playground

‘Playground’ Review: A Journey Through Technology and Humanity

by Stefani

Playground by Richard Powers

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Run Bandhu, Krys Janae, Kevin R Free

Published: September 24, 2024 by W.W. Norton & Company

Buy this book at: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Synopsis:

A magisterial new novel from the Pulitzer Prize–winning and New York Times best-selling author of The Overstory and Bewilderment.

Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel from Richard Powers, showcasing the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Overstory at the height of his skills. Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough.

They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away.

Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.

Rating:

Review:

This book drew me in months ago with its beautiful cover. The reef, the colors, the manta ray, all of it was gorgeous. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I am a sucker for a pretty cover. I was also intrigued by the synopsis of this book. This seems to be a trend in literary fiction at the moment. To use individual stories to weave together a larger story. This book does it very well.

I genuinely enjoyed all of the characters and all of their narratives. I felt empathy and compassion for them, I understood their motives and I wanted to cheer them on. Rafi and Todd were the highlights though. Their stories were intertwined from the beginning. I loved watching them bond over their games, and their competitive natures sometimes at odds with their friendship. It was deep and genuine. I hoped that they would remain friends forever, but I also recognized that eventually their differences would probably drive them apart.

The stories were also well done, albeit slow to advance sometimes. This was, perhaps, one of the only drawbacks to this book is that the plot started to drag a little in the middle. I wanted the story to get moving and it just didn’t happen for awhile. But when it did, it took me in a place that I never expected. I found the weaving of humans and their love of play very charming. The theme of playfulness is woven into every line of this book, and it’s wonderful. Up until one specific sentence I was fully prepared to give this book 3 stars and talk about how I enjoyed it, but it just moved too slowly.

One specific line that Rafi emailed to Todd. My jaw dropped to the floor. I could not believe it. I never expected a twist in this book, and I never imagined the twist to encompass one singular line. All at once the entire trajectory of the book was different. Not just the trajectory of the book though, it changed the entire premise of the beginning of the book too. I was glued to this book from that moment. I couldn’t stop listening. It was truly masterful. I’ve read a lot of books where the author attempts to do what Powers did, but none have done it as smoothly and perfectly as he did.

I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s beautiful. It’s tragic. It’s hopeful. It’s playful. It’s probably my book of the year.

Progress Update Friday – October 11, 2024

by Stefani

The Bitter Truth by Shanora Williams

Progress: 254 of 320 pages

Check this book out at: Goodreads

Synopsis:

An upstanding political candidate. A determined stalker. A shattering lost weekend. Now, when his worst secret comes calling, how far will one man’s elegant, all-too-devoted wife go to uncover the truth . . . or bury it?

For Jolene “Jo” Baker, the least she can do for her adoring husband, Dominic, is give unwavering support for his North Carolina gubernatorial run. He is not only the love of her life, he’s also helping her prove that she’s far more than just a pampered trophy wife. With huge crowds showing up at Dominic’s speeches and the polls consistently in his favor, she’s never been happier to stand proudly by his side . . .

Until she and Dominic start seeing the same, strangely ominous woman turning up all along the campaign trail. Until their tour starts becoming a nightmare of botched events, crucial missed information, and increasingly dangerous “accidents.” Suddenly Jo can’t get any answers from Dominic—or understand why he is acting so paranoid and terrified . . .

What Jo can do is start digging into his past—one she’s never really questioned beyond his perfect image and dazzling accomplishments. What results is an alarming series of events that leave her Good friends turn into enemies, truths are revealed to be lies, and all clues lead back to one secret, shattering weekend that changes Jo’s entire life. With her world splintering into pieces, can Jo risk trying to set things right? Or will hiding the bitter truth by any means necessary destroy her as well?

How it’s going:

This book is really cooking now and I am completely invested. I wouldn’t be surprised if I finish it in one sitting. I am really hoping for a strong ending where the bad guy gets his comeuppance. Fingers crossed.

Playground by Richard Powers

Progress: 9:18 of 13:51

Check this book out at: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up on naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough.

They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped to feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next adventure: a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away.

How it’s going:

This is my current audiobook. With the craziness of kids and work lately I have found audiobooks a lot easier to get through because I can multitask. So expect quite a few audiobook reviews in the near future. The writing of this book is beautiful. Powers weaves these stories together so flawlessly. The main two narrators (there are 6 altogether) are wonderful too. They have distinct voices but at the same time their voices mesh very well. It’s an interesting dynamic that not all audiobooks get right. As for the story, I am really loving it. There was a portion of the book that dragged quite a bit and I felt myself tuning out, but it pulled me back in and has been very compelling ever since.

Upcoming Releases Sunday – June 23, 2024

by Stefani

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Expected publication: February 13, 2025 by The Borough Press

Check this book out at: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the critically-acclaimed, bestselling author of WEYWARD comes a story of sisters separated by hundreds of years, and yet bound together in more ways than they can imagine.

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales, hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack – but her sister is nowhere to be found.

As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town. Tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever…

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain.

A breathtaking tale of female resilience, THE SIRENS is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.

The Ravening by Daniel Church

Expected publication: November 12, 2024 by Angry Robot

Check this book out: Goodreads

Synopsis:

From the subversive mind behind The Hollows comes a new, page turning horror thriller, perfect for fans of The Only Good Indian by Stephen Graham Jones

Jenna’s life has always been a fight. From the traumatic and mysterious loss of her mother on a dark woodland road when she was fifteen, to the abusive and controlling boyfriend she’s recently escaped, she has learned that trust hurts you in the end.

Now Jenna’s found what she hopes is happiness with her new girlfriend, Holly. But the world is full of darkness – some of it ancient, some of it closer to home… Evil, and those who serve it, will not let Jenna go.

The Ravening is a gripping, claustrophobic horror novel that sets a timeless nightmare against one woman and her belief in herself, and the possibility that somewhere, somehow, there is love in the world.

Playground by Richard Powers

Expected publication: September 24, 2024 by W.W. Norton & Company

Check this book out at: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Four lives are drawn together in a sweeping, panoramic new novel from Richard Powers, showcasing the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Overstory at the height of his skills. Twelve-year-old Evie Beaulieu sinks to the bottom of a swimming pool in Montreal strapped to one of the world’s first aqualungs. Ina Aroita grows up in naval bases across the Pacific with art as her only home. Two polar opposites at an elite Chicago high school bond over a three-thousand-year-old board game; Rafi Young will get lost in literature, while Todd Keane’s work will lead to a startling AI breakthrough.

They meet on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia, whose deposits of phosphorus once helped feed the world. Now the tiny atoll has been chosen for humanity’s next a plan to send floating, autonomous cities out onto the open sea. But first, the island’s residents must vote to greenlight the project or turn the seasteaders away.

Set in the world’s largest ocean, this awe-filled book explores that last wild place we have yet to colonize in a still-unfolding oceanic game, and interweaves beautiful writing, rich characterization, profound themes of technology and the environment, and a deep exploration of our shared humanity in a way only Richard Powers can.