Annie Bot by Sierra Greer (★★★★★)
Audiobook • Library • Science Fiction • 2024
Short synopsis: Annie Bot was designed to be the perfect girlfriend, catering to Doug’s every need—but the more human she becomes, the less perfectly she behaves. As she starts questioning their relationship, Annie must decide whether pleasing Doug is truly what she wants—or if she owes herself something more.
Gosh, I really loved this book! It’s the kind of book you want to read with someone else because there is so much to discuss. In this world, people can purchase robots that look like real people to perform all sorts of tasks: cleaning, cooking, running errands, and even being the perfect partner who is always ready to have sex and never complains. I love the way the author explored the nuances that come with having a robot like Annie. Doug designed her to look very much like his ex-girlfriend but now, he has the perfect partner. Annie is 100% devoted to Doug because, well, that’s why she was created. And he can turn her libido up and down depending on his own needs. When he’s done with her, or if she starts to annoy him, he can just send her to her charging port. It’s the ideal scenario for any red-blooded man, you know? The throughline of relationships and communication and what we owe to our partners is such an interesting one. Doug regularly grows weary of Annie the more human-like she becomes; the more she voices an opinion or contradicts Doug, the less he enjoys her. But then, we also have to remember that Annie is not human and she is a robot, and what does it mean when robots start to feel more human and have the ability to walk around in the world without being noticed? It’s scary to think about, quite honestly!
I couldn’t help but love Annie, even knowing she’s a robot. She didn’t choose to be a robot. She was given everything to be a human (except a brain, I guess), and in having her understand human emotions and act like a human, she started to feel like she is one. She read books and learned recipes and began to create a life for herself outside of her owner. I wanted the best for Annie and felt so much sympathy for her. (For a robot! Gah! This book gave me such complicated emotions.)
Anyway, I loved this book and if you have read it, I want to discuss it with you!
Colored Television by Danzy Senna (★★★★☆)
Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2024
Short synopsis: Jane hopes house-sitting in a lavish L.A. home will be the fresh start she needs to finish her novel and secure tenure, but when that plan falters, she turns to Hollywood for a second chance with a promising TV deal.
This book was definitely an interesting read. I struggled with the main character and her decisions, which tempered my enjoyment of the book. (Towards the end I was growing so tired of her and the expectations she was placing on her life. Gah!) And some of the satire elements of this novel went over my head. But what I did like was getting a glimpse into the life of a writer who is trying to produce their second book and doesn’t want to get lost in a sea of “mid-list authors.” I also thought the scenes with Jane trying to pitch a TV series and then come up with episode ideas to be riveting! I never knew what that was like. (Seems terrifying, lol.) This was ultimately a 3.5 star book for me (rounded up to 4) but I think it’s a book that would work a lot better for others than it did for me (particularly people in academia or who enjoy satire).
The Thing About Love by Julie James (★★★★☆)
E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Contemporary Romance • 2017
Short synopsis: FBI agents and former rivals Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd are reluctantly reunited as partners in an undercover sting to take down a corrupt politician. Forced to pose as a couple at a romantic beachfront resort, their old tensions ignite into something far more complicated.
This is a reread for me, and I think with this novel, I’ve officially reread Julie James’ entire backlist. Now I have to find a new favorite author’s romances to reread! I gave this book 5 stars when I originally read it, but this time around, it was more of a 3.5-star read. Some of the writing and banter was stilted and I would have liked a little more build-up to the romance. It felt like these two characters didn’t like each other at all and then, bam, they’re making out and can’t keep their hands off each other. But it was still an easy, fun read and I enjoyed myself.
What are you reading?
I loved Annie Bot as well! Doug was interesting because while he did not like that she learned and changed, he also loved it in a way. He set her to autodidact mode, he encouraged her to learn and grow. I think it made her more interesting to him. But she was always HIS property in his mind. The other thing about him was that when she did or said something that reminded him of what a fuck-tard he was, he did not like it. He didn’t want to be the type of person who did these things. Or at least, he didn’t want to be SEEN as being the type of person who did these things. And Annie, I just adored her. I loved the ending.
Annie Bot was such an interesting book, I’m glad you enjoyed it too!
Yes to alllll of this! Doug was such an interesting character. He really did want to be seen as a good person and he thought Annie would be happy with all of the ways he was helping her – but he also got angry at her and punished her in horrible ways when she didn’t act the way he wanted her to. I thought it was so wild he just wanted the two of them to lie to their entire family about their relationship FOREVER. I was so, so happy with the ending. That’s really what pushed it up to 5 stars for me.
Ok you have sold me on Annie Bot!! Adding it to my TBR now!
I had a similar reaction to Colored Television. Some of it went over my head but I found the representation of the (at times) mundanity of parenting to be so accurate. It also made me think about things like Black History month.
I had to be sold on it by a few people, but when Kelsey of the GND podcast raved about it, I felt confident in picking it up. It was just SOO interesting and I’m bummed I read it after I put in my book selections for book club, ha.
Oh yes, I can imagine the parenting aspects of Colored Television were really poignant for you!
24 hours ago I had “nothing to read” and now I have a full dock. I had forgotten that CBBC was starting, so I started Blue Castle last night and loved it, and then I looked for another book and put in a bunch of holds but still didn’t have anything else so I went ahead and checked out the next book in the Alphabet series to tide me over. And then I saw this post and I was like “oh duh, everyone loves Annie Bot so I better put my hold in now so that I can read it in 6 months”. But guess what!!! There was no hold so I’ve got it checked out to start as soon as I finish the Alphabet book! I will soon know for myself what all the fuss is about!
Hooray! I’m excited for you to read Annie Bot. Please tell me all your thoughts when you read it!
I put Annie Bot down as a potential book for CBBC. It it’s something that will spark a lot of discussion, that’s the place for it, right?
It would be SUCH a great CBBC book. There’s so much to discuss!
The first two sound so good! I just downloaded Annie Bot and am going to start it tonight. I will def chat you my thoughts!
I am reading a flying book still – Cleared for the Option. These take me a while since they’re so technical!
Yes, please keep me posted about what you think!
I just finished The Husbands, which was very fun. I enjoyed it so much! Especially the ending. I have Stanley Tucci’s book Taste and a book Lisa recommended called Summer Fridays, and I’m not sure which I’ll start first. They are both due back at the library at the same time, so my usual method of choosing isn’t working!
Nicole! I think we are anti-book twins. I *hated* The Husbands and especially the ending. HAHAHA. I wonder if this is a case of a married vs single woman reading the book and wanting very different things from it? SIGH. I’m glad it worked for you!
I just finished Vacancy in Room 10 which was… fine. I didn’t like the main characters at ALL though!
Ugh, I hate when that happens. I don’t always need my characters to be likable, but it does help a lot!
I found Annie Bot really interesting, too. While I don’t think robots can be conscious, I have massive ethical problems with providing opportunities for men (or women, for that matter) to indulge in entitled or abusive behaviours. It’s like child abuse dolls. I don’t think it makes women and children safer; rather, it normalises abusive behaviour. You can see I have a lot of thoughts!
I totally agree with you! It DOES perpetuate a cycle of abuse as people stop recognizing what’s real and what’s a robot. How will Doug handle being in a relationship with a human who has their own thoughts/opinions/libido vs how it was with Annie who was totally devoted to him? It’s such a slippery slope!
I’ve heard lots of good things about Annie Bot. I see Engie is even considering it for CBBC! I’m sure I’ll read it at some point.
It’s definitely a book designed to make you think! It would create a lot of interesting discussions in our group.
Nicole and Jules liked _Annie Bot_ so it was already on my radar, I guess three is the magic number? I must put it on my TBR!
YAYYY! I hope you enjoy it!
Anni Bot has been on my list ever since it came out but as of now have not picked it up.
Not sure where I get a copy as I try not to buy books this year. Sigh… unless it is for a book club… so maybe