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The Crafty Bookworm Reviews

Android Karenina Review

Tolstoy’s 1877 novel Anna Karenina is a commentary on many facets of society. It explores issues of family, marriage, love, passion, betrayal, and hypocrisy. Fast forward to 2010 and enter Ben Winters, change the title to Android Karenina and you have robots making things all the more complex and interesting.

Imagine a world where you and almost everyone (this isn’t a class free society even with robots) have a personal robot attendant customized to your personality so it knows exactly what to say or do in every situation. All household chores and even your personal hygiene are the work of robots. You can go into orbit or blast to the moon when you feel you need to get away from it all. This is a world where Android Karenina attends to her human companion Anna Karenina with devotion and seeming love not thought possible by robots.

Unfortunately, this world is also a dangerous one where rogue robots threaten your safety and unstable humans get way too obsessed with the power of robots. Are robots going to take over because they want to or simply because they can? Who are the "Honored Guests" and when will they come?

I was curious how androids could be written into the drama and romance of Tolstoy’s Karenina and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the seamless incorporation of robots and space travel into 19th century Russia. I especially liked that you could not tell what time period the story took place. It had some hints of 19th century society as seen in the way characters dress and the portrayal of gender roles; but otherwise the futuristic qualities made it seem like a future not far off. I also loved that just when I thought the story was at its most strange, another crazy twist was introduced.

A great science fiction twist to an old classic. A wonderfully interesting and surprising read that captivates in a way that the original can not in 2010.

Thanks irreference for sending me a copy of this fascinating book to review! This review is part of the Quirk Classics Blogsplosion Event.  Visit their site and mention my review/blog to win some sweet prizes!

Bookmarks!

I sold my first bookmark today! This now justifies spending time making more of them. I have a lot of fun making them because I love ribbon and felt and buttons. I also love coordinating fun and vibrant colours. I just bought 50 yards of ribbon today. I can't wait to get it in the mail!

On another book related note, anyone who knows me knows that I always have at least three or four books on the go. Right now I'm reading a great book from a series I've been meaning to read for a few years. The series is by Cornelia Funke (translated from the original German) and book one is titled Inkheart (apparently also made into a bad movie). Anyway, I love this book! The 12 yr old protagonist, Meggie is a believable yet intriguing character and the plot is all about books! I'm really enjoying it and that's not a common feeling when it comes to junior fiction. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good fiction for kids out there (Sean Cullen, Diana Wynne Jones, Trenton Lee Stewart, just to name a few) but I just wanted to mention how great this book is. It actually reminds me of when I was a kid and immersed myself in a book to escape to a whole new world...this book does that for me.

Haruki Murakami

I've recently been trying to catch up on my reading of all things Haruki Murakami and as much as I LOVE him and his writing, I can only read so much of it at a time. His work is not only beautifully written but it oozes loneliness and longing. You have be in a really good mood to be able to immerse yourself in his writing. Anyway, just finished Sputnik Sweetheart and loved it...of course. I'm taking a little break by way of reading a juvenile fiction fantasy novel and then I'll be picking up another Murakami. If you haven't read him...DO IT NOW!!!