Scan barcode
laureenreads's review against another edition
4.0
In Genesis we learn about the society's history as told through budding historian Anax's eyes as she completes a four hour oral exam. But as Anax continues on in her exam she learns that what she thinks she knows isn't the whole story.
This is labelled as a Young Adult novel, but for all that it's a very short novel at only 150 pages, I don't think I would have considered it to be intended for teenagers. Anax is a teenage girl, of course, but the subject matter of the novel is not what I would expect a teenager to read.
Genesis is full of philosophical discussions that pose questions on whether the idea or the mind came first ("They arrived together. The mind is an idea."), that suggest how ideas can change and how the world can be influenced by this rogue ideas. There are some darker themes and aspects to the book than I would have expected, even with it being set in a dystopian/post-apocalyptic world.
The format for the story, though, was different and unique. Having the story itself be told as an exam lent itself well to the logical and well thought out approach that Beckett achieved so well. While I didn't find myself emotionally invested in the book as much as I would have expected, I was intrigued and caught up in the debates that occurred throughout the course of both the exam and the history of the society.
But, let's be honest, what I most loved about this book was that the ending was unexpected. A lot of authors try to surprise the readers, and the shock ending tends to be overdone. In this case, it was quietly done, the hints were there they were just so subtle that it took getting to the end for it all to build together and create a surprise ending. And between the ending and the philosophical questions, this is a book that makes you think.
(Also reviewed on my blog.)
This is labelled as a Young Adult novel, but for all that it's a very short novel at only 150 pages, I don't think I would have considered it to be intended for teenagers. Anax is a teenage girl, of course, but the subject matter of the novel is not what I would expect a teenager to read.
Genesis is full of philosophical discussions that pose questions on whether the idea or the mind came first ("They arrived together. The mind is an idea."), that suggest how ideas can change and how the world can be influenced by this rogue ideas. There are some darker themes and aspects to the book than I would have expected, even with it being set in a dystopian/post-apocalyptic world.
The format for the story, though, was different and unique. Having the story itself be told as an exam lent itself well to the logical and well thought out approach that Beckett achieved so well. While I didn't find myself emotionally invested in the book as much as I would have expected, I was intrigued and caught up in the debates that occurred throughout the course of both the exam and the history of the society.
But, let's be honest, what I most loved about this book was that the ending was unexpected. A lot of authors try to surprise the readers, and the shock ending tends to be overdone. In this case, it was quietly done, the hints were there they were just so subtle that it took getting to the end for it all to build together and create a surprise ending. And between the ending and the philosophical questions, this is a book that makes you think.
(Also reviewed on my blog.)
maggiebook's review against another edition
3.0
Thought this book was very original and was very invested in the story. The majority of the story is a entrance exam/test/interview to see if a young female can become part of the Academy, the ruling body on the island Republic. As the exam progresses you begin to learn the history of the Republic. This book is only 150 pages so I thought I knew where it was going and was so wrong. The ending is so surprising and made me want to re-read portions of the story to see how I got it so wrong.
Clever and engaging. I recommend this book.
Clever and engaging. I recommend this book.
ashmanzer's review against another edition
2.0
I have no clue what I just read. Big waste of my time.
x_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Heavy on philosophy and light on action. The format of the book greatly limited the author's ability to tell a compelling story, although it served a purpose.
hunziker's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Without a doubt the most shocking plot twist I've ever read. Great philosophical discussions.
daed's review against another edition
4.0
Aunque su sinopsis exagera un poquito, no se puede negar que es un muy buen libro y una historia atrapante. El final es muy bueno e impredecible. Lo malo; muy corto.
hakimbriki's review against another edition
4.0
I rarely find myself doubting whether I enjoyed a book or not after finishing it. I suppose I've never experienced anything quite like Genesis before. The closest thing I can compare this book to is going beachcombing somewhere new, feeling the excitement, finding nothing for most of the day, and then hitting the jackpot at the 11th hour. Genesis shows a lot of promise at first, exposing a dystopian new world brought about by realistic, true-to-life geopolitical conflict. But then... too many things happen in a very short period, which makes it more and more difficult to suspend disbelief as the chapters unfold.
Anax, the main character, shares her interpretation of a number of historic events at what appears to be an interview for a role at "The Academy", a mysterious entity which may or may not be a world government. She introduces us to a bunch of highly obnoxious characters whose motives are never clear. Halfway through the book, two of said characters, a curmudgeonly young man and a smartass AI, engage in a mind-numbing "philosophical" discussion about the nature of consciousness. This part of the book felt unsubstantial and superfluous, and I almost gave up. But once the twist is revealed, the story falls into place bewitchingly. It is then, and only then, that the dialogue, though very poorly written, makes a bit more sense. All in all, Genesis is an interesting take on the Man V. AI debate. The book is short, but very uneven. 3.5 stars.
Anax, the main character, shares her interpretation of a number of historic events at what appears to be an interview for a role at "The Academy", a mysterious entity which may or may not be a world government. She introduces us to a bunch of highly obnoxious characters whose motives are never clear. Halfway through the book, two of said characters, a curmudgeonly young man and a smartass AI, engage in a mind-numbing "philosophical" discussion about the nature of consciousness. This part of the book felt unsubstantial and superfluous, and I almost gave up. But once the twist is revealed, the story falls into place bewitchingly. It is then, and only then, that the dialogue, though very poorly written, makes a bit more sense. All in all, Genesis is an interesting take on the Man V. AI debate. The book is short, but very uneven. 3.5 stars.
mukoya's review against another edition
A short but very enjoyable read. Makes you hmmm a lot
ericbearclaw's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
How can I describe GENESIS in a way that will do it justice? It’s a chilling piece of dystopian literature, a psychological thriller that terrifies even though it takes place entirely in a four-hour-long conversation. It’s not light reading, for sure, and will force you to think long and hard about it days after you’ve finished the book.
On that note, though, I think that all the time you’ll have to put into thinking about this book and the issues it raises is completely worth it. There are long conversations that delve into questions of the worth of humanity and the dangers—and advantages—of artificial intelligence. The ending in particular was so unexpected, so original and yet so appropriate that once you’ve read it you can think of no other way to end the book. I would read this book again and again just to understand the circumstances that led up to the fascinating ending, an ending that will stay with you forever.
All in all, don’t miss GENESIS. It’s not a typical young adult read, that’s for sure, and will be difficult for many people to comprehend, but if you put the effort into it, trust me, it will be very worth it.
On that note, though, I think that all the time you’ll have to put into thinking about this book and the issues it raises is completely worth it. There are long conversations that delve into questions of the worth of humanity and the dangers—and advantages—of artificial intelligence. The ending in particular was so unexpected, so original and yet so appropriate that once you’ve read it you can think of no other way to end the book. I would read this book again and again just to understand the circumstances that led up to the fascinating ending, an ending that will stay with you forever.
All in all, don’t miss GENESIS. It’s not a typical young adult read, that’s for sure, and will be difficult for many people to comprehend, but if you put the effort into it, trust me, it will be very worth it.