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A rather disturbing read for me, but one that really made me think. Annie is a ‘cuddle bunny‘ AI robot living with Doug, a 34 year old man who has issues with Annie becoming auto-didactic and therefore more human like.

The juxtaposition of the sex scenes and Doug‘s abuse of Annie was really uncomfortable and the book raised questions about what it is to be human and what constitutes abuse.

What makes us human? is the question this novel tackles. Is the emotional abuse from a controlling 34-year old white man okay if it‘s directed at a robot? Annie‘s awakening was fascinating to read. I did wish there were more interactions with Monica. Would make a great pick for book club discussion. First book from #10BeforeTheEnd down.

#TenBeforeTheEnd

#weeklyfavorites

Adding Annie Bot after a short week in which I read little, completes October. These five are all so good but my favorite this month has been Prima Facie.

Annie makes some astute observations.

Started last night and I was immediately creeped out. The voice of Annie the sex robot sounds like a woman weighing her options in every conversation with a controlling partner. I read the summary a while ago, so I don‘t know where this plot is going, but I am here for the ride.

#TenBeforeTheEnd #10BeforeTheEnd

Such an original and interesting concept about what it means to be human. Annie is a bot, developed to please her owner. She is really intelligent though, although human emotions confuse her. Her owner is a 34 years old man who in his way cares for her but also wants to control her and is not pleased with her sharpness. A quick and fun read that leaves me thinking. Which is good!

This is the latest in the sentient robot trend. A robot girlfriend struggles with her owner who isn't very nice. But also what counts as personhood? Is it abuse if it's a robot? I would actually recommend this as a good book club pick.

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

Annie is a cuddle bunny (sex robot) set to auto didactic mode. This deeply uncomfortable novel explores her relationship with her owner - a liberal misogynist- and her growing sense of self. Highly recommended.

What does it mean to be human? Completely fascinating book #29 #2024

This was a good book. Doug was narcissistic. It was hard reading Annie forced to do things as she is learning she wasn't being treated fairly.

This was a bit different than I was expecting. I was expecting uncanny valley, unnerving. What I got was confused and unclear sci-fi elements that really added little to a familiar “dystopia” story rooted in desire of agency. 🤷🏻‍♀️ This one felt undercooked to me.

On deck from the library. Unintentionally matches my fresh petit bouquet. 💐✨🫶🏻

A "cuddle bunny" sentient sex robot named Annie struggles to reconcile her growing desire to be a "real girl" with her programmed attachment to her emotionally abusive owner. I'm not sure there was anything groundbreaking here, but it was an enjoyable read.

So much to ponder. Ultimately What makes a person human?
I don't really understand the "science" of Annie, she is a bot but from a human embryo, it isn't really discussed, so we know that we need to use our imagination/that isn't the point.
Doug is an asshole. It is interesting to put a sex robot with introductory feelings with an abusive owner. It gives a lot of context and dimensions to the story.
Annie is fantastic, smart, interesting, ?

What an interesting book!! A guy creates the perfect bot girlfriend. The development of Annie is incredible and scary when you think about AI!

I am flying through this book.

Lots of trigger warnings so beware. But it is so good, lots to think about and a protagonist to really root for.

Created to be the perfect girlfriend, Annie evolves, displays some pretty human emotions as the story progresses. And don‘t get me started on her owner Doug who attempted to “train” her to satisfy all his needs.

I read this after hearing the author on The Stacks podcast. It‘s an interesting premise, and the author does a great job making Annie seems human to the reader. The ending was a little different than I expected but I‘m still thinking about this one.

A compelling and creative take on what it means to be human as seen through the eyes of a female robot who finds herself in an abusive relationship. I found the ending to be a bit underwhelming.
That said, I'd be lying if said I wasn't hoping for a murderous robot rampage when I was only 25 pages in.

This book is an interesting look at what it might be like to be in an abusive relationship. It explores the nuance of seeming to be property. It also explores consent. This book will make you squirm, and it should. I only give this two stars because it reads like a first draft, rather than a completed product. If you are a fan of stepford wives or pleasantville, you will know what you're in for.

4⭐️/5⭐️

The cover really didn‘t appeal but I‘m glad I listened to this audiobook (read by Jennifer Jill Araya) because I really enjoyed it. I cared very much about Annie, and issues of consent, gender relationships and toxic masculinity are explored well.

You are invited to check out today‘s episode of Friday Reads: Comics; Eisner awards; Quebec history; historical India; singing fish; Hindu kidlit; a stalker & a sexbot!

https://youtu.be/fHRYS4cjAcI

I read this book club!! It was a little slow at first but then it picked up with more plot and themes developed of ownership and autonomy and what it means to be human. And yes there is sex! I think everyone should read this book. It gives a somewhat alarming look at what our future can be with AI and robots. It‘s a short, quick read overall.

I was very invested in Annie but this was an uncomfortable read- as I'm confident the author intended. It explores personhood, control, emotional abuse, and other important topics through the use of robotic helpers. One can buy a Bot to do the cleaning, be a nanny, or a sexual partner. Annie is described as Doug's girlfriend but, of course, she has no choice in that. Or Indeed in anything:

Just started. I love weekends. ❤️ 😊

This brief, disturbing book follows Annie, an android programmed to serve her owner, Doug. Ever since Doug switched Annie to autodidactic mode, she has been learning and growing, becoming more self-aware and individual. Since Doug is a controlling jackass this inevitably leads to problems. The outlines of this story are familiar, but it was still a tense and psychologically compelling read.

This book was like a train wreck.I couldn‘t look away. Not necessarily a bad thing, I read it in record time. What an interesting concept, but if our world ever does come to this, we are doomed. AI is advancing so quickly that I have a feeling we might see something like this in the not too far future. This story did leave me with some questions and a desire to discuss it with someone who‘s already read it. I‘d definitely recommend it.

My #BOTM box arrived! I got this very soft tee with my books this month.

I have heard so much about this.. can't wait!

Fantastic book!! This book is smart and knife sharp. Annie is a robot programmed to please her owner Doug but it is so much more than that, a clever book diving into emotional abuse, autonomy and sense of identity. Recommend!! 🤖🩷 #botm

This book is very different from most books I read. I ended up liking it a lot. The beginning was soooo good. I was eating it up, and then the ending was just very anti climatic. I wish the author would have gone deeper with her questions. It felt like the deep questions like where does humanity begin and end and who makes that call was more of a fleeting thought than a in depth question. I just wanted more. 3.5/5

This is one interesting story about a robot who is bought by a guy to be his lover and do nothing but try to please him. However, she‘s one smart robot and eventually not too happy with her situation. Really liked where this book went with the added plus of a great ending. Very thought provoking as I found myself rooting for Annie Bot to find herself, whoever herself may be.

Yes, it‘s a pick but a weird and icky pick. I enjoyed the writing and will probably read this author again. The idea of an AI cuddle bunny was unsettling, Doug was creepy, but I didn‘t really want to put the book down so there‘s that 🤷🏼‍♀️. I wish I could discuss this with book club, @Allyneedsbooks

Soooo…. Eff Doug. Annie is a cuddle bunny AI bot who is owned by Doug. Annie learns all about what it takes to please Doug. Something happens with his trash ass friend Roland and all trust is lost. This gets intense and part of me was hoping that she would either kill Doug or hope she would throw herself out of a window so that people would know that an AI tried to kill herself just to get away from Doug. I liked this, it‘s very readable. Very👇🏼

I‘m giving a pick to a book that made me feel … ick. I didn‘t want to stick with it and at the same time couldn‘t stop. The ick factor faded, and I found the last third intriguing. But here‘s something else I‘m thinking about… I would have DNF‘d well before the final third had this same story been written by a man, and that only adds to my wild thoughts on this one.

I can‘t WAIT for someone I know to read this so that I can discuss this with someone! I devoured this book. It was a quick read, and sometimes frustrating but in a way that serves the story. The themes of gender expectations, AI, and relationships keep you thinking long after the story is over. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Annie Bot is incredibly immersive, emotional, and timely. I couldn‘t help but picture Margot Robbie as Annie (even though she‘s not described as looking that way), and “What Was I Made For?” could have been this book‘s soundtrack. Packing a feminist, empathetic punch, it left me with more food for thought than concrete answers. #BOTM

Annie is an AI Bot, a cuddle bunny. Custom made for Doug, the man who owns her.

Through Annie's eyes we see her life with Doug. She's programmed to please him, to satisfy him. Through Doug, Annie learns what it is to be human. She learns our traits, expressions, social norms and about control, lies and deceit.

This book has so much to say about women, relationships and AI.

A fantastic book club book, a vibrant discussion is guaranteed.

I devoured this. I couldn't stop reading it, but I am having trouble processing how I feel about it. I think I am struggling with how much I liked the book when I saw so much wrong within it.

4.5 ⭐️ This pointedly smart, Atwood-esque glimpse into our possible future had me rapt, unnerved, and deeply pensive. A salient read in this precise moment as AI surges ahead.

I‘m just going to go ahead and throw a heavy TW on this one for abusive relationships. I have a strong stomach for dark books usually, but the relationship between sentient sex robot Annie and her owner Doug had me stressed the F out and dreading picking it up again. No thanks!

This book is getting buzz in science magazines because it‘s about a sentient sex robot. It‘s a quick read that leads one to consider patriarchy, capitalism, and freedom. #BOTM

Very interesting take on an age-old question: can love exist between owner and owned? Or does ownership remove all vestiges of choice/consent/freedom that in my opinion are necessary for love to exist? I found this book compelling and worth reading.

3.5⭐
What a wonderfully weird and thought provoking story of a divorced man and the AI robot girlfriend he owns. Literary Fiction is not my usual genre but I was intrigued by this story and I'm happy to have read it. It tackles an array of topics from autonomy, women's roles in society, and ultimately what it means to be human.
This would provoke great discussions at book club.
Annie is a unique and likable character that I won't soon forget.

The vast majority of this was deeply unsettling and uncomfortable for me. I don‘t know how to commend this more than: 🤢😭🤯♥️. 5 glowing stars.

#botm #bookofthemonth

Is this the year I get very into Sci Fi? 😁😁 highly recommend this book.. a really interesting concept and beautifully written book 💓💖

My #BOTM came and I immediately started this one. It's about a sentient sexbot who starts to gain autonomy.