me of Kuang's Yellowface and King's Carrie. Actually I thought about Carrie a lot reading this, Natalie made me think a lot of Carries mom.
Lelou finished a book

Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke
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Lelou started reading...

Yesteryear
Caro Claire Burke
Lelou wrote a review...
This was excellent, my headcanon is that this is taking place in the same universe as Grace Chan's Every Version of You. Maybe 20 years before it?
Helen Phillips manages to convey the emotions, desperation, loss of agency and helplessness in a society where there are no social safetynets, AI is taking over and we have to sell our souls to pay rent. She also beautifully manages to capture the feeling of being a child, with a sibling that you love and don't always get along with. And the feeling of loving your partner and wanting to be close but feeling an invisible barrier between you that seems impossible to overcome. And in experiencing a difficult event together can be what brings you together.
I would have loved to know more about all the characters, especially the Hums and what's behind them, but regardless this was a great read and I really struggled to not read it through the night!
Lelou commented on Lelou's update
Lelou finished a book

Hum
Helen Phillips
Lelou finished a book

Hum
Helen Phillips