pineconek's Reviews (816)

I have mixed feelings on this book, perhaps because I listened to it. It took me months to get through, even though I objectively enjoyed it and found it well written. I mainly struggled with the sense of deja vu this book gave me, both from first-hand experiences of corruption in biomedical research as well as from the author's tendency to highlight some points by repeating them several times throughout the book.

The first Stephen King novel I read, and I expected to be bored. I was... far from bored. I think I devoured it in two sittings. Thrilling, fun ride. Genuinely creepy and engrossing.

Jeanette Winterson has written some of my favorite books. She's daring, experimental, and tackles difficult themes bravely. Sometimes that works exquisitely (which is how I feel about some of my favourite books of hers, such as Oranges (obviously), Art & Lies or Lighthouse Keeping)... here it does not.
The Powerbook was frustrating because I felt it had potential but instead read like a disappointing companion to sexing the cherry, which I also didn't care for. It's not irredeemable and I can see what she was going for, but it's not for me.

Oh, Blake Crouch is good. Very good. I like him. This and recursion explored many of the same themes using similar concepts - parallel universes here, time travel in recursion. Identity, love, choices, and living with consequences all featured heavily without being heavy handed.

I like the way both books use sci fi to explore good, loving, and lasting romance. I appreciate the balanced portrayal of love as both something passionate and fervent but also a source of stability and comfort.

I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the accurate portrayal of scientists as people, both in this book and in recursion. As a scientist, it's very refreshing (although this sentiment might still be my grievances about Annihilation bleeding through).

This book is fun, engaging, keeps the stakes high, and hits all the right emotional notes for me. Great Sunday read.