Welcome to Litsy!

I am so confused. When I first started reading this book, it felt like I started in the middle of the book. What happened to the world, like exactly? What was the surgery, what were they testing, and why? I felt like there was supposed to be some message or hidden meaning, but I just felt lost, and why should I care through the whole book. This book brought up more questions than answers, explaining nothing. 1/5

This little dystopian novel was the best kind of dystopia- just a little bit beyond normal, so you can envision the plot occurring but with other jumps that makes it feel “not yet”. Flawed characters, weird interactions make it quick and engaging.

#ToBWaiting 🐓
These could make an appearance on the Tournament of Books?? I chose from titles I haven‘t read yet.
Looking forward to the list!

With short, compact chapters, Helen Phillips constructs a world in the not too distant future where the ecosystem is collapsing&consumerism is rampant. AI robots called Hums advertise products to humans while also serving an unseen government.We meet unemployed May, who undergoes a face-altering surgery that will pay her enough to take her family to a Garden of Eden-style vacation.
A quick&tense read w/ an abrupt ending that I'm not sure I loved.

Set in the near future, people co-exist with AI bots in a very different world. A mother is being investigated for neglect of her children, after surveillance footage goes viral of a parenting mistake. This book also explores the crazy hold that technology has on society, where we are the product and the consumer. The scary thing is, that I can see many of the things in this book actually happening in my lifetime.

After losing her job, May agrees to have her face subtly altered to resist facial recognition in exchange for a significant payment. The cascading effects of this decision in a world populated by humanoid AI robots send May into a downward spiral. This near future dystopia hit very hard; not only did it seem entirely plausible, its depiction of societal dependence on phones and a pathological need for consumption ring all too true. Fascinating.

In a near future even more obsessed with screens and in which nature can only be accessed by the rich, a desperate woman has an experimental procedure done to assist a company in determining what can fool facial recognition. The consequences reverberate for her and her family in unexpected ways. And I have some questions about that ending! Fully absorbing.

(belated) August #botm picks!

#BOTM delivery on this dark, rainy Monday. I wasn‘t overly excited about the August choices, but thought these two were worth a try. And fun that they threw in a free short story (by Abby Geni)!

While “Hum“ offers a compelling premise and thought-provoking commentary, it struggles with character development and cohesive storytelling. The world-building is impressive, and the themes of privacy, technology, and family resonate strongly. However, the book ultimately falls short of delivering a fully impactful narrative.

In a world where AI is getting more and more prominent, this was a very interesting and at the same time a bit frightening book. It made me think about the way we interact with and take care of the world and the people around us. At its core it‘s a story about family and motherhood and the things we do to keep our children safe and happy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-galley.

Ahhhhh, I won a Goodreads giveaway! 🎉
It doesn't happen often, it's sooooo exciting when it does!