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mehsi's review
2.0
I was one of the lucky 500 to receive this book for free from the author.
Sadly, the book didn't turn out to be what I would like. I was thinking it was about time travel, noble actions and all that... but.. and I will put this under spoiler tags because sorry I just need to freaking rant/rage.
Heather and what happened to her? I had my suspicions it wasn't as easy as she said, especially since we know Franklin CAN'T travel to the future. And of course we find out that mister Franklin raped the poor thing, and she is very angry. He doesn't even remember her (no wonder, since he probably raped lots of girls), and he apparently doesn't mind telling her some details. *roll eyes*
Her revenge plan is interesting, but I don't know. On the one hand I think it is a bit too much, but on the other I also kind of approve. I am really not sure what to think. I think I would rather see him in jail for all his crimes (though that might bring some things that won't work. Considering he would just time travel out of the jail to a previous time). *sighs* At least he won't be hurting anyone now, let's just hope Heather will be using the powers for better. Though I am doubtful, since she is quite emotional and I am worried she might just do some stuff that will change/break things.
It is a short book, thank Lord, I don't think I could handle more revelations or more confusion. I am still angry and I still want to throw with things.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Sadly, the book didn't turn out to be what I would like. I was thinking it was about time travel, noble actions and all that... but.. and I will put this under spoiler tags because sorry I just need to freaking rant/rage.
Spoiler
So we find out that mister Franklin isn't so fucking innocent as we think he was. He used, no, no abused his powers to get laid, and he didn't give a freaking damn what the girls thought? Oh hey, they follow me, they give me somehow consent. Because, hey! Rape is what criminals do, and hey! Girls should just struggle more or should have said something? WTF. Seriously WTF. Just because they don't say no, or just because they go willingly, doesn't mean you can whatever you want with them. Franklin is truly the scum of the earth and all my sympathy for the guy disappeared when we found out he is actually a time-travelling rapist. It was instant hate, and my love for the book also went down. From an 3 stars, to 2.5, to in the end, sorry, a 1.5 stars. I just can't like books like this. I hate rapists, I hate guys doing this kind of stuff. I have seen it happen in other books and I have read about cases in newspapers like this (a guy raping a girl but not seeing it as rape due to the girl not exactly saying no or struggling). I felt disgusted, I felt angry, and I absolutely didn't expect this to happen.Heather and what happened to her? I had my suspicions it wasn't as easy as she said, especially since we know Franklin CAN'T travel to the future. And of course we find out that mister Franklin raped the poor thing, and she is very angry. He doesn't even remember her (no wonder, since he probably raped lots of girls), and he apparently doesn't mind telling her some details. *roll eyes*
Her revenge plan is interesting, but I don't know. On the one hand I think it is a bit too much, but on the other I also kind of approve. I am really not sure what to think. I think I would rather see him in jail for all his crimes (though that might bring some things that won't work. Considering he would just time travel out of the jail to a previous time). *sighs* At least he won't be hurting anyone now, let's just hope Heather will be using the powers for better. Though I am doubtful, since she is quite emotional and I am worried she might just do some stuff that will change/break things.
It is a short book, thank Lord, I don't think I could handle more revelations or more confusion. I am still angry and I still want to throw with things.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
bluebeereads's review
5.0
Wow, that ended kind of dark. I loved it though, it was awesome! Kind of short, but it's a short story so. I want to read the rest of the collection now!
lispylibrarian's review
5.0
Super fast awesome read!
I loved this super short story. It took me about ten minutes to read and I was engaged every second. A quick short story about a time traveler meeting someone that he influences in his travels. If you like sci fi and quick, you'll love this.
I loved this super short story. It took me about ten minutes to read and I was engaged every second. A quick short story about a time traveler meeting someone that he influences in his travels. If you like sci fi and quick, you'll love this.
booknookghost's review
5.0
It's been a while since I've come across any science-fiction that really hits home--partly because I don't read a lot of sci-fi, but mostly because even when I do, I find it difficult to connect.
So believe me when I say this: THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE is incredible.
I've talked about Beth Revis' Across the Universe trilogy before (which I loved!), so I went in expecting something, but came out with so much more.
THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE is a short story following Franklin who--surprise!--is a time traveler, a pretty clueless one at that. He meets Heather, a girl from the future that comes with an idea to make his time traveling better: she has a machine. In fewer pages than it seems possible, Beth Revis manages to construct and deconstruct both these characters so thoroughly, that we are left, well, bamboozled and feeling like we've known them for an entire book.
(Better yet, please give them an entire book, Beth!)
It's hard to talk about it without spoiling the twist, which is half the fun, but I can say this: the author is not afraid to get gritty. And the story will take you in and fill you up with a sense of justice and retribution so strong, you won't even know what happened.
In the world of short stories, THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE made it up there with my favorites, next to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (which is my ultimate favorite, if you must know).
The rest of the anthology, called THE FUTURE COLLECTION, was just released, and you can bet all your chocolate-chip cookies that I will not be missing it.
Neither should you.
.
Thank you to Beth Revis for providing this story free for honest review!
So believe me when I say this: THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE is incredible.
I've talked about Beth Revis' Across the Universe trilogy before (which I loved!), so I went in expecting something, but came out with so much more.
THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE is a short story following Franklin who--surprise!--is a time traveler, a pretty clueless one at that. He meets Heather, a girl from the future that comes with an idea to make his time traveling better: she has a machine. In fewer pages than it seems possible, Beth Revis manages to construct and deconstruct both these characters so thoroughly, that we are left, well, bamboozled and feeling like we've known them for an entire book.
(Better yet, please give them an entire book, Beth!)
It's hard to talk about it without spoiling the twist, which is half the fun, but I can say this: the author is not afraid to get gritty. And the story will take you in and fill you up with a sense of justice and retribution so strong, you won't even know what happened.
In the world of short stories, THE GIRL AND THE MACHINE made it up there with my favorites, next to The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (which is my ultimate favorite, if you must know).
The rest of the anthology, called THE FUTURE COLLECTION, was just released, and you can bet all your chocolate-chip cookies that I will not be missing it.
Neither should you.
.
Thank you to Beth Revis for providing this story free for honest review!
alexperc_92's review
4.0
ARC from author in exchange for an honest opinion.
This was a small story about a girl and a boy who could time travel. Beth's idea of using sci-fi genre is well known and she doesn't miss a chance to place it on every detail. While I idn't expect this plot when I began the short story, I was surprised by the ending and the justice which was given.
I can't wait to read the whole collection!
This was a small story about a girl and a boy who could time travel. Beth's idea of using sci-fi genre is well known and she doesn't miss a chance to place it on every detail. While I idn't expect this plot when I began the short story, I was surprised by the ending and the justice which was given.
I can't wait to read the whole collection!
alexvb's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
The first half of this is completely different to the second half of this. There is a definitely a "eureka!" moment where you can figure out just exactly what is going on. And I'm sorry, but this was so satisfactory to read, especially the ending. The twist was GREAT.
SPOILERS:
I'm sure so many rape victims wish they could get revenge on their rapists, and even in this smart way.
SPOILERS:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Rape
capesandcovers's review
5.0
I absolutely adore this story! I began reading it thinking that it would end up being somewhat predictable, but boy was I wrong. It took a very different, dark turn, and brought up things that normally go unaddressed in YA (or just media in general). Everyone should read this
linz's review
4.0
Beth Revis was nice enough to offer a copy of The Girl & the Machine to the first 500 readers to reply to her newsletter, and I was thrilled to have replied in time!
The Girl & the Machine is a short story about a college-aged guy named Franklin who can time-travel... within limits. He can only travel back within his own timeline, and not into the future. When Franklin meets a girl, Heather, who claims to know him and his secret, he's intrigued and willingly hops on a plane with her after she tells him they've met in his future and her past. She claims they are going to change the world, and he believes her.
I would like to go into more detail about the plot, but I honestly think it will have more of an impact if you go in unspoiled. I'm afraid if I talked about it at all that I would inadvertently ruin it. Just trust me - read it.
I've said in the past that I'm not a fan of short stories, but I think this one may have changed my mind. Beth Revis is a brilliant writer, and she was able to weave an incredibly interesting story in just a few short pages. The characters were more developed than some I've read in other fully-developed series, and the premise is so fascinating. I will definitely be picking up her new short story collection (The Future Collection) once it's released.
The Girl & the Machine is a short story about a college-aged guy named Franklin who can time-travel... within limits. He can only travel back within his own timeline, and not into the future. When Franklin meets a girl, Heather, who claims to know him and his secret, he's intrigued and willingly hops on a plane with her after she tells him they've met in his future and her past. She claims they are going to change the world, and he believes her.
I would like to go into more detail about the plot, but I honestly think it will have more of an impact if you go in unspoiled. I'm afraid if I talked about it at all that I would inadvertently ruin it. Just trust me - read it.
I've said in the past that I'm not a fan of short stories, but I think this one may have changed my mind. Beth Revis is a brilliant writer, and she was able to weave an incredibly interesting story in just a few short pages. The characters were more developed than some I've read in other fully-developed series, and the premise is so fascinating. I will definitely be picking up her new short story collection (The Future Collection) once it's released.