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The Windup Girl

Paolo Bacigalupi

Start date: January 16, 2013

Finish date: February 27, 2013

Discussion: Jan/Feb 2013 - The Windup Girl

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Jan/Feb 2013 - The Windup Girl

March 2013 book choice
By Travis · 9 posts · 5 views

last updated Feb 27, 2013 03:15PM

General character discussion zone
By The Ryan · 6 posts · 11 views

last updated Feb 22, 2013 06:28PM

What Members Thought

Jan 16, 2013 Adam rated it liked it

Shelves: sci-fish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. A problem one often has when asserting an opinion of a book or movie is a simple summation of the story. The Windup Girl adds to that frustrating pattern by being high in concept and light on content.
Overall the story is a cleverly lined set of dominoes, the book being their eventful collapse. However I am left with an overall sense of dissatisfaction, mainly because the book does not have a point. After thinking it over, again and again, I am left wondering what all of that paper was supposed t A problem one often has when asserting an opinion of a book or movie is a simple summation of the story. The Windup Girl adds to that frustrating pattern by being high in concept and light on content.
Overall the story is a cleverly lined set of dominoes, the book being their eventful collapse. However I am left with an overall sense of dissatisfaction, mainly because the book does not have a point. After thinking it over, again and again, I am left wondering what all of that paper was supposed to mean.
The title character is a genetically modified sex worker. Is this the story about human worth, the unbreakable nature of the soul? No it is not.
The powerful calorie man and his foreign riches. Is this a story about colonialism and its double edged nature? No it is not, especially if this same thing happened in Missouri, Finland and China before Bangkok.
The Tiger of the environmental ministry. Is this a story of morality and living with a code? No it is not, the Tiger is in us all…I guess.
Hock Seng and his treachery. Is this a story of a cold heart pumping warm blood once more? Not really.
The Trade Ministry verses the Environmental Ministry. Is this the story or order being established in a world gone mad? No, it is not.
Kanya’s rise to power from a secret shame. IS THIS A REDEMPTION STORY!? It is more of a ghost story than a redemption story.
The corporate powers gone insane, augmented biology threatening to destroy us all. Is this a story of environmental awareness or anti-corporate sentiment? Not in the least.
Is this a story about power and ego? Perhaps, but poorly executed.
This book reminds me of fish and chips at every bar I am dumb enough to order fish and chips in. I order the fish and chips and everyone at the table says “Man I should have got fish and chips!” Then a basket of molten bread crumbs, oil and salt arrive and I burn my tongue on the first bite. I recoil in pain and horror only to watch the remaining portion of fish vaporize as it has its first contact with a regular atmosphere in what has to be months. High on concept and light on content.
The portion of the book I enjoyed the most was the epilogue, now that sounded like a story!
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Jan 16, 2013 The Ryan rated it liked it

Jan 17, 2013 Amanda rated it liked it

Jan 16, 2013 Travis rated it liked it · review of another edition

Jan 17, 2013 Nichole Bosley rated it it was ok

Jan 22, 2013 Jeff Bower marked it as to-read

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