The Future for Curious People

by Gregory Sherl

What if you could know your romantic future? What if an envisionist could enter the name of your prospective mate into a computer that would show you a film of your future life together?

In The Future for Curious People, a young librarian named Evelyn becomes obsessed with this new technology: she can’t stop visiting Dr. Chin’s office because she needs to know that she’ll meet someone and be happy one day. Godfrey, another client, ends up at the envisionist’s office only because his fiancée insisted they know their fate before taking the plunge. But when Godfrey meets Evelyn in the waiting room, true love may be right in front of them, but they are too preoccupied—and too burdened by their pasts—to recognize it.

This smart, fresh love story, with its quirky twists and turns, ponders life’s big questions—about happiness, fate, and our very existence—as it follows Evelyn and Godfrey’s quest for the elusive answers.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Science Fiction, Contemporary, Magical Realism, Adult, Ebooks

323 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Gregory Sherl is a novelist and poet. His debut novel, The Future for Curious People, will be released by Algonquin Books on September 2nd, 2014. It has been translated into five languages.

He is also the author of three poetry collections, including The Oregon Trail is the Oregon Trail, shortlisted for the 2012 Believer Poetry Award and a semifinalist for Best Poetry in the 2012 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I look up at the sky, growing dark. The snow is light and dizzying - and new. That's the thing about snow. It's all about promise. It's nature's do-over.

Suddenly Adrian is standing right in front of me. He looks a little teary. Maybe it's just the cold wind. He's so close I feel his warm breath; this is possibly the most exercise he's gotten in weeks. I imagine his ribs, rising and falling, after sex. I'll miss his hands on me and the way he says I'm the best goddamn librarian in the world, even though he's never understood what I do at the library exactly. There's something sweet about how he loves me without knowing me - a blind love, which is almost like an unconditional love but not quite.

evelyn is breaking up with her boyfriend adrian - in the snow, on the street, while he is passing out fliers for his band, the babymakers.

she is breaking up with him because she has been to see the envisionist - you know, those places where a doctor feeds you a pill, puts a helmet on you, inserts some coins, and the romantic future between you and a partner of your choice plays before you on a screen. like science.

she saw herself and adrian singing happy birthday to a chihuahua and arguing about cheese, and said "no, thanks."

what follows is a romantic-comedy-style book where a couple of people look into the future to see where they would be with various, frequently unsuitable, partners while dealing with the baggage of the other parts of their lives.

this is definitely not my usual kind of book, but i thought it was so utterly charming. you have to suspend your disbelief in terms of the "science" of it all, but if you accept the rules of this world, it's an enjoyable ride; an offbeat romance just on the good side of frothy.

he manages to capture some of the difficult-to-articulate bits of love and attraction and chemistry in a fresh and fun way, and it's delightful and engaging, if not the kind of book that's going to change your life or challenge your intellect.

there are some chuckles for librarians:

"You're also afraid of things that are out of your control," he says. "That's why you like to spend all day shelving books in alphabetical order."

"You have no idea what a librarian actually does," I tell him.

We've been over this.

but as a librarian (in the sense of someone who has earned the degree through education, without ever being employed as a librarian, but who is still allowed to call herself a librarian, the way a doctor who has been prevented from practicing medicine because of diabolical and inhumane acts is still a doctor by virtue of having the degree) i am appalled by what evelyn does with the books for the blind.

that is all i will say about that.

but it's a cute book, a vacation read, and perfection is overrated anyway.

Sometimes you just have to commit to something that's not perfect. And you have to commit to the whole future of it. And that can't be known and it can't be controlled.

come to my blog!

[Sonja Rosa Lisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Auf dieses Buch hatte ich mich sehr gefreut. Allein das Cover verspricht schon eine schöne und romantische Geschichte, und der Klappentext klingt auch recht verlockend. Vielleicht hatte ich daher einfach zu hohe Erwartungen an dieses Buch, die es dann leider nicht erfüllen konnte.
*
Es geht in der Geschichte um Evelyn, die sich von ihrem Freund getrennt hat, und um Godfrey, der sich mit seiner Freundin Magde verloben möchte. Und es geht um eine außergewöhnliche Apparatur, mit deren Hilfe man in die Zukunft schauen und sehen kann, ob man mit seinem Partner glücklich wird. Genau in so einer Praxis begegnen sich Evelyn und Godfrey, die beide in die Zukunft blicken möchten. Diese Begegnung ist "schicksalhaft", so verspricht es auch der Klappentext.
*
Die eigentliche Geschichte an sich finde ich immer noch schön und vielversprechend, aber im Buch wurde sie für mich leider sehr enttäuschend umgesetzt. Mit dem Erzählstil konnte ich mich leider gar nicht anfreunden; die ganze Story und die Charaktere sind so unglaublich schräg. Es mag sein, dass gerade dieses "Schräge" bei vielen Lesern gut ankommt, mir persönlich hat es überhaupt nicht gefallen. Die Figuren wirken zum Teil so unglaubwürdig und so verrückt, und die ganze Story zieht sich so in die Länge. Ich fand es manchmal so langweilig, dass ich das Buch am liebsten abgebrochen hätte.
Ich habe es aber doch bis zum Ende gelesen und bin jetzt einfach nur froh, dass ich das Buch ins Regal stellen kann. Das spricht nicht gerade für das Buch. Bei guten Büchern bin ich fast ein bisschen traurig, wenn ich sie ausgelesen habe und denke noch lange an die Story zurück. Hier bin ich einfach nur froh, das Buch "geschafft" zu haben.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

“Most people choose their futures by accident. They don’t even know they’re making choices. They don’t even know that there are forks in the road – much less forks within forks. The future no longer has to be messy. It can be tested out. It can be known.”

In an alternate yet still contemporary Baltimore, there is a flourishing market of Envisionists: doctors that are trained to show people a small glimpse of their future. A cup of pills, a virtual reality helmet and a name of a person gives you the ability to what your future would look like in a relationship with that given person. And with a discount package (Five visits for the price of three!) you can catch a glimpse of multiple futures with multiple different individuals. The Future for Curious People centers around two individuals: Evelyn and Godfrey.

Evenlyn Shriner is a librarian who is most likely addicted to envisioning (she’s had five sessions in the past two weeks). She’s just broken up with her boyfriend of almost two years after their envisioning session showed them singing Happy Birthday (in Spanish, no less) to a chihuahua and arguing about cheese. Godfrey Burkes works a deadend job at a place called The Department of Unclaimed Goods and has just proposed to his overbearing girlfriend. Her stipulation before saying yes is for them both to go to an envisionist, just to make sure they’re right for each other. At Dr. Chin, the envisionist who’s office smells like Chinese takeout and incense is where Evelyn and Godfrey meet. The two decide to envision each other on a whim and both glimpse a future close to perfection. The end result is predictable even without an envisionist but the between pages are still a delight.

This story is chock-full of witty dialogue and oh so clever characters but comes off occasionally audacious when it tries to also incorporate more serious topics. For the most part though, it still worked. The Future for Curious People is at heart nothing but a quirky romance but will have more of an affect on readers that can’t help but wonder about the present, if it’s always going to be this way and how differently the future could be. It certainly brings to light an idea to ponder: If you could have a glimpse of your future on the current path you’re on, would you want to see it?

I received this book free from Library Thing in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Paula M · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can also read my review here.

"What if there is this time bomb to love. What if it's like you fall in love with so many people who just aren't for you, and with each one, your heart toughens up, and you have to find the one who is right for you before your heart is completely calcified in your chest."

Do you ever read a book and thought 'THIS SHOULD BE A MOVIE' or 'WAIT, HAVE I WATCHED this before??' This book totally gave me those feels.

First of all, The Future for Curious People.. is a mouthful. AND an original read for me. In this novel, people can peek in to their future! Yes I know it sounds exciting. They have this doctors called ENVISIONIST.

"The future no longer has to be messy. It can be tested out. It can be known"

Personally, I don't know what to feel about that idea. If this kind of doctors exist in our time, I would have to think through if I want to seek out my future. It's exciting to know, but I also have this dreading feeling in the side (yes I really thought this through) Anyway, giving 5 stars in not a usual thing to do for me. It's just that, if I'm gonna give a book a 5 star, I want it to be really deserving! That all the elements I want in a book should be present. And this book, folks, is a perfect example of it.

I was instantly hooked from the first chapter. I'm talking about forget-your-bladder-and-ignore-your-hunger kind of hook. Evelyn is a very fun heroine to read. I love being inside her head. She's hilarious, smart and quirky and she collect quotes! Did I mention that she's a librarian? Godfrey on the other hand is no different. I love this guy to bits! And my heart also breaks for him.. LISTEN. Sherl's characters are phenomenal. They're completely fleshed out and you will not help but be attached and just relate to them. I'm not just talking about the two main character, ALL OF THEM. Even the side characters here has their own story that's why like I said in my a.k.a title, you will find bits of yourself here.

Now I won't say anything about the plot, just know that I think it's creative and absolutely brilliant! This idea of Sherl about peering into the future to find out if you and you're partner are gonna end up happy.. is quite unique. And the way Godfrey and Evelyn's story met and how their story got connected was a very fun and strange experience.  The romance aspect here is so darn adorable. You have no idea how much I was screaming internally for moooore.

Overall, The Future for Curious People is one of my most unforgettable read this year. It's fun, a little sad, and strange. You want a book with quality? Here's one for you!

[Ma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was hooked by the title, read through all of it, and hated it. Truly hated it. Yet I finished it. Which is to say that it isn't all bad in there, there are some interesting ideas, the characters are quirky alright, but quirky's good. Until it's not and you're overusing it.
The book is full of great ideas, with hints at pop culture, but it never fully manages to take any of these ideas to another lever. And it is frustrating. It sounds very similar to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Except it's really not. Not smart enough.
Except for their quirkiness (yes, you're bound to use that word a LOT when talking about this book), the characters aren't that well drawn, Evelyn's story gets weaker and weaker every pages and basically she turns into that manic pixie dream girl just waiting for her male counterpart to get his s*** together so that they can fully be together.
So Godfrey. He's sort of a twat, considering. And I'm sorry to use that word. Ultimately he is a bit selfish, self-centered and wallows in self-pity a lot. The "moral" of the story is too much of "embrace your weakness and be lazy about it" to make Godfrey a strong literary character.
In that sense, the writing felt conceited. The story was overdone and led nowhere. And it has been one of (if not THE) most frustrating reading ever.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly enjoyable book about people who can't help but look into their relationship futures, with great consequences to their current entanglements. The two narrators on the audiobook portray Godfrey Burkes and Evelyn the Librarian very well, alongside distinguishable minor characters with different voices.

The book made me laugh quite a few times - it's the kind of humor that's just cute, like a romantic comedy. If you don't chuckle or marvel at every combination of Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, I suspect this wouldn't be the book for you, but I'm a sucker for light, cute stories when the characters are bookish or quirky or otherwise unusual. This fits the bill!

This was discussed on Episode 014 of the Reading Envy Podcast.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this and other reviews at Ampersand Read.

So this is a weird little story. What's weird about it is our little friends, Godfrey and Evelyn. They take "quirky" and walk a mile away with it. They're looking at quirky in the rearview mirror (tell me what TV show I just quoted that from, and you get a million imaginary golden ponies). Which is cool, I like a little quirk. But the quirk gets in the way of actual character building.

Both Godfrey and Evelyn have parental issues. Many characters and Real People do. But Evelyn and Godrey constantly reference their parental issues. Constantly. I don't think there's a chapter in this book where Godfrey doesn't talk about his skirtchasing dad. If it's Evelyn's turn to narrate a chapter, she laments at least once that her parents ignore her. And that her sister's death when she was little caused her to be born as a replacement. With such constant repetition of issues, I'd expect them to grow from such adversity, or try to move past them. But neither of them get a firm resolution to these issues. In fact, both of them get a fresh whammy about their respective parent issues (a letter, an Envisioning session) in the last few chapter of the book, both of which make them feel even WORSE about their issues. It was incredibly frustrating.

That aside, I loved the premise. It was, of course, the reason I purchased the book. Evelyn is obsessed with finding out about her romantic futures with various suitors. She can't help but feel there's something better out there. Godfrey is unsettled by his Envisioned future with hopefully-fiancee-but-she-won't-wear-the-ring-Madge. Obviously the two of them are going to be meant for each other and obviously there will be some "system failures" as mentioned in the quote I pulled above (a required-by-law caution emblazoned before every Envisioning session). My favorite parts were when Evelyn and Godfrey finally met up and realized how great they were together. Their mutual oddness is cute. It's like watching Zooey Deschanel fall in love with a male version of herself. And some of those declarations of love are truly endearing.

But the characters weren't allowed to grow enough. They didn't develop into real people for me. They wheedled, they had implausible best friends (Evelyn's pal, Dot, sounds a little awful), and even at the end I wasn't sure if it was set up to be a happy resolution or very very sad (there's an awful lot of medication involved?!).

Overall, great concept, but the characters were too dysfunctional, too weird to feel real in any way.

[Maria Tizon · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first page of The Future for Curious People, I was hooked. Like, stay up all night, ignore the kids, forget about cooking dinner kind of hooked. The break up scene at the beginning was written so well, I found myself caring right away, and feeling that lost empty feeling at the end of a relationship. Evelyn Shriner is my kind of heroine. She's funny, perceptive, questions everything. She's bold and scared all at the same time. Her painful past, her inescapable feeling of loss, her addiction to the future. She felt like a real person, not a character in a made up story. Her friendship with Dot is warm and real and reminded me of my own best friend and the goofy things we say and do. Godfrey Burke is the kind of guy you meet and have small talk with and you wonder what is going on in his head. In The Future for Curious People, as a reader, you are made privy to those inner thoughts and though its not always pretty, its damn funny and vulnerable and very human. Each and every character in this story is drawn with same attention to detail and uniqueness, even the peripheral ones like Gupta, Fadra, and of course, Mr. Chin. The premise of the story, the ability to peer into the future and the promise and terror that holds, is brilliant and really well thought out. It immediately asks the question: If you could know the future, would you want to? What then? I was reminded more than once of the movie Crazy Stupid Love because like the movie, the characters of this The Future for Curious People are that vulnerable and funny and silly in love. Well done, Gregory Sherl, and thank you.

[Romance and Fantasy for Cosmopolitan Girls · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romance and Fantasy for Cosmopolitan Girls
Come reagireste se vi dicessero che esiste un sistema che vi proietterebbe nel futuro? Curiosi di sapere se la persona accanto sarà l'amore della vostra vita e vivrete per sempre felici e contenti?
Io sono un po' combattuta, da un lato sarei curiosissima di vedere come sarebbe la mia vita tra qualche anno, ma dall'altro mi spaventerebbe sapere che le cose potrebbero non andare come me le sono immaginate.
Bene, il libro parla proprio di questo. Un metodo basato sul visionismo dà la possibilità alla persona interessata di sapere come potrebbe essere il suo futuro in un lasso di tempo non inferiore ai dieci anni. Ed è così che si apre questo racconto. Evelyn Shriner sta rompendo con il suo fidanzato, Adrian, dopo essere stata nello studio del Dott. Chin e aver visto un futuro triste e infelice.

“E' quasi due anni che stiamo insieme. Che perdita di tempo!”
“Non è stata una perdita di tempo. La vita non è un investimento, non procura rendite. È un'esperienza, buona, cattiva, a volte tragica. Io sto cercando di evitare la parte tragica.”


a visione si basa su delle ipotesi, ma lei crede fermamente in quello che ha visto e ha deciso che vuole essere felice. La sua non è stata un'infanzia rosea, in quanto i genitori non le hanno mai nascosto di essere nata per colmare il vuoto lasciato dalla sorella morta a dodici anni investita da un ubriaco; per questo si allontana in fretta dalla casa paterna, appena raggiunge la maggiore età, va a vivere da sola e la sua rete di amicizie consta di un'unica sincera ma cleptomane amica, Dot, che riesce a risollevarle sempre l'umore. Così decide di aiutare Dot facendola assumere alla biblioteca dove lavora anche lei, facendosi garante di eventuali problemi che l'amica possa causa. Ma Evelyn sa che Dot non ruba nel vero senso della parola, perché presa dai sensi di colpa, alla fine restituisce sempre quello che sgraffigna.


Ama i libri e le biblioteche, passione nata quando era piccola e cercava rifugio in quelle storie che le facevano dimenticare la sua situazione familiare, diventando così una bibliotecaria e registrando per i non vedenti alcuni dei grandi classici che l'hanno da sempre affascinata. Se solo non avesse deciso di cambiare i finali delle storie, forse ora il suo lavoro da volontaria non sarebbe finito.

“Tu pensi che dentro di me ci sia un vuoto che non può essere riempito?” chiedo.
Ci pensa su un momento. “Credo che le nostre anime siano piene di buchi, come dei vecchi biglietti di un treno obliterai. Alla fine siamo completamente perforati. Se fossimo dei secchi, l'acqua colerebbe da tutte le parti.”


In un'altra zona di Baltimora, Godfrey Burkes ha preso il coraggio a due mani e fatto la fatidica proposta di matrimonio alla sua fidanzata, Madge. Ma lei anziché reagire come reagirebbe qualsiasi donna davanti a una scatola di velluto con dentro un anello di fidanzamento, mette da parte la scatolina e chiede a Godfrey di sostenere una seduta di visionismo. Malvolentieri accetta, e viene a scoprire che consulteranno due visionisti diversi, perché è sempre bene che non interferiscano troppo con la seduta. Così un giorno si ritrova in fila nello studio del dottor Chin e davanti a lui nota una ragazza che cerca disperatamente la patente. Non può fare a meno di soffermarsi su ogni suo lineamento e movimento, e chissà perché quel viso gli resterà impresso a lungo nella mente. Così durante una partita di poker, sempre nello studio del suddetto dottore, Godfrey riesce a ottenere cinque sedute al posto di tre, e dopo aver “visionato” tutte le possibilità future con alcune delle sue ex, non può fare a meno di notare che in tutte le sue visioni compaiono una bicicletta e un paio di stivali a fiori calzati da gambe bellissime. Per questo motivo decide di vedere cosa succederebbe con una sconosciuta: Evelyn Shriner.

Tutte le persone che amiamo lasciano una traccia dentro di noi e il modo in cui lo ricordiamo è come un odore, un sapore, un colore: ogni volta diverso e indescrivibile.


Il risultato lo lascia stordito, e dopo una litigata con la fidanzata, si ritrova a passeggiare, ubriaco, fino a casa di Evenlyn. Parlano tutta la notte e alla fine scappa un bacio (o forse più di uno), ed entrambi si rendono conto che sono fatti per stare insieme. C'è solo un problema: rompere il fidanzamento con Madge e farlo prima che venga a scoprire di Evelyn!

Mi è piaciuta la caratterizzazione di entrambi i personaggi che sembrano essere l'uno l'opposto dell'altra, e che per questo sembrano capirsi e compensarsi perfettamente. I personaggi secondari vengono ben evidenziati e sembrano essere di estremo supporto ai personaggi principali. Ho apprezzato l'alternanza dei pov e il fatto che fosse scritto in prima persona. Non è facile per un uomo mettersi nei panni delle donne e riuscire a trascrivere le emozioni che ci travolgono giornalmente. Così com'è non è semplice risaltare vizi e virtù delle persone al giorno d'oggi. Non mancano i colpi di scena e lo scambio di battute divertenti, che sapranno strapparvi un sorriso anche nelle giornate più buie. Un romanzo che consiglio per tutti coloro che credono nel vero amore.

E l'amore non nasce dalla necessità. L'amore incontra l'amore e lo riconosce.

[Jennifer Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up on a whim, just based on the cover. It’s technically not a genre that I’m usually drawn to, but the storyline sounded interesting enough that I decided to take a chance on it. And I’m so glad I did! Both of the main characters are endearingly flawed, and I couldn’t help but be pulled into the story, cheering them along in their predestined headlong rush toward one another.

[Benni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: http://bennitheblog.com/bookbiters/th...

Technology now exists for people to “envision” their romantic futures. Evelyn breaks up with her boyfriend, Adrian, when she envisions them singing “Happy Birthday” to a Chihuahua—a future that seems too bland for her liking. Evelyn’s need for love, however, transforms into obsession and then addiction when she cannot stop visiting Dr. Chin’s to envision futures with other romantic candidates.

Godfrey proposes to his girlfriend, Madge, but before accepting the proposal, Madge wants both of them to envision the future—using different doctors to avoid conflict of interest, of course. When their future reveals a mostly passionless relationship, the two embark on therapy sessions in hopes that subsequent envisioning sessions reveal a brighter future together.

Rule no. 10 of envisioning reads, “In the case of true love, there can be system failures.” After Evelyn and Godfrey bump into each other at the clinic, their respective envisioning sessions grow wonkier. So, does that mean they were meant for each other?

The Future for Curious People is a wonderful study of love and what love—and lack of love—can mean for people. Evelyn has never felt the kind of love she knows must exist in the world. She was a “consolation” baby who would have never existed had her parents not lost their firstborn; that loss changed her parents’ ability to love even before the day Evelyn was born. So despite her dream job as a librarian, and a fulfilling best friendship with Dot, Evelyn embarks on a destructive quest to envision every possible romantic future ever.

Godfrey may already be in a relationship—one he hopes to convert to marriage, but he is disappointed that Madge wants extra “insurance,” instead of trusting in their love for each other. Godfrey’s own trust in the relationship, however, falters as he tries to reconcile it with his own lack of trust for himself: he falls in love so easily that he’s afraid he may be a womanizer like his biological father.

In terms of tone and premise, the book reminds me of the movie Timer, starring Emma Caulfield of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame (she was Anya, the demon-turned-mortal): humorous, romantic, and the right dose of insight.

The book starts out as a leisurely-paced, borderline-indulgent study of characters (given the great writing, this was a good thing), so my main complaint is that near the end, the plot rushes frantically to reach a conclusion. And while I do not demand a huge cast of characters, there’s always something jarring about a book where, despite the setting of a city (in this case, Baltimore), the lives of the same few characters intersect in unbelievable ways. Nevertheless, it was a great read filled with quotable nuggets (keep in mind this is from an advance review copy):

My own house was austere, hushed, and dusty like a library, but once you understand that each book on the shelf has a heartbeat, then you’ll want to stay. I don’t tend dead things—paper, ink, glue bindings. I tend books the way someone in an aviary tends birds.

I received a digital review copy of the book via Netgalley, courtesy of Algonquin Books.

Review: http://bennitheblog.com/bookbiters/th...

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I spent all day yesterday finishing this novel. With the help of envisionists, people are able to look into their future with their partner and see what sort of happy life, or disastrous one awaits them. As you can imagine, this is going to cause earthquakes in their relationships. Futurisitic 'new agey' visions aside, it isn't much different than what we often do in our own minds. Taking a potential partner (or our current one), examining their meaning in our lives, sliding their flaws under a microscope and wondering if we can stomach it for years to come. What sort of parent will they be? What sort of potential do they have in their career, if any?
Going along with the characters looking back on exes as future partners is certainly similar to the curiosity most feel and all those loaded what ifs. The Future of Curious People drives home the idea that we are a different person with all the people in our lives. To see Godfrey's future self, if he stays with his 'sort of but unofficial' fiance, was a wonderful end result of the ways people who edit us, can ruin us. Speaking of ruin, Godfrey carries his absent father in his blood like some sort of contagion that he fears can turn him into a slime-ball in love. With all this weight we carry into relationships, it's a wonder we do it at all.
Evelyn is the funny center of the story as we watch her obsess over the program to see all the many possible lives she could have with various men. In the younger years of many women (because I can't speak for men) there often is a desperate hunger in finding our elusive 'ONE AND ONLY'. She can't seem to stop herself from exploring every man she can think of. Evelyn is sick of miserable, tragic endings in literature as in life. In fact, so sick of tragic endings in literature she does something about it, gaining at least a fan or two.
Their lives are all going to merge and get messy until reality and visions are impossible to separate. Is it better to know what wicked things can come, or to throw yourself into love and just hope it doesn't destroy you?

Here are some of my favorite excerpts.

"Each person you love leaves his or her own stain, and the way you remember him is like a smell, a taste, a color- indescribable but distinct."


"My name is Godfrey and I love women. I'm completely susceptible to them. It's a difficult way to go through life, constantly falling in love. I don't wear love very well. And, because of my weakness, I'm dangerous."

"Is that what it means to grow up? Is the payment for adulthood an end to yearning?"

"And I'm concerned about the calcification of my heart. I mean, what if my past loves, including Adrian, have each effectively toughened a part of my heart, and what if I've got three more bad relationships to go before it's completely hardened? What if it's worse than that and there's only one more relationship until it's just a chunk of char or ice?"


It was a fresh, fun love story. Messy and strange, just like love.

[Jeff Raymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ina way, this book was a somewhat frustrating read, but it's rare when characters and concept win out in a science fiction book. In a way, The Future for Curious People is the sort of anti-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind in how it handles relationships and technology, if that makes any sense, and that makes it an interesting read.

The story is about a future where people can essentially hook themselves up to a computer and see various iterations of their future. The story bounces back and forth between two people who have their own issues, but find some solace in the technology as well as some other information that begins influencing things.

This is not hard science fiction in any regard, and tends to be a little light around the edges, but that works. It's less about the tech and more about the people, so if you're looking for significant future ideas here, you're not going to find them. What you'll find instead is a story about a dream many of us already have and the pitfalls that invariably come from them.

Not for everyone, but absolutely what I needed to read right now. Certainly a quality read on a whole.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

P.73 Expecting something light, a touch romantic with a dash of futuristic device. I'm loving it. Oddball friendly characters, one works clearing Expired Safe Deposit Boxes (is that possible?)one works in a library ,hence the outstanding mini excerpt for the day "..I went to the library because in books there were people living real lives...once you understand that each book on the shelf has a heartbeat then you'll want to stay...I tend books the way someone in an aviary tends birds."
Better in context. As is the street woman die-ing her hair in the public bathroom and the possibility of seeing your romantic future by name and date via an aging VHS system at the Envisionists, MD office, yes, three visits covered by insurance because it's a science.
DONE. 2.5-3 and a fun read. Some excellent characters, prose could be sharper, and the plot is a little silly. Just enough life issues and commentaries on love and family to be worth the read.

[Eskeleton · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea behind The Future For Curious People is an interesting one. Thanks to medical science people can now envision their future with different romantic partners by hooking your head up to some wires and watching it on a TV screen. So far so good.

But the science fiction side of the story soon gets swept away for a quirky romance between an awkward indie boy and a manic pixie dream girl. Both Evelyn and Godfrey have had interesting childhoods but the implications of that aren't explored, nor is the impact of the envisioning aside from a few mentions of addicts.

Instead we get overly cutesy romantic gestures that seem straight out of a film. There's a kleptomaniac best friend, so many many mentions of the music Evelyn listens to and then Evelyn giving Godfrey a speech about how he's a superhero when he fails to save his daughter in an envisioning.

So much potential but characters liking quirky things isn't the same as character depth.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Went from confusing the hell out of me to charming me.
A quick read once you get past some annoying window dressing known as supporting characters.
You wonder if technology- if such existed- could find you the ideal mate. If you wonder, this is the book you need to read.
A cynic such as myself instead found many pertinent questions thrown into my already overcrowded window. I give it that-along with making you laugh- it makes you think.
For the populace who surround me, not good. LOL. But for the reader who wants a light, funny book, this is a great place to start. Just get over the few annoying supporting characters and you'll find the treasure.

[Fernanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mucho potencial, pobre ejecución, personajes aburridos y demasiada cursilería. Demasiado dejado a la suerte, demasiadas coincidencias, demasiada mención del "true love", no lo odié pero tiene más puntos malos que buenos. Puedo imaginar perfectamente a Zooey Deschanel como Evelyn y eso no es un halago al libro por mucho que adore a Deschanel.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

It started out really prosetic and beautiful, but soon the flowing language gave way. Also, I wasn't a huge fan of Evelyn, the female lead. Her obsession with the future felt really unrealistic after a while.

Overall, good premise, nice use of language (mostly), and I related to Godfrey and enjoyed his character development.

[LadyAileen · Rating 3 out of 5]

L'amore domani è un romanzo romantico, carino e molto particolare. Siamo in un mondo in cui esiste una pratica chiamata Visionismo che permette alle persone di sbirciare nel futuro per scoprire se il proprio partner sia quello giusto o meno. La storia è raccontata attraverso i due protagonisti (Capitoli alternati e in prima persona):
Evelyn, una bibliotecaria che attraverso il Visionismo scopre che il suo attuale fidanzato non sembra essere quello giusto per cui decide di rompere e mettersi alla ricerca di quello giusto con una nuova seduta di Visionismo.
Godfrey è un impiegato presso la sede del Dipartimento degli Oggetti ritrovati e non reclamati, ha appena chiesto in moglie Madge ma prima di accettare gli chiede di sottoporsi ad una seduta di Visionismo per scoprire se sono compatibili.
Naturalmente, Godfrey e Evelyn si ritrovano nello stesso studio e...il resto, scopritelo Voi.
Idea originale quella di inventare una pratica chiamata Visionismo, pratica che non solo sarà il motore del romanzo ma sarà anche un modo per riflettere su alcune questioni: Siamo padroni del nostro destino o è stato già tutto scritto? E' davvero così importante sapere cosa ci riserva il futuro o sarebbe meglio vivere il presente senza farsi troppe domande?
Un romanzo con un sottile senso dell'umorismo, dolce, dialoghi brillanti e scritto con uno stile semplice.
I due protagonisti sono abbastanza realistici ma, secondo me, non sono cresciuti completamente. Hanno avuto entrambi un'infanzia difficile ma le conseguenze di ciò non vengono completamente esplorate. E infine l'andamento della storia che risulta un po' scontata per i miei gusti ma tutto sommato una lettura piacevole.

[paperlove · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 3h29min Hörzeit

Was für eine schwachsinnige Story, die noch dazu langweilig umgesetzt wurde. Die Charaktere können mittels eines Apparats Filme über ihre Zukunft und den Verlauf ihrer Liebesbeziehungen anschauen. Und wir Leser:innen müssen uns jeden dieser Filme ebenfalls antun, was unglaublich redundant und öde war.
Die Charaktere waren allesamt super nervig. Sie sollten wohl "quirky" und auf eine lustige Art "schräg" sein, waren aber einfach nur unsympathisch und wirkten total kindisch.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What do you believe where love is concerned, and what are you capable of believing? Lots of influences from "Eternal Sunshine...", "Being John Malkovich", and "Brazil"...leaving one to wonder if they could love someone just because they're told they are supposed to love them? Likewise to wonder if they age in and out of love, and meet people that will love them someday...but not the version that currently stands before them.

Handed to me with a note that said "Here, read this".

This is why I do book exchanges.

[Tyrah Draman · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay story. The author's idea to come out with this kind of concept deserves a credit. Quite a number of cursing words which I don't really enjoy that.

[Felicity Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Truly the worst book I’ve read this year. It only gets two stars for the lesson learned at the end. I felt gross after reading this. The plot was very undeveloped and lacked any substance. I was expecting a lot based on the concept but have been left disappointed.

[Karsten Cowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Im fr obsessed with these characters omg

[Molly Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about leaps of faith, following your dreams, building a life you can love, and wanting a love worth fighting for. It's a little weird sometimes, but... How could I not enjoy it?

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

SERIOUSLY one of my new favorite books! I mean it. As soon as I finished it, I actually thought about starting it all over again. If I had any talent whatsoever and could actually write a book, THIS is the book that I would write. I loved the quirkiness of the characters and the inner dialogue had me about to pee my pants a couple of times! I felt like the author spoke to my dry and sarcastic soul and while he was making me laugh out loud, he was also making me think and feel and highlight! Omg, I saved so many quotes it's not even funny. Lol! But c'mon, tell me these don't speak to you...

“Most people choose their futures by accident,” I say. “They don’t even know they’re making choices. They don’t even know that there are forks in the road—much less forks within forks."

“Time isn’t something you put in hoping for a return on an investment. It’s experiencing life—both good and bad and occasionally tragic."

"Each person you love leaves his or her own stain, and the way you remember him is like a smell, a taste, a color—indescribable but distinct."

"Do people make us who we are or is every future possibility just different pieces of the same self?"

And to think, if not for the suggestion from the library's website, I would have never found this book. Yep, it was FATE! :)

[Silvia Devitofrancesco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn, di professione bibliotecaria, è fidanzata con Adrian, componente di una band emergente. La loro esistenza muta quando la giovane decide di consultare un visionista per conoscere il loro futuro amoroso, ma il responso non è dei migliori. Evelyn decide perciò di lasciare Adrian. Godfrey, impiegato presso la sede del Dipartimento degli Oggetti rinvenuti e mai reclamati, ha deciso di compiere il grande passo. Chiede alla sua amata Madge di sposarlo, ma la donna evidentemente sconcertata, propone di consultare un visionista prima di prendere decisioni affrettate. Sarà nello studio del dottor Chin che le strade di Evelyn e Godfrey s’incroceranno, durante la ricerca ossessiva di un lieto fine che forse è già presente.

“A volte mi chiedo se il futuro non sia solo uno e se, indipendentemente dalle proprie scelte, non si possa fare altro che andargli incontro. Una macchina lanciata a grande velocità, uno sparo, una bicicletta accartocciata. E se fosse tutto inevitabile? E se ogni bivio della nostra strada portasse alla stessa conclusione?”

Il romanzo stupisce positivamente il lettore sin dalle prime pagine. L’autore si serve della pratica del visionismo per dimostrare quanto l’amore sia imprevedibile. Non servono frasi preconfezionate, situazioni da manuale o assurde ricerche di lieti fini per far sì che l’amore segua il suo corso incontrollabile e inarrestabile.

L’opera è una grande lezione d’amore, quasi un invito a credere sempre più nel potere del sentimento cardine della vita umana.

Da un punto di vista psicologico Evelyn e Godfrey sono simili. Entrambi infatti sono tendenzialmente insicuri, ripongono grande fiducia nel partner ed erano convinti di aver raggiunto l’apice della felicità. Entrambi sono costretti a smentirsi. Basta poco per far vacillare le loro certezze e per rimettere tutto in discussione. Il loro è un amore a prima vista capace di salvarli reciprocamente. Entrambi avranno modo di riflettere riguardo le loro esistenze, di comprendere e di sostenersi a vicenda. Evelyn e Godfrey crescono, non solo perché impareranno ad amare nel vero senso della parola, ma soprattutto perché troveranno il coraggio di affrontare i propri demoni e di andare avanti, insieme, verso il futuro.

L’autore narra le vicende con delicatezza e pathos servendosi di uno stile semplice, fluido e scorrevole. La narrazione vede l’alternarsi continuo dei punti di vista dei due protagonisti, espediente questo che rende la trama ironica, romantica e di grande impatto emotivo.

Un romanzo d’amore sull’Amore. Un’opera che è allo stesso tempo romanzo rosa e di formazione. Una lettura piacevole e originale.

[Bethany Johnsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very grudgingly kind of love this book. That means a lot coming from me, as I'm essentially a cranky old man who hates youth and technology. But I picked it up to see what the kids are up to these days, and I must admit it was hard to put down.

It took The Future for Curious People about 40 pages to overcome my strong prejudices and show me it's not like all the other hip young contemporary White books written in present tense about hip young contemporary White people who have nothing better to do than closely analyze their romantic relationships and pick lint out of their belly buttons. (Well, I assume it's not like all the others; in all honesty I rarely read books in which the heroine's candle going out preventing her from finishing her letter isn't a major plot point.) Anyway, about 40 pages in I stopped thinking "Oh, don't you just think you're too clever by half" and started actually laughing. Out loud. OKAY, OKAY, MAYBE YOU ARE VERY NEARLY AS CLEVER AS YOU THINK YOU ARE, GREGORY SHERL!

The premise is pretty interesting: "envisionists" have figured out how to strip away our judgment-clouding emotions, allowing people to clearly see their romantic futures with anyone they choose. Godfrey, our surprisingly loveable hero, is floored when his proposal to his girlfriend Madge is only accepted on the condition that they go to an envisioning session to see if they're meant for each other. The book's other narrator (in alternating chapters), Evelyn, has recently broken up with her boyfriend and is a bit obsessed with what her own future holds. Naturally, hijinks ensue. Some are predictable, others less so, but it was a fun ride to the end.

I would describe it as a Romeo and Juliet story for the modern age. We've got the archetypal lovers, who love each other with that mythical love that probably only exists in stories, the kind of love that you recognize instantly, that makes you drop everything, that changes your life forever, and naturally there are all kinds of miscommunications and obstacles. But The Future for Curious People is something more, too. It's quite thought-provoking, at least in short bursts. It might just make you see love and identity and the influence of relationships in a new way.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2013 movie “About Time,” tells the story of a young man who uses his ability to travel back to the recent past in order to change what already happened. This book is similar to the movie in a way, except these protagonists have the ability to see potential futures - traveling forward, rather than back - so that they can make changes now if they so desire. Both stories conclude with a new appreciation for, and commitment to the “now,” but not necessarily by choice.

The Future For Curious People is centered around the idea of centers for “romantic envisioning.” This new popular business allows paying customers to investigate possible futures with particular potential partners. Evelyn Shriner, a 25-year-old librarian, checks out what her future would be like with her boyfriend of two years, Adrian, and decides it is sub-par, so she breaks up with him.

Meanwhile, Godfrey Burkes is pressured by his girlfriend Madge to see the very same envisionist, and there he runs into Evelyn. Godfrey is not only somewhat appalled by the future he sees with Madge, but can’t stop thinking about Evelyn. Nor can Evelyn stop thinking about Godfrey.

Through a convoluted process that you know is inevitable, Godfrey makes his way to Evelyn, with enough obstacles in the path to make Odysseus’s trip to get to Penelope almost seem easier. Along the way, both of them think a lot about love and what it means, and whether or not they want to take the leap of faith required when one can’t know for certain that the future will hold a “happy ending.”

Evaluation: The author’s quirky writing style and ideas about love remind me of author Lydia Netzer in a (good) way. There is a subtle humor and sweetness that underlies the sometimes scathing social commentary, making this ultimately a “meta” love story about love itself.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Weatherly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book on a solo trip to Washington D.C. on a whim. It was on the "Staff Recommends" shelf at Kramer Books. This bookstore, by the way, is amazing. Cozy, close-packed shelves, really nice staff, and the food at the cafe in the back is TOP NOTCH. I had butternut squash ravioli and a glass (or three...) of prosecco while I started this book, and that experience really set the vibe for the rest of the reading.
The book is, in a word, cute. It's a love story, and it's a science fiction (in the barest, least sci-fi way imaginable).
In the near future, there are doctors called Envisionists, who can hook you up to a machine that helps you see into possible romantic futures with different people. You pick a person, you see the way your future could play out. Which is, predictably, a recipe for disaster if you go with your significant other and see a future that's... well... shit.
This is what happens to the two main characters in the book, Evelyn and for-the-life-of-me-I-can't-remember-his-name-even-though-I-finished-this-book-yesterday with their respective people. And then they fall in love, and etc. etc. etc. I mean, this book is cute but nothing really crazy original happens. It's light, it says some nice things about life and love and living for NOW. And the characters are all realistic, interesting enough. Yeah, as you can tell I don't have a lot to say about it. It was cute. Probably would have taken me a day or two to read if I hadn't gotten distracted and put it down. I recommend it if you're looking for an adult version of something like Rainbow Rowell or Stephanie Perkins.

It reminded me a lot of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but not quite so dark. There's never really a point (at least... not a long one) that you as the reader think 'oh no, it's not going to work out!'
That being said, I still liked it. It was really cute. I really wanted Evelyn and whatshisface to get together in the end.