Atlas
Contains spoilers
I'm so glad I can finally rate 0.5 star now!
Reading this book took me 3 months, which shows just how boring it was! I fell asleep after 4-5 pages (no exaggeration). Now that I've finished it, I'm not sure how much the teen-me would have hated this book but I? I hated it, but I? I hated it a lot. I can't believe I'm saying this, especially since Asimov was my #1 fave writer when I was a teen. Since 2024, I’ve been catching up on the greater Foundation series I’ve wanted to read since I was younger. I loved the Robot series, but now I’m worried I’ll hate Foundation!
The technology sometimes felt too advanced, with Asimov not bothering to explain it, and other times it was too primitive, which drove me crazy.
The plot was stupid.
The main character was a 23-year-old arrogant boy who wouldn’t shut up. Considering his semi-aristocratic background, I could’ve let him slide, but the narrative fell flat when it came to him. It focused only on his arrogance, not what was going on in his mind. There was no way to guess that he was such a smartass. It just didn't stick.
Artemisia barely did anything in the whole story. Whenever she was mentioned, it was only to focus on her body, which happened way too often. Even though the book was from the 50s, I couldn't stop thinking about how many times her smooth skin or breasts were described. It was annoying. I guess I should thank Asimov for doing the bare minimum when it comes to women!! I know, I know, I’m looking at this from a 2025 pov, but still...
Gilbert... what an idiot. He had invented something "amusing" for my time, but it certainly wasn't amusing when I thought about the future! And, to top of it, it wasn’t even used in the rest of the story! So, what was the point of introducing it in the first place?!! Rhodia felt like a world before the 17th century. At least tell me why technology is banned on this world besides Spaceships!! Did Frank Herbert get the idea for Dune from this book?!
Even on spaceships they still use paper??????!!!!!!
The twist about the rebellion people at the end got me though ngl.
About the last paragraph at the end of the book: I googled it, and it seems it was the editor's idea of Galaxy Magazine, where the book was first serialized. It was a ridiculous idea! Awfully retarded! Like, come on, is dictatorship the only form of government known to humans in the future?!
And how are so many planets ruled under dictatorship in a way that’s so stereotypical, even for our time?! Are you kidding me Asimov? You did better back in the 40s!
*P.S.: In Caves of Steel, Asimov provides a convincing explanation for the word "paper". One paper that includes lots of information digitally. I liked that one. BUT that happened 200 years BEFORE this!
THIS IS THE BOOK I NEEDED SINCE EVER!
James Clear is the one person that shows you the hows. The person who doesn't vent and in the end would say "All answers are inside you. You need to look inside." or "You you really want to, you should be able to!" and all the extra shitty arguments and excuses some specialists make up when you describe your problems and ask them for advice. I have many unfortunate conversations and hard times with such people, and most parts of me have been feeling that I am a reluctant unmotivated lazy person.
Since I've started reading this book and learnt the techniques James Clear actually teaches here, I have managed to start a few tiny changes and track them, and for that, I am very grateful to James, and my sibling, for introducing this amazing content to me.
Contains spoilers
Hello! This is my very first review on Hardcover. I felt this book deserves a much better place than Goodreads shelves, and for the sake of myself and Eleanor's!
Warning: This book might trigger trauma!
I like the title very much. It clearly implies that Eleanor is not fine. Not fine at all. Before checking it out, part of me knew I would like this book! I have no idea how but I was keeping an eye on it for a very long time from afar, and awhile back put it on my bucket list before turning 30.
The story resonated with me and my life more than I had expected. I wonder how a complete stranger can put down words in the exact order that are in my mind... I'm just very grateful that Gail Honeyman considered the topic of young people deal with loneliness, and even further than that; dealing with childhood trauma. So, this book is very dear and personal to me.
Meh. Ich erwartete mehr. Nur eine erste Antwort bringt ja nichts. Das Kind kann das schon. Ich erwartete Beispiele mit richtigen Dialogen, wo man sieht, wie die Bullys danach reagieren und einfach unsere Dinge nicht zurückgeben oder uns weiter schlagen. Oder wie die Eltern sich reagieren sollen und wie sie mit dem Kind umgehen sollen. Was tun dann? Das ist wichtiger!
WoW I honestly didn't think I'd like this book this much!
I was actually looking for a novel for audience in their 30s, possibly a main character without good social skills, and this wasn't that. The title sounded corny. But when I read a sample, it got me. It wasn't what I thought it was.
The author addresses her own marriage in the book several times, so, don't judge before reading!
I do not exactly fit in the audience of the book; single white women in their 30s. But the main point is being single, so, like every other person in this audience, I often thought it's my fault, that I am alone. Sometimes I would feel better, telling myself to focus on my self-discovery journey and enjoy my current status. But most of the time, and very recently, I've been feeling down. Everything had become unbearable. My inner drive just couldn't anymore.
This book wasn't what I was looking for directly, but I realized I have been searching for it indirectly. It was what I needed. I needed to hear all this from someone else; an extern motivation, someone who has gone through this and has come out from the other side (I don't mean marriage and other side! I simply mean being alive!) Someone who has survived all that, and would tell me there are actually many people like us, and about the many studies and research, and her own experiences.
And would tell me that I am not the bad guy. Some of the lessons weren't new to me, and I believe that's what makes it even better, that something that I have developed on my own isn't just something I have imagined! And I'm not crazy for feeling this or thinking that! And I have made the best choices in different situations I have been in.
I also liked her writing and her humor very much!
Thank you, Sara!
Every year since I was 4, my uncle would take me to an international book fair. But life shifted, I went there with other people, then by myself and eventually, I moved away.
This year, when the fair came around again, I knew even if I were there, it couldn't possibly feel the same — but I still wanted to feel connected. I came across this book that is about the magic of reading books as a child.
It felt like a quiet tribute to my past, a kid without friends and without being able to actually visit exciting places and go on adventures. Even as a teen there was nothing to do other than reading books. Books have been all I've known.
Now I'm glad to have the possibility to experience life and to have my own adventures but this book is a gift to the big part of me that saved me from madness and horror of the environment I've been raised in.
Actual rating: 4.90
I find this book the most important link among this series (yes even though I haven't read Empire yet. I am heading there), and very very dear to me in the case of Daneel and Giskard. Their conversations and evolution were the best parts of the book. Giskard has become one of my most favorite characters of all time. Goodbye, friend Giskard TTTTTTTTTT~TTTTTTTTTT
Honestly, I can't care less about Gladia's storyline and how Asimov ships her with every male character in each book WTF. Her peace mission seems dull and the officials of Earth are a bunch of potatoes whose minds Giskard could affect without trouble. Sometimes I do need to pause and think that officials are not really intelligent and cool and they have made and still make horrible mistakes we don't expect.
Now, I am glad that I have a first edition [heart on fire]
Look, I don't have any problem with overtly sexual scenes in books as long as they serve a purpose. The last couple of Gladia and Baley's encounters simply did NOT, and the descriptions of them were like a horny incel's fan fic; bizarre and disturbing.
I loved the last twist though, and everything before Gladia and Baley's odd encounters.
EINE BESONDERE WORTSPIELEREI, davon ich neue Wörter lernte und die Geschichte richtig witzig fand! Zusätzlich scheint mir die nicht unbedingt ohne Moral. Ich sehe es natürlich aus meiner Perspektive, dass wenn jemand anders ist, sollte sein eigenes Abenteuer erleben dürfen und auf andere Art und Weise neue Dinge lernen.
WWII pilots / authors writing wonderful stories about lonely children that crush my heart:
1) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
2) Roald Dahl
How does this combination work?! I've been trying to make sense of this but I can't. Any idea?
If you know more pilot authors please let me know!
The 5-year-old-me is happy and sad at the same time.
Years after watching Charlie and the chocolate factory movie (Johnny Depp) I heard the name “Roald Dahl” but since the movie was weird to me, I didn't follow the name of the writer.
In 2023, after some resistance and after long time insisting from the dearest person in my life, I finally watched “The Swan” short movie by Wes Anderson and was blown away by how relatable the bullying was. I was struck in the head, in a good way. I watched Henry Sugar short movie next, again by Wes Anderson. I was totally captivated by the story and decided to read it. I read it along with other stories about Roald Dahl's childhood and his time in WWII. I don't think I had found more relatable childhood than his. He understood kids and was willing to write about them and for them, especially the ones in difficult times.
Recently, when I decided to read another story from Road Dahl, I came across Matilda, another story I had never heard of before. Hadn't seen anything about the movie adaptation either. I read the summary, which had spoiled half of the book!!! ffs! And it made me determined to read it as soon as possible, for it was so goddamned relatable.
Partly, I'm upset that despite going to book fair onve a year since I was a kid, I had never came across Roald Dahl's name, maybe I had but had not paid attention, since I was supposed to buy books that would teach me stuff like knowledge, which I loved too but I bet, even if his books had caught my eye, I wouldn't have been allowed to buy them. After coming back from the book fair, I had to present what I had bought, so that the parents would know what they had given their money for!!!!
Roald Dahl could never have a place in our house, for if he had, he would have been my ally and Matilda would have been my hero and an awesome friend.
When Miss Honey talked about her life, I felt so so close to her. It's been a couple of years that I've been feeling so... aware around kids. Sometimes I feel like I gotta become a teacher and help the kids in need but after a few minutes, sometimes days, it'll go away. I'm so proud of Miss Honey for standing up for Matilda. I don't think I could have balls for such a brace act. I'm so proud of Matilda and am so joyful they found each other and helped each other. It's truly a dreamy story to me. I'm grateful to Mr. Dahl. At least I got to read this story in my lifetime.
Well I'll be damned if I don't give this book 5/5.I enjoyed the explanations regarding robots being logical and not reasonable. Hard robotic-sci-fi was RAD maaaaan! This combo of detective sci-fi has really grown on me!Aaaaaand I enjoyed very much reading a fortyish white guy faint more than once =)))) (the first time in Caves of Steel)”Gladia not minding loose clothing WTF white male writers of 50s!!??? I guess Daneel's body being described in Caves of Steel kinda balances this one out!!!!!AND OMG DID GLADIA THINK DANEEL AND BALEY ARE A COUPLE?! LMAOThe narrative of this book and a bit in Caves of Steel is very welcoming. As the reader, I got to accompany Baley and we faced surprises at the same time. Nice!I did want to facepalm over and over because I used to think the Solarians are dumb but then again, because of the narrative giving us info bit by bit, it turned out how shitty it is being born and raised on Solaria. For someone who has been born and brought up in a dictatorship, in isolation, in lacking any knowledge on human body, instincts and needs, far far away from other sex*es, and just recently figuring all this out with the help of outsider experts , I could understand Gladia very well and I'm glad for her proper closure.AND: DANEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I missed him through the WHOLE plot!FINALLY: Being born and raised in the caves wasn't my favorite AT ALL when I read Caves of Steel. I appreciated the solitude on Solaria at first but after Baley visited the tanks and kids, I came to realize none of them are ideal. No matter how hard humans try to suffocate the instincts in the name of “advance” or “culture” or “custom”. All the LIE piles up and falls down all over us! We all need a moderate life where our instincts, our curiosities, our basic needs such as affection, sex, interaction and solitude are simply met, neither ignored nor overindulged. We must not let cultures, customs and traditions stand in our way. This book has become very dear to me. Asimov THE LEGEND.NEXT: Revisit [b:Mirror Image 26816219 Mirror Image Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1450235310l/26816219.SY75.jpg 46843702] in [b:The Complete Robot 50091 The Complete Robot (Robot, #0.3) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1405467461l/50091.SY75.jpg 2361910]AND AFTER THAT: [b:The Robots of Dawn 41810 The Robots of Dawn (Robot, #3) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1351030933l/41810.SY75.jpg 905286]P.S.: Almost forgot: This book is way better than [b:The City and the Stars 250024 The City and the Stars Arthur C. Clarke https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1340242824l/250024.SY75.jpg 925052](1956).
The text was fluent. I'm glad I could read a sci-fi novel in original language in several days without difficulty.It wasn't perfect but I liked that it wasn't pure detective story but a sci-fi detective story. The main character was flawed. Being wrong several times led to him and us getting more information about the plot and the world on a greater scale, which I found quite interesting.The idea of the caves and mentioning Ozone were unique at the time. Hope there are more info on that in The Naked Sun.“Spacetown” as a name baffled me and after some googling, it annoyed me too. I don't get why he picked such a name for that meaning.Classification doesn't seem to be the kind of problem that would be solved someday in the future but just a concept that all kinds of societies would use to run(!) their peopIe.Family relationships also had not changed. I don't have any opinion + idea on that topic though.Even regarding the technology of 50s, he considered this story to be toooooo far in the future. This tech wasn't as advanced as I thought it would be in 1000 years but in 100.P.S.: NEXT: [b:The Naked Sun 76685 The Naked Sun (Robot, #2) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439756125l/76685.SY75.jpg 1583154]
I've been yearning to read this amazing rollercoaster of robotic sci-fi since 15 years. ◝(ᵔᗜᵔ)◜Susan Calvin is my favorite character even though Asimov didn't need to write much about humans and their character developments. I loved all the stories, their complexity, the logic and how Asimov just kept on cooking. Rest in Peace, Master.NEXT: [b:The Caves of Steel 76677 The Caves of Steel (Robot, #1) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439756390l/76677.SY75.jpg 140376]نسخهی فارسی دارای اشکالات تایپی بود که با توجه به چاپ اول بودن قابلدرک است.
I can't describe with words how happy I am finally reading this book in original language. It's been on my bucket list since 15 years.Reading its translation at first (in The Complete Robot) was the right decision, I would say. It did help me to get to know Asimov's world of early robots, as I had presumed.I don't think I am exaggerating: Considering the years these stories are written and published, the plots are mind-blowing, so are Three Laws of Robotics and how firm and yet flexible they apply. I like how Asimov just kept on cooking. Sometimes the characters or other aspects of the futuristic worlds didn't make sense though! which is annoying.Powell and Donavan are not bad. I would have like them better if their scenes were somewhat comedy. Then Nick Frost and Simon Pegg could play them in a miniseries.And at last, Dr. Susan Calvin. I must mention again that I'm not quite satisfied with the description of her appearance and her private life, which is obviously because of the patriarchy and the white male author! Other than that, she has been my favorite character, the voice of reason, analysis and passion for robots.####################SPOILERS####################Stephen Byerley could be an advanced version of [b:I,Robot 30525004 I, Robot (Adam Link, #0.1) Eando Binder https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1465707411l/30525004.SX50.jpg 51047598]Adam Link, my sweet boy T_T
Didn't read the epilogue (nothing new there).
It was a fun read! Definitely “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People.” :)))))
I burst into laughter several times. His critiques of social classes and behaviors were evident on every page.
I really dig his writing style :)
****spoiler****
Didn't expect a plot twist!!
a: I believe Jack/Earnest not being found after all these years highlights (again!) what losers the aristocrats were/are and how inefficient the cops were!
b: Some lines were misogynistic, yet I can't quite figure out if it's his way of criticizing how deeply patriarchy affected women to the point that they humiliate themselves, or if it was just the normal way of speaking back then (cuz it was).
Dies ist der erste deutsche Roman, den ich auf Deutsch gelesen habe, und ich muss sagen, dass ich viel Spaß dabei hatte – nicht nur, weil ich 98 % des Textes ohne Wörterbuch verstehen konnte, sondern auch, weil mir die Geschichte selbst sehr gut gefallen hat. :)
Leider ist die Geschichte nach 51 Jahren immer noch relevant, aber ich kann mich zumindest freuen, dass es dieses Buch gibt, aus dem ich lernen kann. :)
Ruhe in Frieden, Michael Ende!
Men making women go mad, episode n!!!
Men can't be satisfied, ever. It's just never enough how pretty a woman is! Men are allowed to be ugly, and the writers don't even mention much how a man looks like, but they describe a woman from head to toe in detail and judge them based on their appearance - ALL THE FUCKING TIME - SINCE EVER!
And now cosmetic surgeries everywhere! Don't you dare even think it's all women's fault! Don't!
Oh wow we finished it!(Jeff Bridges's tone:) End of line man!While reading the first hundred pages, I talked to a cool book-reader lady about how much I dislike this book because of the misogynistic characters. She said: “By reading the books of that era of how casual misogyny was and how women could only do what was expected of them, like being the servant of the husband, you see what kind of motive men had to create a robot.”Her words struck me. I decided to keep on reading and reminded myself that:1) Humans are accustomed to their evolution. Anything else is uncomfortable to them.2) Society moves much slower than technology. Up to this very moment of 2024, our world is still patriarchal and misogynistic.The story pace was awfully slow. It dragged me like a prisoner whose ankle was tied to the ankle of a camel in a desert. The camel didn't walk much and the heat got worse every minute.I know I had been waiting for the sci-fi parts but when the story did reach them in Book 4, they were horribly long and disinteresting. Just like how water is merely a mirage in the desert.I don't think I have ever skipped such long explanations in a book. The Edison guy couldn't shut up.I know, I know, I bought the book because of the first use of the word “android”, but more importantly, Edison's and that English guy's motive hasn't changed in 138 years. Their dream is finally coming true in 2024. They would have cried in joy seeing sex robots; One of the many reasons why “Incel becoming scientist” is the extreme danger and produces Viktor Frankenstein from [b:Frankenstein 12974171 Frankenstein Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546419388l/12974171.SY75.jpg 4836639]. Beware!And so, 4 minutes of silence for Mrs. Anderson, Hadaly, Alicia and Evelyn.P.S.: The university of Illinois printed this book on acid-free papers, which is a shame! The papers are awesome and I could draw stuff on them happily if most of them were empty!!!! (Wtf with this cover image?!)
I do not allow myself to have any opinion about the literature of this book since it's a translation. I find the translation text understandable.Now, about the story itself: Everything I've ever known about robots is summed up in this creative and wonderfully written story. Or maybe I should say that new writers, aka writers after 1921, had to expand this story and they were the ones I've read!! It's all a modern form of the amazing gothic-sci-fi story of [b:Frankenstein 12974171 Frankenstein Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546419388l/12974171.SY75.jpg 4836639], but since I love this nihilist idea, I'd like to keep on reading :)I would love to consider [b:In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays 135742 In Praise of Idleness and Other Essays Bertrand Russell https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1172071900l/135742.SY75.jpg 1314555] as an indirect analysis for this play.R.I.P. Mr. Čapek and Sir Russell.One thing that pisses me off about 21st century is that people literally have been happily helping to fulfill the prophecy of this story, yet when it is fulfilled, they'd be like!!!Like... Bruh!!! You've only recognized it... now?! I don't believe you! I mean, western countries have had this story since... ever(?) before their eyes!!