Rating: 4/5
Pages: 250
Showing posts with label robots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label robots. Show all posts
Friday, January 11, 2019
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams
Rating: 4/5
Pages: 250
Friday, March 23, 2018
Alex + Ada, Vol. 3 by Jonathan Luna
Alex + Ada, Vol. 3 by Jonathan LunaMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
This final novel wasn't my favorite. I think I hoped for something more from the conclusion. How it went down made me mad, and it ended up being pretty anti-climatic. Still, I don't regret having read it, but the first book remains my favorite.
Book 131 read in 2018
Pages: 136
Alex + Ada, Vol. 3 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Alex and Ada continue to struggle with the world's
increasing fear of sentient androids and their allies. Ada must find a balance
between freedom and safety, while Alex has to juggle his family, friends, and
their knowledge of Ada. With their life together at stake, are they both
willing to do what it takes to protect each other?
Book 3 in the Alex + Ada series.
136 pages.
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Alex + Ada, Vol. 2 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Upset that his X5 couldn't think and feel for herself, Alex took the huge risk of unlocking her. So far, making her sentient seems to have paid off. Alex continues to become happier as he and Ada grow closer. But as tensions between the android and human communities rise and restrictions are placed on androids, Ada becomes unsure about her place in Alex's life and the world.
Book 2 in the Alex + Ada series. 128 pages.
Sunday, March 18, 2018
Alex and Ada
by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
Pages: 128
Rating: 4 out of 5
From Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn comes this new science-fiction drama set in the near future. The last thing in the world Alex wanted was an X5, the latest in realistic androids. But then Ada is dropped into his life and he discovers she is more than just a robot.
Saturday, March 17, 2018
Alex + Ada, Vol. 1 by Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn
When Alex is given an X5 robot as a birthday present from his grandmother as a way of getting over a bad breakup, he is less than thrilled. If he wanted a girl in his life, he would have gone out to find one. But as he gets to know Ada, he is surprised to find she isn't just any robot.
Book 1 in the Alex + Ada series. 128 pages.
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
The Wild Robot by Peter BrownMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This middle grade novel about a robot that gets stranded on a wilderness island is so sweet. I know, I know. You're all thinking, really? A feral wilderness robot is sweet? Yep. It sure is.
There are no people in this novel. Roz, the bot, has to learn how to adapt, survive, and communicate with the animals of the island, after she's shipwrecked, washed ashore, and accidentally activated by an otter. She is involved in an accident that causes the deaths of a family of geese, minus one small gosling, which she then adopts and raises.
This is a charming, adorable story about how great a place can be when there's someone there, even just a robot, who simply wants to do what is right and make life better for everyone, no matter what creature or species you may be. There's something to be learned here about the strength of society, and what makes for stronger communities. It's touching to watch her learn and grow, and to see how the other animals change and adapt with her. She has a positive influence on the whole island.
The only bad thing about the audiobook is the terrible symphonic additions at the start and end of the book. The music is cued up so loud that I can barely separate out the words and focus on the story, which is absolutely frustrating. Don't get me wrong. I am not opposed to music or sound effects with audiobooks. I have my undergrad degree in music, so bring on the orchestra.
HOWEVER, additional sounds should never supersede anyone's ability to hear and focus on the actual story, ESPECIALLY DURING THE CRUCIAL START OF A BOOK. This is so common, and it MAKES ME SO ANGRY.
When the noise/music is louder than the story, that's an utter failure on behalf of the individual who was responsible for adding sound effects and music to the book. That's just wrong and bad on every level. Not everyone has perfect hearing, perfect speakers, and/or a perfect listening environment. The people who cue music for audiobooks need to take the book out with a set of crappy headphones and listen to it in a busy location.
Then, and only then, should they make decisions about the volume of the background music and sounds. If they are sitting in a high tech studio, then they're mixing the book for themselves, not for the everyday audiobook user, which is just frustrating.
Luckily, the very loud, brain impairing noise lasts for only about the first 8 minutes at the start, so if you turn the audiobook up to double speed, you can get through the uncomfortable segment in just over 4 minutes. Hang in there. After those 8 minutes, you'll be able to hear and appreciate this adorable story, despite having basically missed the entire start of the book. Regardless, you'll be able to follow along with the story, even if you take very little out of the section cued with music, because while I hate missing the start of a story, I didn't struggle to figure out what was happening in the story once the noise violence ended.
I did almost quit listening, because somewhere around the 3 minute mark, I suspected the loud music may be cued throughout the whole book, and I knew I couldn't handle that. It's not. Hang in there.
Pages: 288
Friday, August 12, 2016
Ungifted by Gordon Korman
Ungifted by Gordon KormanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
This MG is adorable, and I love it. It has a great message about how every person has something unique to offer to life and social situations, even if they aren't rocking a label such as gifted, or athletic, or popular.
It's funny, with an incredible cast of delightfully unique characters.
Pages: 288
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