When I first joined Goodreads, I wrote book reviews rather dependably. I put a fair amount of effort into them (content wise. Suffice it to say I could have done better proofing), but it never occurred to me to share them to my blog.
Well I've dusted off my review writing fingers, and recently reviewed Christina Grant's Being Human. So, I figured I'll pick up where I should have started in the first place, and share the review here.
Full disclosure: I did read this by request so that I would be able to provide helpful advice on the draft of the sequel. But, I don't lie in my reviews regardless of why I read a book to begin with, and truth be told, it hooked me.
Purchase links at the end.
Well I've dusted off my review writing fingers, and recently reviewed Christina Grant's Being Human. So, I figured I'll pick up where I should have started in the first place, and share the review here.
Full disclosure: I did read this by request so that I would be able to provide helpful advice on the draft of the sequel. But, I don't lie in my reviews regardless of why I read a book to begin with, and truth be told, it hooked me.
Purchase links at the end.
A Review
Being Human offers a very interesting take on the whole idea of cyborgs becoming, well, human. It is narrated by Alek, a robotic servant who through a series of upgrades, include real, bio hands, becomes more and more human until making any distinction otherwise seems absurd. His life and adventures are anchored in his relationship with his host/owner's family's daughter, Sabine, offering not only growing an changing protagonist to follow, but a dynamic and heartfelt relationship.
While the novel has a few, common first novel lulls in the pacing or the briefest of moments were I had to re-read a line or two, the overarching story, heart of the characters, and realness of the near-future world crafted by Christina Grant more than make up for it.
I would say common to many robotic films or books that focus more on feeling aspects rather than the superhuman ability ones, the story has a slow steady start. It eases you into the world, the concept of Alek being more than just a typical SimAid robotic servant, and the gentle nature and curiosity of the characters. Bean (Sabine) and Alek, in other words, seamlessly and suddenly becomes very real parts of your own world and imagination. I found them sneaking into my subconscious days after setting the book down. The balance between Bean's energetic and individualistic nature and Alek's straightforward earnestness is simply endearing and enduring. Their relationship is enough to hook you regardless of any plot beyond this, but alas, the book is strong in those areas as well.
The world itself seems not so far from our own, making the differences both fascinating and acceptable. The implications of these differences haunt the fringes of the story until they finally come crashing through in the end, just as Alek's own sense of self becomes more than just a intriguing theory.
Though there are hints that more is going on with Alek's upgrades (bio upgrades and otherwise) than he and Bean are lead to believe, it takes some time for the sinister truth behind them to be fully realized. When it is, you'll find it difficult to put the book down. This book is NOT just another run of the mill-- if a machine can think for itself does it deserve rights-- thought project. Grant takes this concept and pushes it to the darkest corners of human ambition, egotism, and sense of righteousness.
Along the way, Alek makes wonderfully and painfully astute observations on what it is to be "human" and quotes from various classical works pepper the headings of chapters in insightful and smart ways, framing the events that follow in just the right light.
Minor characters come to life effortlessly.
My only real complaint is that I did find that the ultimate antagonists to be a bit short sighted in some aspects while suddenly and overly cruel in others. The actions themselves are not unbelievable, but Alek's perspective on them prevents us from seeing fully the balance between the good and bad that their loved ones and supporters clearly see. This didn't ruin the story in anyway for me, but further insight into their cobbled together dance with nihilism (this isn't quite right, but the closest I can get to it) would have helped further their effect on Alek and on us. This minor flaw, at times, if you overthink it, sometimes makes things feel like they are happening to Alek because they need to/should, not because the antagonists organically want it. This is not a fatal error, nor is it a consistent one. This is really a minor complaint, and something that, should a sequel follow, could be easily rectified post hoc.
The book ends at a satisfying point and with a ton of potential for a sequel that will crack the world open at its seams, allowing us to delve into the darker patches that certainly effected Alek and Bean, but from which they were protected (at least kept naive about) by their high fluent life style and curse of being different. An exciting prospect indeed.
All in all, I recommend this book if you have even the SMALLEST of interest in such topics as humanity, love, or our ambitious forays into robotics and the future, or if you just like to watch someone fall in love, with life, with themselves, with the right person, with the right way of being.
With or without a sequel, this book is worth it.
If you're interested in more, the book gets a reliable 4-5 star rating from 98% of reviews and can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Being-Human-1-Christina-Grant/dp/0994029217/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1515694005&sr=8-1&keywords=being+human+Christina+Grant
Keep an eye out for more book reviews from me. I miss writing them. I am currently working my way through The Purple Sawmp Hen and Other Stories; The School of Good and Evil; The Crimson Petal and the White; and The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race
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