It’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; …
Robots solved ennui
4 stars
A lovely story and interesting setup, got me interested in reading the sequel. I sometimes found dialogues and some of the world building a bit too artificial, as if I was reading a Calvin & Hobbes comic - where it's routine for a kid and a tiger to debate profoundly. Still, an entertaining and heartwarming adventure.
An interesting read for anyone like me who had a very idealistic view of public libraries and how working at one might be. The book was successful as a thought provoker, never have I ever reflected so much about how public services in general ought to be designed and the effects of social ills spilling over between government spheres - a parallel between libraries and police I never would have imagined. I'm now more aware of libraries as such a valuable sensor of how communities fare, whether their basic needs are met; and of course even more grateful for their existence. A public library gave me access to this book, and I'll be extra thankful from now on.
In terms of reading experience, some chapters felt a bit stretched. I understand the need to preface what cancel culture is, what social media does to society, what eugenic policies do to …
An interesting read for anyone like me who had a very idealistic view of public libraries and how working at one might be. The book was successful as a thought provoker, never have I ever reflected so much about how public services in general ought to be designed and the effects of social ills spilling over between government spheres - a parallel between libraries and police I never would have imagined. I'm now more aware of libraries as such a valuable sensor of how communities fare, whether their basic needs are met; and of course even more grateful for their existence. A public library gave me access to this book, and I'll be extra thankful from now on.
In terms of reading experience, some chapters felt a bit stretched. I understand the need to preface what cancel culture is, what social media does to society, what eugenic policies do to communities etc; all very fair and I think perhaps necessary so the thesis of each chapter can be self contained, but... personally I've found it a bit boring because halfway through the book, I'm sure the audience that chose to finish the read is the audience that's in the know about all that already. I might be wrong, but still, I found myself skimming frequently to the part where libraries come into play.
"In a single year, my father left us twice. The first time, to end his …
Struggles and Sorrows
5 stars
It is a heavy read, following multiple generations of hardship and turmoil. There's a charm to the characters being connected through music, specifically classical music, but the music is also crucial to the plot development considering how the cultural revolution would redefine "the art of the people".
The storytelling is strong, so strong that I sometimes had to pause mid chapter to take a breath and introspect on my own life and my extended family. The author really is a master of historical fiction and the craft of this intricate novel is a marvel. I sometimes felt a bit too shaken around with the frequent jumps in the narrative timeline, but each section had its own life and I eventually learned to enjoy the dance.
