Sean Michaels (1)

Do You Remember Being Born is about 75 year old poet Marian Ffarmer getting invited to spend a week in Silicon Valley to write a poem with an AI named Charlotte. But this book is so much more than that. It's a beautiful story of what it means to grow old and be human.

The writing in this book was absolutely stunning. It's essentially a poem in itself. I loved all of the characters, and I loved how real they all felt. I also liked how the book would switch from present day Marion Ffarmer in first person POV, to her reflecting on her life in second person POV (I always love a story that uses second person POV since it's not used too often).

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the pacing; I found that it moved fairly slow, and I probably would've liked it better if it was just a teensy bit shorter.

Overall, this was a very pretty story, and I highly recommend reading this once it comes out on September 05.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Pengiun Random House Publishing for the gifted copy.… (mer)

[3.75] Talk about a book that showcases a timely topic. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its sweeping implications is one of the most debated issues among my college communications students. Sean Michaels has written a fascinating book that explores the essence of creativity and what it means to be human. It’s a thought-provoking tale of an aging poet who is enticed by Big Tech to spend a week collaborating on a poem with an AI creation named Charlotte. Don’t expect any insights into the economic or legal implications of AI. Instead, the novel focuses all of its literary prowess creating a vivid character study of a complicated artist. The author employs inventive techniques that pay off in the end. The frequent flashbacks that shed light on the main character’s life can disrupt cohesion, and I found my interest waning in a few spots. Still, the flashbacks are essential ingredients in an otherwise engaging character portrait.… (mer)

I do not have much musical talent but the concept of an electronic musical instrument (the theremin) that can be played/controlled without ever coming into physical contact with the instrument, fascinates me and appeals to my science geeky side. The fact that the instrument was developed by Russian scientist/inventor, Lev Sergeyvich Termen, back in the early 1920’s (it was patented in 1928), just added to my intrigue to read Michaels debut novel. Us Conductors is very much a historical fiction novel. While Michaels takes some basic events from Termen’s life, this story – in particular, the kung fu training, the espionage and his one-side romance for a young violinist, Clara, he meets in New York – are best to be viewed as fictions of Michaels imagination. Even so, Michaels vividly brings to life the Jazz age of New York City, filled with dance halls, speakeasies and a swirling of famous celebrities. The story is not all glitz, glamor and hob-nobbling with the famous. Michaels Termen is an ambivalent spy for his homeland while in America and it is only when he returns to a very changed Russia that he starts to realize how precarious his situation really is.

As with any historical fiction, the author has taken liberties to write, what for me, is a wonderful blended story – part music, part romance, part espionage, part science – narrated by a character who tries to comes to terms with the strange shifts his life has taken: from celebrated scientist/inventor under Lenin to being labelled an enemy of Communism under Stalin, all while trying to be seen by his Russian leaders as being a good Russian patriot.… (mer)