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I thought it was going to be something like V for Vendetta where each character has flaws and no side is perfect. However, Little Brother was not that. However, as soon as Van and Julu disagreed with Marcus he dropped them completely. I mean just because they didn't agree with him he couldn't even talk to them. It was a political rant from a guy that is blind from hate that he spews it throughout the whole book and makes the storyline suffer for it. It's obvious he was a smart guy but why did he feel the need to flaunt it CONSTANTLY. There was not a bit of grey in the whole story. He was pompous and rude.
I was really looking forward to reading this book. Before people start ranting I KNOW that our country has tortured people, made security check points in airports more extensive, etc. You either despised the government and plot against them (good) or sympathize with the government and do everything in your power to thwart freedom (bad). That is why I bought the book. I kept hoping they would come back but Marcus became so involved in Ange and Xnet that his friendships with Van, Julu, and even Daryl were dropped for most of the book. That really bothered me. I love young adult literature and this looked like a great novel from the reviews I read. However, I was completely disappointed.
It was so powerful. and I might not agree with these decisions, but I also feel that our country has done good things too. I definitely lean toward the left politically but I don't think our government and the people who support conservative candidates are evil and dumb. To finish, this storyline intrigued me. That seems like a bit of a user to me.
Nothing in V was black or white and their were so many layers of why events were happening. Every character makes mistakes but in the end the decision for freedom is put into the hands of the people. First, Marcus was just an unlikable character. Most Americans are considered moderate politically and I just don't feel like this novel speaks to anyone other than extreme liberals that really enjoy ranting about how horrible our country is.
Also, I've never read a book that was so black and white. Also, from the cover and from the start of the book it looked like a story about three friends who suffered together and then worked together to do something positive because of their shared experience. He only went to them when he needed them and had nobody else to turn too.
Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother" has won the 2009 Campbell Award for "Best Science Fiction Novel of the Year" (sharing the award with Ian MacLeod's "Song of Time").
All characters are rather superficial and poorly developed. On a negative side, my major complaint is about the quality of writing. The subject matter definitely makes this book a very compelling read.There are many things I like about this book. At the end of the day, I don't really think I know any of them well enough to care about them. The journey into the world of techno-geek teenagers filled with computer games, role-playing, and hacking, is a fascinating one. The book raises several interesting issues: how much freedom are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of your security.
These are very important questions for young adults to ask themselves. I think it is a bit too simplistic and lacks depth. when does civil discontent become terrorism. The book is action-packed and never boring. This includes Marcus.Nevertheless, it is an important book and I would recommend it to anyone interested in technology and domestic terrorism policies. what if department of national security is more dangerous than any terrorist group.
Cory Doctorow creates a very convincing atmosphere of fear and hysteria in near future San Francisco after a terrorist attack.
I couldn't put it down. Very real and compelling. This book was named the best book of the year from my library. I also love the remarks at the end by the xbox hacker. WORTH THE CASH. It is a scarily accurate portrayal of modern day orwellian doctrine. This book I think is geared towards highschool age readers but readers of any age will enjoy this.
And I'd like a *lot* of adults to read it, as well -- first, because it's an enjoyable read; second, to remind them of their own youthful enthusiasms; and third, to awaken them to some serious Constitutional issues that need to be kept in mind daily. I'd like to see a copy in the hands of every teen with an interest in computers, games, or coding, in hopes they'll take on board the broad issues of privacy, security, and freedom. Though I'm well over the demographic age, I found this book to be engaging and satisfying. The ties to current events are obvious; the information on tech and even its mathematical bases was neither too involved nor intrusive -- in fact, it was welcome information.
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