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Glaze
Petri Quinn is counting down the days till she turns 16 and can get on GLAZE – the ultimate social network that is bringing the whole world together into one global family. But when a peaceful government protest turns into a full-blown riot with Petri shouldering the blame, she’s handed a ban. Her life is over before it’s even started.
Desperate to be a part of the hooked-up society, Petri finds an underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted. But this chip has a problem: it has no filter and no off switch. Petri can see everything happening on GLAZE, all the time. Including things she was never meant to see.
As her life is plunged into danger, Petri is faced with a choice. Join GLAZE… or destroy it.
Desperate to be a part of the hooked-up society, Petri finds an underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted. But this chip has a problem: it has no filter and no off switch. Petri can see everything happening on GLAZE, all the time. Including things she was never meant to see.
As her life is plunged into danger, Petri is faced with a choice. Join GLAZE… or destroy it.
293 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2014
15 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read
About the author
Kim Curran
16 books135 followersKim was born in Dublin and moved to London when she was seven. She got her first typewriter when she was eight, had a poem she wrote about a snail published in a magazine when she was nine, and that was it – Kim was hooked on writing.
Because she never thought she’d actually be able to make a living as a writer, she decided she needed a trade to fall back on. So, naturally, she went to Sussex University to study philosophy.
While Kim’s plan of being paid big bucks to think deep thoughts never quite worked out, she did land a job as a junior copywriter with an ad agency a week after graduating. She’s worked in advertising ever since, specialising in writing for videogames.
Because she never thought she’d actually be able to make a living as a writer, she decided she needed a trade to fall back on. So, naturally, she went to Sussex University to study philosophy.
While Kim’s plan of being paid big bucks to think deep thoughts never quite worked out, she did land a job as a junior copywriter with an ad agency a week after graduating. She’s worked in advertising ever since, specialising in writing for videogames.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 27, 2014
The Review: http://thefoundingfields.com/2014/05/...
“An excellent read from Kim Curran,who delivers a fascinating book with some compelling characters and a strong, thought provoking narrative that remains compelling throughout. Highly Recommended – this could well end up being one of the best young adult novels of 2014.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
Petri Quinn is counting down the days till she turns 16 and can get on GLAZE – the ultimate social network that is bringing the whole world together into one global family. But when a peaceful government protest turns into a full-blown riot with Petri shouldering the blame, she’s handed a ban. Her life is over before it’s even started.
Desperate to be a part of the hooked-up society, Petri finds an underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted. But this chip has a problem: it has no filter and no off switch. Petri can see everything happening on GLAZE, all the time. Including things she was never meant to see.
As her life is plunged into danger, Petri is faced with a choice. Join GLAZE… or destroy it.
I loved Kim Curran’s Shift when I read it towards the end of last year and for me it remains one of Strange Chemistry’s better books, despite the fact that they’re continuing to put out a strong slew of releases. This time though, Glaze isn’t coming from the Angry Robot YA Imprint, it’s self published – and works really well. If you like intelligent YA novels then you can’t go wrong here, because this book has a lot of things going for it. It’s smart, compelling, and thought provoking, taking place in a near future world with Social Media being a key thing. And on top of that, it has good characters – making this book the perfect novel to read if you’re a fan of the genre.
GlazeThe book itself explores Social Media in the future, with the fascinating concept of Glaze, where everybody over a certain age is hooked up to the Social Network in your head. Several things are no longer valid – you don’t need watches when you can look up the time on your eyelids for example, and the end result allows for a very interesting subject mater, set firmly in the Sci-Fi genre, with a world that could easily be ours. There’s nothing here that seems too far-fetched or implausible, and the book deals with the concept in a solid way that reminded me briefly of The Matrix - only, substitute the titular element for Social Network.
Petri is a test-tube baby, daughter of Zizi Quinn, who played a key role in developing Glaze. Her character is strongly developed and far from perfect, and whilst she may be a genius at Maths, she does suffer from a few problems that makes her flawed, believable and rootable. For example, one of them – she’s not connected to the Glaze. All of her friends are using the social network on a daily basis and all she wants to do is access it. However, when the Police believe she started a riot at one of the anti-Glaze Protests, she’s given a five year ban from Glaze, a year before she can get on it. Only, not only are there rumours that she’s going to get a lifelong ban from Glaze – it might not be as safe as everyone thinks it is.
On top of that, there are other characters as well that are thrown into the mix, and quite a lot of them. Unfortunately this means that not all of them leave a big impact on the reader, but the main cast leave a strong presence. Petri’s mother, Zizi, classmates Kiara and Ryan, Glaze owner Max and the enigmatic teenager Ethan are the most fleshed out, and all enhance the book and add their own touch to the novel so that they never feel like carbon copies of other characters. There’s depth. There’s chemistry – between Petri and Ethan and the rest of the cast, and it works well, with some strong dialogue and nothing that really feels forced.
Glaze is shaping up to be one of my favourite Young Adult novels of the year so far. It’s smart, intelligent, quirky and with some great characters that make it a compelling read. The pace is strong as well, with the book really kicking into gear towards the end, and despite the fact that it took me a while to get going I was really hooked around halfway through, and read the whole second half in pretty much one bus journey. It’s something that’s very different from Curran’s Shift books and not just in the way that there’s a female character rather than a male one.
This book is one of the better things to come out of the dystopian /young adult fiction genre. It’s different to the likes of The Hunger Games and its various copycats, and stands as a breath of fresh air in a genre that was starting to feel repetitive after too many books featuring female characters involved with love triangles in a world ruled by an ‘evil’ Government, and is also something that could really work well as a film adaption if given the right hands. If you’re a fan of Kim Curran’s previous work or looking for some good young adult fiction then this book should be right up your street. Give it a try – trust me, you won’t regret it.
VERDICT: 9/10
“An excellent read from Kim Curran,who delivers a fascinating book with some compelling characters and a strong, thought provoking narrative that remains compelling throughout. Highly Recommended – this could well end up being one of the best young adult novels of 2014.” ~Bane of Kings, The Founding Fields
Petri Quinn is counting down the days till she turns 16 and can get on GLAZE – the ultimate social network that is bringing the whole world together into one global family. But when a peaceful government protest turns into a full-blown riot with Petri shouldering the blame, she’s handed a ban. Her life is over before it’s even started.
Desperate to be a part of the hooked-up society, Petri finds an underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted. But this chip has a problem: it has no filter and no off switch. Petri can see everything happening on GLAZE, all the time. Including things she was never meant to see.
As her life is plunged into danger, Petri is faced with a choice. Join GLAZE… or destroy it.
I loved Kim Curran’s Shift when I read it towards the end of last year and for me it remains one of Strange Chemistry’s better books, despite the fact that they’re continuing to put out a strong slew of releases. This time though, Glaze isn’t coming from the Angry Robot YA Imprint, it’s self published – and works really well. If you like intelligent YA novels then you can’t go wrong here, because this book has a lot of things going for it. It’s smart, compelling, and thought provoking, taking place in a near future world with Social Media being a key thing. And on top of that, it has good characters – making this book the perfect novel to read if you’re a fan of the genre.
GlazeThe book itself explores Social Media in the future, with the fascinating concept of Glaze, where everybody over a certain age is hooked up to the Social Network in your head. Several things are no longer valid – you don’t need watches when you can look up the time on your eyelids for example, and the end result allows for a very interesting subject mater, set firmly in the Sci-Fi genre, with a world that could easily be ours. There’s nothing here that seems too far-fetched or implausible, and the book deals with the concept in a solid way that reminded me briefly of The Matrix - only, substitute the titular element for Social Network.
Petri is a test-tube baby, daughter of Zizi Quinn, who played a key role in developing Glaze. Her character is strongly developed and far from perfect, and whilst she may be a genius at Maths, she does suffer from a few problems that makes her flawed, believable and rootable. For example, one of them – she’s not connected to the Glaze. All of her friends are using the social network on a daily basis and all she wants to do is access it. However, when the Police believe she started a riot at one of the anti-Glaze Protests, she’s given a five year ban from Glaze, a year before she can get on it. Only, not only are there rumours that she’s going to get a lifelong ban from Glaze – it might not be as safe as everyone thinks it is.
On top of that, there are other characters as well that are thrown into the mix, and quite a lot of them. Unfortunately this means that not all of them leave a big impact on the reader, but the main cast leave a strong presence. Petri’s mother, Zizi, classmates Kiara and Ryan, Glaze owner Max and the enigmatic teenager Ethan are the most fleshed out, and all enhance the book and add their own touch to the novel so that they never feel like carbon copies of other characters. There’s depth. There’s chemistry – between Petri and Ethan and the rest of the cast, and it works well, with some strong dialogue and nothing that really feels forced.
Glaze is shaping up to be one of my favourite Young Adult novels of the year so far. It’s smart, intelligent, quirky and with some great characters that make it a compelling read. The pace is strong as well, with the book really kicking into gear towards the end, and despite the fact that it took me a while to get going I was really hooked around halfway through, and read the whole second half in pretty much one bus journey. It’s something that’s very different from Curran’s Shift books and not just in the way that there’s a female character rather than a male one.
This book is one of the better things to come out of the dystopian /young adult fiction genre. It’s different to the likes of The Hunger Games and its various copycats, and stands as a breath of fresh air in a genre that was starting to feel repetitive after too many books featuring female characters involved with love triangles in a world ruled by an ‘evil’ Government, and is also something that could really work well as a film adaption if given the right hands. If you’re a fan of Kim Curran’s previous work or looking for some good young adult fiction then this book should be right up your street. Give it a try – trust me, you won’t regret it.
VERDICT: 9/10
November 25, 2018
Bercerita tentang sebuah teknologi canggih yg memungkinkan para mengguna yang memasang chip di kepalanya bisa saling terhubung dalam jaringan bernama Glaze. Tapi Petri Quinn, seorang putri dari petinggi di perusahaan yg memproduksi chip tersebut, justru terlibat masalah dan dilarang untuk terhubung dengan Glaze selama 5 tahun. Petri pun mencari cara untuk terhubung dan kemudian bertemu dengan sekumpulan pemberontak yg ingin menggulingkan Glaze.
Alurnya sangat lambat di awal dan kurang engaging, tapi di tengah jadi super seru dan bikin penasaran sampai akhir!!
Alurnya sangat lambat di awal dan kurang engaging, tapi di tengah jadi super seru dan bikin penasaran sampai akhir!!
September 9, 2016
*I was sent a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Petri Quinn is a 15 year old girl who is desperate to get onto Glaze - a social network that everyone uses - but is only available to anyone 16 and over. One day, when Petri is at a peaceful protest that turns into a riot, she gets caught for inciting violence and receives a 5 year ban from Glaze. She seeks out this underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted so she can access Glaze. However, this chip comes with a bunch of problems.
I love the idea of technology being a major aspect of this society considering our world is full of technology and who knows what it would become in the future. Since Petri is the youngest in her class and all of her friends and classmates are already on the Glaze, she feels left out and although it wasn't very smart of her to do so, I can see her reasoning to wanting to get on it.
I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters. While the main character wasn't dislikable, I didn't find her that likable either. I just thought that she was an "okay" character.
With the Glaze, it was a bit difficult to understand exactly how it works at first. The author does give descriptions and the procedure to get access to it but it was hard for me to picture. I still understand a majority of how it works but there is a bit of confusion here and there.
I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and ended abruptly. One second something big is happening, and the next, it's all over.
Overall, I do enjoy this book. If you are interested in a fast-paced and action-packed book that centers around social media and technology, definitely pick this book up.
Petri Quinn is a 15 year old girl who is desperate to get onto Glaze - a social network that everyone uses - but is only available to anyone 16 and over. One day, when Petri is at a peaceful protest that turns into a riot, she gets caught for inciting violence and receives a 5 year ban from Glaze. She seeks out this underground hacker group and gets a black market chip fitted so she can access Glaze. However, this chip comes with a bunch of problems.
I love the idea of technology being a major aspect of this society considering our world is full of technology and who knows what it would become in the future. Since Petri is the youngest in her class and all of her friends and classmates are already on the Glaze, she feels left out and although it wasn't very smart of her to do so, I can see her reasoning to wanting to get on it.
I didn't feel any attachment to any of the characters. While the main character wasn't dislikable, I didn't find her that likable either. I just thought that she was an "okay" character.
With the Glaze, it was a bit difficult to understand exactly how it works at first. The author does give descriptions and the procedure to get access to it but it was hard for me to picture. I still understand a majority of how it works but there is a bit of confusion here and there.
I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and ended abruptly. One second something big is happening, and the next, it's all over.
Overall, I do enjoy this book. If you are interested in a fast-paced and action-packed book that centers around social media and technology, definitely pick this book up.
December 12, 2015
Pengetahuan saya tentang dunia digital lumayan bertambah setelah membaca buku ini. Minimal jadi memahami makna beberapa istilah serta mendapat gambaran mengenai cara kerjanya.
Tak ketinggalan juga diuraikan bagaimana kehebatan efek dari sebuah jaringan sosial. Bagaikan pisau, jika berada dalam genggaman seorang ahli bedah makan pisau itu akan sangat berguna bagi nyama seseorang. Tapi jika berada dalam genggaman perampok tentunya akan sangat menakutkan dan membahayakan jiwa seseorang. Jaringan sosial dalam buku ini adalah Glaze.
http://trulyrudiono.blogspot.co.id/20...
Tak ketinggalan juga diuraikan bagaimana kehebatan efek dari sebuah jaringan sosial. Bagaikan pisau, jika berada dalam genggaman seorang ahli bedah makan pisau itu akan sangat berguna bagi nyama seseorang. Tapi jika berada dalam genggaman perampok tentunya akan sangat menakutkan dan membahayakan jiwa seseorang. Jaringan sosial dalam buku ini adalah Glaze.
http://trulyrudiono.blogspot.co.id/20...
April 26, 2014
Social media—for most people they have become a ubiquitous part of everyday life. Checking in with family on Facebook, sending a quick WhatsApp message to your friend letting them know you'll be late for coffee, instagramming a photo of that beautiful sunset or tweeting your opinions on the latest Game of Thrones episode, it's all done on social media and almost everyone has at least one account. Unless you're like my husband, who flatly refuses. Then again, he didn't have a mobile phone until 2002 either, so maybe he's just a bit of a Luddite when it comes to these things. Anyway, with the advent of the popularity of social media, also came the realisation that people giving out all this personal information so freely could well be used for evil, or at least for nefarious purposes. Kim Curran's Glaze explores what these purposes might be and shows that it may not even be due to bad intentions.
Glaze is a neural social network. The user is implanted with a chip that interfaces with their visual and aural cortex allowing them to see and hear things directly transmitted to the chip. It's a sort of internet, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix etc. all rolled into one. Once on Glaze you're always connected and always on creating something that resembles something of a Hive mind; once one person sees or hears something, it can be transmitted and go viral almost instantaneously. Due to developmental issues with the brain, there is an age restriction for getting chipped. You can only get on Glaze once you turn sixteen, which of course creates a large divide between the under-sixteens and the over-sixteens. I loved the Glaze blocker at Petri's school, which isn't just so people won't send each other virtual notes during class or just space out surfing and not pay attention, but also to avoid cheating etc. Glaze adds another complication to what is already a complicated age to be and part of Petri's story is about dealing with feeling left out and left behind.
Petri is in many ways a classic outsider. Intelligent and gifted, she's skipped a grade and as a consequence is a year younger than most of her classmates. In addition she is the daughter of the well-known Creative Director of Glaze's parent company, Zizi Quinn, conceived through IVF and she doesn't known who her father is. All of this sets her apart from her peers and leaves her feeling more and more isolated, especially since most of her friends have turned sixteen and gotten on Glaze. With her mum always working and distant, she feels lonelier still, though their relationship is strained at the best of times. Due to the fact that Petri isn't on Glaze means she can't truly connect to those who have been chipped. As a consequence, most of the secondary characters feel rather distant and nebulous. The only ones that really felt like they has a solid shape to them were her class mates Kiara and Ryan, the mysterious boy Ethan, her mum Zizi and Max, the owner of Glaze.
Glaze's portrayal of social dynamics is fascinating. The network creates a literal digital divide: those who are on and those on the outside looking in. It changes behaviour and creates a dependence in its users that is alarming. If you think we're in a panic now when our connection is down or Twitter is out, the scenes when Glaze cuts out are terrifying in its implications. Curran looks at several different ways the technology could be used and highlights both good and bad uses of said possibilities, such as for example Glaze's ability to influence mood, which can help people with depression or other mood disorders. On the other hand, it can also be used to make people docile and influence them unduly. The identification in the chip means that one can always be identified, so it's easy to trace people, which is good in the case of a missing person or a crime being committed, but bad for all the same reasons we dislike the NSA being able to track everything we do—Glaze would be a dream come true for any intelligence or security agency.
The counter culture inspired by Glaze and the societal shifts it has inspired is very cool. I loved the NF group Petri joins as to me they felt a little like the crew in The Matrix, with Logan as Morpheus and Ethan as Trinity, though why they would do so is beyond me, as there is nothing remotely Matrix-y to the narrative. Petri's introduction to the NF comes through Ryan one of her classmates, the one she's had a crush on for forever. However, she's also very much drawn to Ethan, the mysterious boy she's met a number of times, who turns out to be a member of the NF. The whirlwind romance between Petri and Ethan was fast, but I did believe in it. On the other hand, I loved how things played out between Petri and Ryan as that felt so true to life and Ryan is such an utter douche canoe! So while there was certainly romance to the book, it never became really central to the narrative, which I liked.
I really loved Glaze. It's very different from Curran's Shift series, but it shares its snappy dialogue and great pacing. I also liked the fact that this is definitely a standalone story with a finished story arc and resolution, but with the sense that the story will go on without us. If you enjoy near future SF and socially-aware stories, Glaze is just the ticket. Curran is proving to be a very talented writer, one who never fails to deliver in her stories, and I can't wait to discover what else she can do.
This book was provided for review by the author.
Glaze is a neural social network. The user is implanted with a chip that interfaces with their visual and aural cortex allowing them to see and hear things directly transmitted to the chip. It's a sort of internet, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix etc. all rolled into one. Once on Glaze you're always connected and always on creating something that resembles something of a Hive mind; once one person sees or hears something, it can be transmitted and go viral almost instantaneously. Due to developmental issues with the brain, there is an age restriction for getting chipped. You can only get on Glaze once you turn sixteen, which of course creates a large divide between the under-sixteens and the over-sixteens. I loved the Glaze blocker at Petri's school, which isn't just so people won't send each other virtual notes during class or just space out surfing and not pay attention, but also to avoid cheating etc. Glaze adds another complication to what is already a complicated age to be and part of Petri's story is about dealing with feeling left out and left behind.
Petri is in many ways a classic outsider. Intelligent and gifted, she's skipped a grade and as a consequence is a year younger than most of her classmates. In addition she is the daughter of the well-known Creative Director of Glaze's parent company, Zizi Quinn, conceived through IVF and she doesn't known who her father is. All of this sets her apart from her peers and leaves her feeling more and more isolated, especially since most of her friends have turned sixteen and gotten on Glaze. With her mum always working and distant, she feels lonelier still, though their relationship is strained at the best of times. Due to the fact that Petri isn't on Glaze means she can't truly connect to those who have been chipped. As a consequence, most of the secondary characters feel rather distant and nebulous. The only ones that really felt like they has a solid shape to them were her class mates Kiara and Ryan, the mysterious boy Ethan, her mum Zizi and Max, the owner of Glaze.
Glaze's portrayal of social dynamics is fascinating. The network creates a literal digital divide: those who are on and those on the outside looking in. It changes behaviour and creates a dependence in its users that is alarming. If you think we're in a panic now when our connection is down or Twitter is out, the scenes when Glaze cuts out are terrifying in its implications. Curran looks at several different ways the technology could be used and highlights both good and bad uses of said possibilities, such as for example Glaze's ability to influence mood, which can help people with depression or other mood disorders. On the other hand, it can also be used to make people docile and influence them unduly. The identification in the chip means that one can always be identified, so it's easy to trace people, which is good in the case of a missing person or a crime being committed, but bad for all the same reasons we dislike the NSA being able to track everything we do—Glaze would be a dream come true for any intelligence or security agency.
The counter culture inspired by Glaze and the societal shifts it has inspired is very cool. I loved the NF group Petri joins as to me they felt a little like the crew in The Matrix, with Logan as Morpheus and Ethan as Trinity, though why they would do so is beyond me, as there is nothing remotely Matrix-y to the narrative. Petri's introduction to the NF comes through Ryan one of her classmates, the one she's had a crush on for forever. However, she's also very much drawn to Ethan, the mysterious boy she's met a number of times, who turns out to be a member of the NF. The whirlwind romance between Petri and Ethan was fast, but I did believe in it. On the other hand, I loved how things played out between Petri and Ryan as that felt so true to life and Ryan is such an utter douche canoe! So while there was certainly romance to the book, it never became really central to the narrative, which I liked.
I really loved Glaze. It's very different from Curran's Shift series, but it shares its snappy dialogue and great pacing. I also liked the fact that this is definitely a standalone story with a finished story arc and resolution, but with the sense that the story will go on without us. If you enjoy near future SF and socially-aware stories, Glaze is just the ticket. Curran is proving to be a very talented writer, one who never fails to deliver in her stories, and I can't wait to discover what else she can do.
This book was provided for review by the author.
September 3, 2017
Scary Good
The truth and scary reality behind this dystopian novel is worth every twist and turn. Some things lag on, and the annoying teenager angst is palpable... but the truth value and societal impact is great. Read and enjoy!
The truth and scary reality behind this dystopian novel is worth every twist and turn. Some things lag on, and the annoying teenager angst is palpable... but the truth value and societal impact is great. Read and enjoy!
March 27, 2015
Having read and adored both Shift and Control, I was instantly interested in knowing about Kim’s next project. When it was finally announced and the synopsis was revealed, I was instantaneously hooked. It sounded like such an interesting novel and I just knew that I had to get my hands on it. I was also wary of my excitement – as I usually am – worried that I would somehow end up getting disappointed. Fortunately, however, I am here to happily report that, that did not happen. Instead I once again fell in love with one of Kim’s books and cannot wait to read everything else that she writes.
Petri lives in a world where social media is accessed through a chip in the brain. This chip connects you to everything and everyone. But you can only have the chip implanted when you turn sixteen. Petri is just a few months away from getting a chip when she’s given a five-year ban from the network. Now all of her friends are even further away from before and she simply cannot deal with living alone for another five years, thus she does everything she can to get herself onto the network known as Glaze. This is the set up of this plot and everything that happens because of it is truly compelling and interesting. This book is full of twists and turns, bumps and jolts, and is full of action and mystery. I loved the concept of the story in all of its shocking gory, and I loved the way that everything came together. It kept you guessing, it made you think, and it was just full of a really intriguing story that I couldn’t keep away from, and a story that stuck in my mind for days after I’d finished the last page.
What helps to make this book strong were the characters. While it took me a while to connect with Petri, almost instantly I understood her. Trying to fit in as a teenager seems incredibly difficult – of course, what we don’t realise is most of us will spend our whole lives trying to fit in – but I remember so vividly how hard this was for me. I always felt outside of everyone, different in so many ways and so reading about a character who felt that way was really great. Petri has a few flaws and feels a little naïve at times but essentially I quite liked her as the main driving point of this story. While the romance in this novel feels a bit generic, I did also like the relationship between Petri and Ethan. There’s a lot of learning to be had between them and it’s a lot of scrabbling in the dark which is how it often feels when meeting new people. It just takes a while to find a unique rhythm. The only thing for me that felt off with the characters was Petri’s relationship with her group of friends at the beginning, I couldn’t work out how she fit in with everyone and it all felt a little forced. While I can see how important this was because of the plot, it did mean the beginning of this book was a little hard to get into.
I adored that this book was set in London but essentially apart from a few mentions here and there, the location of the city wasn’t mentioned but I felt that this really worked. For me, the real setting of this book wasn’t London itself, but a futuristic world where social media was quite literally ingrained in our skulls. This setting, in comparisons, was well built, continuously mentioned and it was just so easy to really see the world in this way – scary still as it was just so believeable. Aside from being described in great detail, what helped to make the setting and world-building so concrete was the writing style. I have, as mentioned above, loved both of Kim’s previous books and so I was really glad when I could find her style in this book as well. It helped to really make the book more entertaining and thrilling.
Essentially this was a hard-hitting novel that scared me to the core, gave me enjoyment, and stayed in my head for days after reading it. It was action-packed, intense, and was an easy read for me to enjoy. While some may feel that the story wasn’t very strong, for me that doesn’t matter so much as the world-building around it and the messages that Kim conveys throughout the book make it so much more than the plot. I really loved the concept behind this book and I feel that this is really what made it such a fascinating read for me. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the plot and where this book took me, as well as the characters that I was given. But I can also see how this may not be amazing for others. Initially, if you’re looking for a scary futuristic book that could paint a world that could come true, with an intense and fast-paced story within it, then you should give this book a try because I honestly believe that you will love it like I did.
Petri lives in a world where social media is accessed through a chip in the brain. This chip connects you to everything and everyone. But you can only have the chip implanted when you turn sixteen. Petri is just a few months away from getting a chip when she’s given a five-year ban from the network. Now all of her friends are even further away from before and she simply cannot deal with living alone for another five years, thus she does everything she can to get herself onto the network known as Glaze. This is the set up of this plot and everything that happens because of it is truly compelling and interesting. This book is full of twists and turns, bumps and jolts, and is full of action and mystery. I loved the concept of the story in all of its shocking gory, and I loved the way that everything came together. It kept you guessing, it made you think, and it was just full of a really intriguing story that I couldn’t keep away from, and a story that stuck in my mind for days after I’d finished the last page.
What helps to make this book strong were the characters. While it took me a while to connect with Petri, almost instantly I understood her. Trying to fit in as a teenager seems incredibly difficult – of course, what we don’t realise is most of us will spend our whole lives trying to fit in – but I remember so vividly how hard this was for me. I always felt outside of everyone, different in so many ways and so reading about a character who felt that way was really great. Petri has a few flaws and feels a little naïve at times but essentially I quite liked her as the main driving point of this story. While the romance in this novel feels a bit generic, I did also like the relationship between Petri and Ethan. There’s a lot of learning to be had between them and it’s a lot of scrabbling in the dark which is how it often feels when meeting new people. It just takes a while to find a unique rhythm. The only thing for me that felt off with the characters was Petri’s relationship with her group of friends at the beginning, I couldn’t work out how she fit in with everyone and it all felt a little forced. While I can see how important this was because of the plot, it did mean the beginning of this book was a little hard to get into.
I adored that this book was set in London but essentially apart from a few mentions here and there, the location of the city wasn’t mentioned but I felt that this really worked. For me, the real setting of this book wasn’t London itself, but a futuristic world where social media was quite literally ingrained in our skulls. This setting, in comparisons, was well built, continuously mentioned and it was just so easy to really see the world in this way – scary still as it was just so believeable. Aside from being described in great detail, what helped to make the setting and world-building so concrete was the writing style. I have, as mentioned above, loved both of Kim’s previous books and so I was really glad when I could find her style in this book as well. It helped to really make the book more entertaining and thrilling.
Essentially this was a hard-hitting novel that scared me to the core, gave me enjoyment, and stayed in my head for days after reading it. It was action-packed, intense, and was an easy read for me to enjoy. While some may feel that the story wasn’t very strong, for me that doesn’t matter so much as the world-building around it and the messages that Kim conveys throughout the book make it so much more than the plot. I really loved the concept behind this book and I feel that this is really what made it such a fascinating read for me. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the plot and where this book took me, as well as the characters that I was given. But I can also see how this may not be amazing for others. Initially, if you’re looking for a scary futuristic book that could paint a world that could come true, with an intense and fast-paced story within it, then you should give this book a try because I honestly believe that you will love it like I did.
May 8, 2014
I would like to thank the author for providing me a complimentary copy of her book in exchange for a review. Doing so does not sway my judgment in any way.
It's funny, when I was reading this book I highlighted a sentence from the excerpt before I even saw it, "Puberty, people, is a bitch." How true of a statement is that? That one sentence nails it down and those 5 words describe those years perfectly. On one hand you want to be your own person, on the other hand you want what you see peers have, on another hand you don't want to be like them, but on the other hand, you wonder what happens if you aren't. Puberty=hormones=craziness=bitch. The circle of life non-Disney style.
The story centers around Glaze, the social network of the future. Everyone over a certain age gets chipped and are able to access this network through their brains. Passing of information is done with a thought and if you aren't on the system, you either want to be on it or you are determined to take it down. Petri is close to getting chipped, but due to a huge misunderstanding at a protest she was present at, she gets a 5 year ban. Think of it this way, all your peers are on Facebook and you are thisclose to getting on it too when the carpet gets pulled from under your feet and your told you have to wait until your 21. Life as you thought it would be would feel like it's over before it even got started. This network is also far more evolved than what we have today. It's like a fully loaded computer system. Need the news, you've got it. Need the weather, BAM, you got it. 5 years, so much can happen during that time, and Petri realizes that and does what many people in that circumstance does, she finds a way around it.
The story takes off from there. Petri finds she's getting an overload of Glaze. She can't get away from all the information being tossed at her because she's not plugged in the way that she should be. The story deals with actions and consequences. And what she's tapped into, somebody else wants because she knows too much and can crush the reality of Glaze. And why has this happened, because as said before, "Puberty, people, is a bitch."
Some call this book dystopian, I don't know if I would. It's not far off base where our social networking could go. Think about it, how many of us tap into our Facebook, Twitter, Emails, Blogs, etc multiple times daily to see what everyone else is doing? Encyclopedias? Why bother when a couple clicks and we have the answer before us. Research used to be spending hours in a library, and making phone calls, and writing letters to get the information we needed, but now we can do all that through our computer or smartphone. We think, put a chip in our bodies, no way, but think about it. If we know it has happened, and we see the results and it because easily accessible for everyone, how many would succumb to wanting to try it out like everyone else? I remember when cell phones came out. People laughed seeing others with them, but now that they are affordable and can be had without plans, people who don't have one are labeled strange.
A unique story that makes one think about the possibilities out there. It makes the reader think not only of the story, but how our society could easily become the one in the story. The ways it could be used for good, and the ways it could be used for bad. Those who could use it as a stepping stone to something else, and those who just want to be like everyone else. The author has really done well with intermingling current events and the ideas of where technology is going. She's tapped into the driving force of the teenager, and realizes that the actions of society currently will help dictate and facilitate the technology of the future. Teens today who are tapped in the way there are, want more, these teens become adults and acquire the knowledge to make dreams a reality, even if they shouldn't be. A good representation of this is Petri's mother, who was once a hacker but eventually helped create Glaze.
Anyone who is into corruption, technology and thrillers will delight in this book. For those who aren't really into social networking, they may not get the range of desperation that Petri has to get connected and that might hinder them with this book, especially since the first 100 pages are dealt with getting on Glaze. That area is where I would have liked to see things speed up a bit. We know from the beginning that Petri gets banned but than goes onto the black market for a chip, so why did the story have to take so long to get there?
It's funny, when I was reading this book I highlighted a sentence from the excerpt before I even saw it, "Puberty, people, is a bitch." How true of a statement is that? That one sentence nails it down and those 5 words describe those years perfectly. On one hand you want to be your own person, on the other hand you want what you see peers have, on another hand you don't want to be like them, but on the other hand, you wonder what happens if you aren't. Puberty=hormones=craziness=bitch. The circle of life non-Disney style.
The story centers around Glaze, the social network of the future. Everyone over a certain age gets chipped and are able to access this network through their brains. Passing of information is done with a thought and if you aren't on the system, you either want to be on it or you are determined to take it down. Petri is close to getting chipped, but due to a huge misunderstanding at a protest she was present at, she gets a 5 year ban. Think of it this way, all your peers are on Facebook and you are thisclose to getting on it too when the carpet gets pulled from under your feet and your told you have to wait until your 21. Life as you thought it would be would feel like it's over before it even got started. This network is also far more evolved than what we have today. It's like a fully loaded computer system. Need the news, you've got it. Need the weather, BAM, you got it. 5 years, so much can happen during that time, and Petri realizes that and does what many people in that circumstance does, she finds a way around it.
The story takes off from there. Petri finds she's getting an overload of Glaze. She can't get away from all the information being tossed at her because she's not plugged in the way that she should be. The story deals with actions and consequences. And what she's tapped into, somebody else wants because she knows too much and can crush the reality of Glaze. And why has this happened, because as said before, "Puberty, people, is a bitch."
Some call this book dystopian, I don't know if I would. It's not far off base where our social networking could go. Think about it, how many of us tap into our Facebook, Twitter, Emails, Blogs, etc multiple times daily to see what everyone else is doing? Encyclopedias? Why bother when a couple clicks and we have the answer before us. Research used to be spending hours in a library, and making phone calls, and writing letters to get the information we needed, but now we can do all that through our computer or smartphone. We think, put a chip in our bodies, no way, but think about it. If we know it has happened, and we see the results and it because easily accessible for everyone, how many would succumb to wanting to try it out like everyone else? I remember when cell phones came out. People laughed seeing others with them, but now that they are affordable and can be had without plans, people who don't have one are labeled strange.
A unique story that makes one think about the possibilities out there. It makes the reader think not only of the story, but how our society could easily become the one in the story. The ways it could be used for good, and the ways it could be used for bad. Those who could use it as a stepping stone to something else, and those who just want to be like everyone else. The author has really done well with intermingling current events and the ideas of where technology is going. She's tapped into the driving force of the teenager, and realizes that the actions of society currently will help dictate and facilitate the technology of the future. Teens today who are tapped in the way there are, want more, these teens become adults and acquire the knowledge to make dreams a reality, even if they shouldn't be. A good representation of this is Petri's mother, who was once a hacker but eventually helped create Glaze.
Anyone who is into corruption, technology and thrillers will delight in this book. For those who aren't really into social networking, they may not get the range of desperation that Petri has to get connected and that might hinder them with this book, especially since the first 100 pages are dealt with getting on Glaze. That area is where I would have liked to see things speed up a bit. We know from the beginning that Petri gets banned but than goes onto the black market for a chip, so why did the story have to take so long to get there?
May 9, 2014
Kim Curran's latest book is a clever, yet disturbing, fast-paced chase through not only a dystopian London of the near future but the omnipotent social network that is GLAZE. It's her third novel and I think it's her best yet. (It's a stand-alone book and not part of the excellent Shifter series, which currently comprises SHIFT and CONTROL. DELETE, the third book of that series, is out in August.)
GLAZE is Petri Quinn's story: she's 15 years old when we first meet her, which means that she's counting down the days, hours and seconds until she can get hooked up to GLAZE, the social network of the moment. Petri's desperation to get connected is compounded by the fact that she's a bright girl who's been put up a year at school. Which means, everyone she's in class with is already 16 and already 'hooked up'.
Petri's a terrific character: her voice is strong and I took to her from the very first page. She's the only child of a single parent and has had to be relatively self-sufficient because of her mother's work demands. They have a slightly distant relationship with each other, as a result. Petri's a bright girl, but not one who shouts about it. All she wants is what a lot of people want: to fit in, to be a part of things, if not the centre of them, and for the dreamy, cool kid in her year to notice her. And she'd really like to be 'hooked up' to GLAZE. And all credit to the girl, despite her mother working as a high-level Executive for the company behind GLAZE, Petri hasn't tried to use that to get connected early.
Kim Curran cleverly shows both the good and bad in being on a social network in GLAZE, especially one as pervasive as this one is. She shows the uses and benefits of having so much information and so many resources readily available and easily accessible before showing how it all could be open to misuse and abuse by the authorities, by the company responsible for designing and running it, by other interest groups and by its users.
If you're concerned about the way the current media presents (or, depending on your view, moulds and makes) the news before feeding it to us, and how statistics and information are manipulated to suit what 'they' want to tell us, then GLAZE feeds right into those concerns. It might also make you reconsider just what you share and who you connect with when you next use any of our existing social networks.
As well as being a timely look at how connected we all are, GLAZE is also a thrilling and unnerving look at how much of our lives are lived and shared online; how much information we give out about ourselves, our family and our friends, complete with locations and photos, and for some people, even with a running commentary of their day-to-day experiences and routine. It's also an important reminder of what is important: giving your time over to family and real friends and spending quality time with them; making genuine connections with people; looking up and noticing what's going on in your immediate environment and the wider world; questioning what you consume, especially when it comes to information; and, ultimately, being unafraid to forge your own way sometimes, even if that goes against what the majority are doing, because it might just be the better path.
If that all sounds deep, then that's because GLAZE gave me a lot to think about, both while I was reading it and for these past few days since having finished it. But that didn't stop GLAZE from being an exciting, fast-paced read; a technological thriller that I'd recommend anyone, who lives even a little bit online, to read.
GLAZE is Petri Quinn's story: she's 15 years old when we first meet her, which means that she's counting down the days, hours and seconds until she can get hooked up to GLAZE, the social network of the moment. Petri's desperation to get connected is compounded by the fact that she's a bright girl who's been put up a year at school. Which means, everyone she's in class with is already 16 and already 'hooked up'.
Petri's a terrific character: her voice is strong and I took to her from the very first page. She's the only child of a single parent and has had to be relatively self-sufficient because of her mother's work demands. They have a slightly distant relationship with each other, as a result. Petri's a bright girl, but not one who shouts about it. All she wants is what a lot of people want: to fit in, to be a part of things, if not the centre of them, and for the dreamy, cool kid in her year to notice her. And she'd really like to be 'hooked up' to GLAZE. And all credit to the girl, despite her mother working as a high-level Executive for the company behind GLAZE, Petri hasn't tried to use that to get connected early.
Kim Curran cleverly shows both the good and bad in being on a social network in GLAZE, especially one as pervasive as this one is. She shows the uses and benefits of having so much information and so many resources readily available and easily accessible before showing how it all could be open to misuse and abuse by the authorities, by the company responsible for designing and running it, by other interest groups and by its users.
If you're concerned about the way the current media presents (or, depending on your view, moulds and makes) the news before feeding it to us, and how statistics and information are manipulated to suit what 'they' want to tell us, then GLAZE feeds right into those concerns. It might also make you reconsider just what you share and who you connect with when you next use any of our existing social networks.
As well as being a timely look at how connected we all are, GLAZE is also a thrilling and unnerving look at how much of our lives are lived and shared online; how much information we give out about ourselves, our family and our friends, complete with locations and photos, and for some people, even with a running commentary of their day-to-day experiences and routine. It's also an important reminder of what is important: giving your time over to family and real friends and spending quality time with them; making genuine connections with people; looking up and noticing what's going on in your immediate environment and the wider world; questioning what you consume, especially when it comes to information; and, ultimately, being unafraid to forge your own way sometimes, even if that goes against what the majority are doing, because it might just be the better path.
If that all sounds deep, then that's because GLAZE gave me a lot to think about, both while I was reading it and for these past few days since having finished it. But that didn't stop GLAZE from being an exciting, fast-paced read; a technological thriller that I'd recommend anyone, who lives even a little bit online, to read.
January 16, 2015
At the heart of Kim Curran’s Glaze is a depiction of a teenager’s turmoil -- simultaneously trying to fit and yet also be individual -- set against the backdrop of a high-tech conspiracy. The teenager in question is Petri, a disarmingly normal youth through whose eyes we feel the acute awkwardness of negotiating relationships with boys, friends, adults and authorities.
She suffers several indignities and injustices – her embarrassing name, the non-empathetic treatment by her self-absorbed and inattentive mother ZiZi (the Creative Director of Glaze), and then being mistakenly implicated in an ‘antisocial’ crime. As with many teens, Petri is becoming aware of the foibles and flaws of adults and authority yet is rendered powerless by their decisions, a condition most of us can relate to. The means by which she gradually empowers herself to effect change gives the book its drive and makes for a compelling and pacey read.
The ‘Glaze’ of the title represents the corollary of social multimedia platforms combined with current development trends in wearable communications technology: an intuitive and pervasive (often invasive) Internet. Glaze is accessible at the age of sixteen by a chip surgically embedded in the brain, allowing private thoughts to interface with publicly-shared information and content. Like any medium, there is a benefit but also a dark side – firstly, the holistic quality of Glaze can be an irresistible, almost drug-like experience and reality can seem colourless without it; secondly, it can leave the unwary open to over-exposure.
Curran’s portrayal of an Internet-on-steroids feels timely and relevant. It is a deliberately exaggerated technology environment carrying an understated vein of social commentary which should engender debate amongst the target YA readership; the author weaves this in making it feel naturalistic and without ever becoming heavy handed.
There are some minor quibbles with one or two details in the depiction of how the biotech industry works in the real world (eg. the time required to develop and launch a new technology and for mass adoption to be achieved) but these are incidental and should be skirted over; the technology is detailed enough to give a sense of its implications but vague enough to keep its implementation plausible.
When Petri is denied access to Glaze it throws all her relationships into sharp relief, alienating her (even more) from ZiZi, as well as her peers…except for one enigmatic boy. When Petri does get onto Glaze and feels the sensory overload of the ‘antisocial network’, he motivates her into positive action. They combine to disruptive effect and Curran deftly handles the friction caused. Even after the final resolution of the story, questions raised about the role of social media and personal/public connectivity in hang in the air, suggesting that there are no easy answers. It is to the credit of the author and the story that these issues, and the central relationships between characters, are presented with a rounded maturity.
There is something of the cautionary tale in here, presented as a tech-thriller with a hint of teen romance. It moves swiftly but takes its time to stop and think.
She suffers several indignities and injustices – her embarrassing name, the non-empathetic treatment by her self-absorbed and inattentive mother ZiZi (the Creative Director of Glaze), and then being mistakenly implicated in an ‘antisocial’ crime. As with many teens, Petri is becoming aware of the foibles and flaws of adults and authority yet is rendered powerless by their decisions, a condition most of us can relate to. The means by which she gradually empowers herself to effect change gives the book its drive and makes for a compelling and pacey read.
The ‘Glaze’ of the title represents the corollary of social multimedia platforms combined with current development trends in wearable communications technology: an intuitive and pervasive (often invasive) Internet. Glaze is accessible at the age of sixteen by a chip surgically embedded in the brain, allowing private thoughts to interface with publicly-shared information and content. Like any medium, there is a benefit but also a dark side – firstly, the holistic quality of Glaze can be an irresistible, almost drug-like experience and reality can seem colourless without it; secondly, it can leave the unwary open to over-exposure.
Curran’s portrayal of an Internet-on-steroids feels timely and relevant. It is a deliberately exaggerated technology environment carrying an understated vein of social commentary which should engender debate amongst the target YA readership; the author weaves this in making it feel naturalistic and without ever becoming heavy handed.
There are some minor quibbles with one or two details in the depiction of how the biotech industry works in the real world (eg. the time required to develop and launch a new technology and for mass adoption to be achieved) but these are incidental and should be skirted over; the technology is detailed enough to give a sense of its implications but vague enough to keep its implementation plausible.
When Petri is denied access to Glaze it throws all her relationships into sharp relief, alienating her (even more) from ZiZi, as well as her peers…except for one enigmatic boy. When Petri does get onto Glaze and feels the sensory overload of the ‘antisocial network’, he motivates her into positive action. They combine to disruptive effect and Curran deftly handles the friction caused. Even after the final resolution of the story, questions raised about the role of social media and personal/public connectivity in hang in the air, suggesting that there are no easy answers. It is to the credit of the author and the story that these issues, and the central relationships between characters, are presented with a rounded maturity.
There is something of the cautionary tale in here, presented as a tech-thriller with a hint of teen romance. It moves swiftly but takes its time to stop and think.
May 11, 2014
Originally posted at The Solitary Bookworm
There’s no doubt that in the near future, social media will consume our lives more than it is affecting us now. The amount of time that people dedicate in updating their accounts is crazy – whether it be Facebook Twitter, Instagram or whatever. I myself am guilty of this habit because it is indeed addicting. Every activity, every destination, every thought is being “broadcast” with every click. And there is no limit as to what you can learn through the web in every search. Imagine being able to have that resource in a single chip implanted to a person. A chip that has the ability to connect one to a vast network of users – a hive of information readily available to dispense in whatever way possible.
Glaze explores the idea of using social media to help a society be connected to maintain a peaceful life. The idea is to provide a sense of security from being part of a family that is interconnected throughout the system. Information tailored to your liking and readily available whenever you need it. Being connected to everybody anywhere. There is a catch though – Glaze does not allow anybody younger than 16 and criminals. And that is the ultimate dilemma of our young heroine Petri. Petri Quinn is not on Glaze despite being the daughter of the Creative Director of Glaze and with her latest altercation with the law, it seems like Petri will forever be an outsider. Petri wanted to be part of Glaze so badly that she’ll do whatever it takes, regardless the consequence just to be chipped. Now Petri is chipped but it seems like Glaze is not what she thought it was. What will she do?
The idea of Glaze is not far fetched, and I personally do see the possibility in the future which to be honest is both a good and bad thing. To have information and data at a blink of the eyes is tempting but imagine the danger of this potential for one person having all that information for disposal. You can never be safe – privacy will no longer exist. Exposed and powerless. This is what Curran wanted to portray in the story. Regardless of how sweet the idea is there will always be a bigger drawback that will affect everybody gravely.
This is my first Curran book so I am not familiar with her other works but I have to say that I enjoyed Glaze immensely. Sci-fi is not very appealing to me or dystopian so I had second thoughts but all those disappeared the moment I was sucked into the story. I particularly love Curran’s take on social media and how the story rang very true most of the time. Curran has an ability to develop a story that does not only have substance but also characters that are well rounded and interesting. The world of Glaze is very intriguing and though the story did end up quicker than expected, it was a story done very well that it makes up of all the issues that one may think off. Glaze is an ultimate page turner – a story that I not only enjoy but highly recommend.
There’s no doubt that in the near future, social media will consume our lives more than it is affecting us now. The amount of time that people dedicate in updating their accounts is crazy – whether it be Facebook Twitter, Instagram or whatever. I myself am guilty of this habit because it is indeed addicting. Every activity, every destination, every thought is being “broadcast” with every click. And there is no limit as to what you can learn through the web in every search. Imagine being able to have that resource in a single chip implanted to a person. A chip that has the ability to connect one to a vast network of users – a hive of information readily available to dispense in whatever way possible.
Glaze explores the idea of using social media to help a society be connected to maintain a peaceful life. The idea is to provide a sense of security from being part of a family that is interconnected throughout the system. Information tailored to your liking and readily available whenever you need it. Being connected to everybody anywhere. There is a catch though – Glaze does not allow anybody younger than 16 and criminals. And that is the ultimate dilemma of our young heroine Petri. Petri Quinn is not on Glaze despite being the daughter of the Creative Director of Glaze and with her latest altercation with the law, it seems like Petri will forever be an outsider. Petri wanted to be part of Glaze so badly that she’ll do whatever it takes, regardless the consequence just to be chipped. Now Petri is chipped but it seems like Glaze is not what she thought it was. What will she do?
The idea of Glaze is not far fetched, and I personally do see the possibility in the future which to be honest is both a good and bad thing. To have information and data at a blink of the eyes is tempting but imagine the danger of this potential for one person having all that information for disposal. You can never be safe – privacy will no longer exist. Exposed and powerless. This is what Curran wanted to portray in the story. Regardless of how sweet the idea is there will always be a bigger drawback that will affect everybody gravely.
This is my first Curran book so I am not familiar with her other works but I have to say that I enjoyed Glaze immensely. Sci-fi is not very appealing to me or dystopian so I had second thoughts but all those disappeared the moment I was sucked into the story. I particularly love Curran’s take on social media and how the story rang very true most of the time. Curran has an ability to develop a story that does not only have substance but also characters that are well rounded and interesting. The world of Glaze is very intriguing and though the story did end up quicker than expected, it was a story done very well that it makes up of all the issues that one may think off. Glaze is an ultimate page turner – a story that I not only enjoy but highly recommend.
May 9, 2014
(View this review on My Library in the Making.)
GLAZE is a book that majority of the world needs right now, in this age when we are so immersed with social media and everything online that we forget how to connect in the real, physical world. Okay, so this book may be an exaggeration of today, but it is still an eye-opener.
Our protagonist, Petri Quinn, feels very left out. She's yet to turn 16, so she can't get on GLAZE like all the other kids in her year. She can't watch what they're watching or listen to whatever they're listening to when they tune out of the physical world and into the virtual world. But when a rally she attends turns into a riot, she gets the blame and is banned from GLAZE for five years - five years that she knows are crucial if she wants to make connections that matter.
Petri's mom, creative director at the company that invented GLAZE, has always left her wanting for more love and attention, so for her, getting hooked on to practically the rest of the world is that important. She's just a normal girl who wants to fit in and belong, and I really felt for her when she was given the ban. What she did to override the ban was very drastic, true, but I have to admit that if I were her, I'd have done the same.
GLAZE is like everything online we have right now taken to the extreme. Imagine having every information you need about everything and everyone at a single thought. Name? Check. Where everyone bought their clothes? Check. Who planted the freaking apples and oranges in your fridge? Yes, even that. Creepy but essentially, it's not evil. It's actually a lot of good, but a handful of people just had to be blinded by greed and use it the wrong way.
And that's when Petri realized that the community she's longed so much to be a part of was actually imperfect. She and a ragtag group of hackers worked together to bring down GLAZE, only they had no idea just how deep the evil ran. Danger was around every corner and with their enemy able to track their every move, they had to use everything they had if they were to survive.
I really have nothing but praise for GLAZE. It didn't lack in action and it never bored me. It's so easy to read and the sweet romance didn't hurt and didn't overpower the plot, either. In all, GLAZE is a unique addition to the dystopian genre and a book that I can recommend to everyone. Everyone, seriously.
MY FAVORITE PART was the ending. Kick that sucker.
GLAZE is a book that majority of the world needs right now, in this age when we are so immersed with social media and everything online that we forget how to connect in the real, physical world. Okay, so this book may be an exaggeration of today, but it is still an eye-opener.
Our protagonist, Petri Quinn, feels very left out. She's yet to turn 16, so she can't get on GLAZE like all the other kids in her year. She can't watch what they're watching or listen to whatever they're listening to when they tune out of the physical world and into the virtual world. But when a rally she attends turns into a riot, she gets the blame and is banned from GLAZE for five years - five years that she knows are crucial if she wants to make connections that matter.
Puberty, people, is a bitch.
Petri's mom, creative director at the company that invented GLAZE, has always left her wanting for more love and attention, so for her, getting hooked on to practically the rest of the world is that important. She's just a normal girl who wants to fit in and belong, and I really felt for her when she was given the ban. What she did to override the ban was very drastic, true, but I have to admit that if I were her, I'd have done the same.
"I'd rather risk the chaos of freedom than be denied the choice. Choice is everything."
GLAZE is like everything online we have right now taken to the extreme. Imagine having every information you need about everything and everyone at a single thought. Name? Check. Where everyone bought their clothes? Check. Who planted the freaking apples and oranges in your fridge? Yes, even that. Creepy but essentially, it's not evil. It's actually a lot of good, but a handful of people just had to be blinded by greed and use it the wrong way.
And that's when Petri realized that the community she's longed so much to be a part of was actually imperfect. She and a ragtag group of hackers worked together to bring down GLAZE, only they had no idea just how deep the evil ran. Danger was around every corner and with their enemy able to track their every move, they had to use everything they had if they were to survive.
I really have nothing but praise for GLAZE. It didn't lack in action and it never bored me. It's so easy to read and the sweet romance didn't hurt and didn't overpower the plot, either. In all, GLAZE is a unique addition to the dystopian genre and a book that I can recommend to everyone. Everyone, seriously.
MY FAVORITE PART was the ending. Kick that sucker.
June 18, 2014
I love are books that challenge readers to think for themselves. Think Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games, Veronica Roth’s Divergent and Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother – books that make the reader believe that they have a voice, a future and inner strength capable of facing any enemy. Glaze is a smart, slick book that does just that.
How many times have you Tweeted someone in the same room as you, or gone somewhere just so that you could Instagram it? I know I have.
There’s no question that social media is addictive. Millions of people only feel connected to the world if they’re online. Imagine how many hours people spend trawling through feeds and broadcasting their every thought.
Kim Curran takes social media addiction to the next level in Glaze where it’s impossible to survive in the real world unless connected to the network. And who wouldn’t want to be connected anyway? Glaze is the ultimate social media platform. When a person turns sixteen their Glaze chip is embedded at the base of their skull, and allows them to communicate, connect, access information, shop and even vote with nothing more than a blink of an eye. So in effect, life really does start at sixteen.
To fifteen-year-old Petri Quinn, Glaze presents a future brimming with the promise of boys, friends and parties. She’s been waiting for her turn her whole life. Sadly for our young heroine, being at the wrong place at the wrong time results in a wrongful arrest, and jeopardises her chances of ever accessing Glaze. Not even her mother, who has a high profile job at Whiteshield – the developers of Glaze – can help her.
Petri does the unthinkable and steals her mother’s DNA in exchange for a hacked chip. Too bad for her it turns out Glaze isn’t all that. The goofy, zoned out expression Glaze users wear has nothing to do with the latest tracks streaming in their ears twenty-four seven and everything to do with population control on a mass scale.
Petri’s actions cause a ripple effect and soon her mother finding out about what she did is the least of her problems.
This isn’t girl meets boy, happy ending stuff. This is an edge-of-the seat cyber thriller that will scare your socks off. The premonitory tone warns of the danger of social media as a tool to control the public. Think of the police state envisioned by Lauren Beukes in Moxyland and you’ll have some idea. The message is especially relevant in today’s climate of who’s watching who?
Glaze certainly made me aware of how much time I spend online. Hell, I might even venture out without my phone for a change and see what the real world has to offer.
How many times have you Tweeted someone in the same room as you, or gone somewhere just so that you could Instagram it? I know I have.
There’s no question that social media is addictive. Millions of people only feel connected to the world if they’re online. Imagine how many hours people spend trawling through feeds and broadcasting their every thought.
Kim Curran takes social media addiction to the next level in Glaze where it’s impossible to survive in the real world unless connected to the network. And who wouldn’t want to be connected anyway? Glaze is the ultimate social media platform. When a person turns sixteen their Glaze chip is embedded at the base of their skull, and allows them to communicate, connect, access information, shop and even vote with nothing more than a blink of an eye. So in effect, life really does start at sixteen.
To fifteen-year-old Petri Quinn, Glaze presents a future brimming with the promise of boys, friends and parties. She’s been waiting for her turn her whole life. Sadly for our young heroine, being at the wrong place at the wrong time results in a wrongful arrest, and jeopardises her chances of ever accessing Glaze. Not even her mother, who has a high profile job at Whiteshield – the developers of Glaze – can help her.
Petri does the unthinkable and steals her mother’s DNA in exchange for a hacked chip. Too bad for her it turns out Glaze isn’t all that. The goofy, zoned out expression Glaze users wear has nothing to do with the latest tracks streaming in their ears twenty-four seven and everything to do with population control on a mass scale.
Petri’s actions cause a ripple effect and soon her mother finding out about what she did is the least of her problems.
This isn’t girl meets boy, happy ending stuff. This is an edge-of-the seat cyber thriller that will scare your socks off. The premonitory tone warns of the danger of social media as a tool to control the public. Think of the police state envisioned by Lauren Beukes in Moxyland and you’ll have some idea. The message is especially relevant in today’s climate of who’s watching who?
Glaze certainly made me aware of how much time I spend online. Hell, I might even venture out without my phone for a change and see what the real world has to offer.
May 4, 2014
4.5* Review to come!
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Kim Curran*
Kim Curran does it again - she's smashed out another excellent book which leaves me wanting to read more and more! This book definitely hit home with me. Many of the things that Kim explores about social media are things that I worry about now. Curran raises issues of online security, privacy and oppression. There is so much bundled into this novel and it all worked perfectly. Glaze makes for an engaging topical read and one that I found so hard to put down! I've adored every character that Kim has created so far. From Scott in Shift to Petri here. I adored Petri as a protagonist; from her name to her personality to how typically teenage she is. If that makes sense. She is unpredictable, moody, happy, conflicted and absolutely determined to get on Glaze. She does everything she can, but on her path to this she discovers some uncomfortable truths about the program and picks up some amazing friends on the way.
The reason I loved Glaze so much is because Kim put into words exactly how I feel about social media. I can imagine it's exactly what many of us feel about it too. It has so much potential danger and it most certainly succeeds in brainwashing people - just look at the media now. Through Petri, Kim manages to touch on so many social issues as well. The fact that Petri feels left out from everyone because she's too young for Glaze definitely mirrors that of what it would be like today. Imagine the shock at finding out a friend doesn't have an account on Facebook or Twitter. It's definitely something I experienced a few years ago. Our first thoughts were "But how am I going to stay in touch with you at university?!" completely ignoring the act of actually meeting up in person.
Glaze manages to capture this addiction to technology and the internet perfectly. Curran explores the danger of our reliance on social media as a way of contacting people or of finding out information about the world. What I loved is how Curran gave Petri many flaws, but also developed her as a character so perfectly through Glaze. Petri underwent so many changes but continued to improve as a character. I loved her strong mindedness, her irrationality and her empathy with so many people. Glaze is one of the reads that is impossible to put down. I adored it so much. With action, adventure, technology, high running emotions and
*Received in exchange for an honest review*
*Thank you, Kim Curran*
Kim Curran does it again - she's smashed out another excellent book which leaves me wanting to read more and more! This book definitely hit home with me. Many of the things that Kim explores about social media are things that I worry about now. Curran raises issues of online security, privacy and oppression. There is so much bundled into this novel and it all worked perfectly. Glaze makes for an engaging topical read and one that I found so hard to put down! I've adored every character that Kim has created so far. From Scott in Shift to Petri here. I adored Petri as a protagonist; from her name to her personality to how typically teenage she is. If that makes sense. She is unpredictable, moody, happy, conflicted and absolutely determined to get on Glaze. She does everything she can, but on her path to this she discovers some uncomfortable truths about the program and picks up some amazing friends on the way.
The reason I loved Glaze so much is because Kim put into words exactly how I feel about social media. I can imagine it's exactly what many of us feel about it too. It has so much potential danger and it most certainly succeeds in brainwashing people - just look at the media now. Through Petri, Kim manages to touch on so many social issues as well. The fact that Petri feels left out from everyone because she's too young for Glaze definitely mirrors that of what it would be like today. Imagine the shock at finding out a friend doesn't have an account on Facebook or Twitter. It's definitely something I experienced a few years ago. Our first thoughts were "But how am I going to stay in touch with you at university?!" completely ignoring the act of actually meeting up in person.
Glaze manages to capture this addiction to technology and the internet perfectly. Curran explores the danger of our reliance on social media as a way of contacting people or of finding out information about the world. What I loved is how Curran gave Petri many flaws, but also developed her as a character so perfectly through Glaze. Petri underwent so many changes but continued to improve as a character. I loved her strong mindedness, her irrationality and her empathy with so many people. Glaze is one of the reads that is impossible to put down. I adored it so much. With action, adventure, technology, high running emotions and
May 11, 2014
All Petri’s friends are on Glaze but she’s got to wait for her sixteenth birthday to get the chip. Her mother’s an ex-hacker genius who works for her “uncle” Max’s company; the very company who created and run the mega social network. She counting down the days until she matters as far as her peers are concerned. When a peaceful protest turns sour, Petri is identified as inciting violence, (she was just being sarcastic). Instead of a trial, she’s given a blank chip, a ban from accessing Glaze for another 5 years. In her eyes her life is over before it even began. But there is another option, one which means delving into the dangerous and illegal world of hackers.
Glaze is an action packed social commentary on both the positive and negative aspects of social media. So interesting to see some of our current behaviour brought out into the open and examined in this fictional world. The wealth of knowledge and support we have at our fingertips is amazing when you compare it to 20 years ago, imagine if it was all in your head, accessible with just a thought. Is limiting access to individual impeding on their civil rights? Are our happy social circles shielding us from other viewpoints, for better or for worse?
Not to mention the scary thought of what giant corporations could be doing with our data. At what point do you draw the line, especially if all you can see are personal benefits? In Glaze there is only one social network that matters, there isn’t any choice in the matter other than not joining. And not joining means being excluded, something many people already feel about Facebook today.
The hackers that Petri meets seems harmless at first. As the story progresses, it follows the fine line between doing something for the greater good and doing more harm than good. There are always two sides to the coin. Some have noble causes but others can threaten the systems we rely on so much. Sometimes it’s a bit of both.
One thing Petri cares about is her right to vote, to make sure there is a future for her generation. Her naivety is something that slowly wears off throughout the book. There’s a quote, that I have lost, which is about the true meaning of privilege, which struck a chord. I don’t think we are too far away from her world, which is frightening stuff. I loved every page.
Review copy provided by author.
Glaze is an action packed social commentary on both the positive and negative aspects of social media. So interesting to see some of our current behaviour brought out into the open and examined in this fictional world. The wealth of knowledge and support we have at our fingertips is amazing when you compare it to 20 years ago, imagine if it was all in your head, accessible with just a thought. Is limiting access to individual impeding on their civil rights? Are our happy social circles shielding us from other viewpoints, for better or for worse?
Not to mention the scary thought of what giant corporations could be doing with our data. At what point do you draw the line, especially if all you can see are personal benefits? In Glaze there is only one social network that matters, there isn’t any choice in the matter other than not joining. And not joining means being excluded, something many people already feel about Facebook today.
The hackers that Petri meets seems harmless at first. As the story progresses, it follows the fine line between doing something for the greater good and doing more harm than good. There are always two sides to the coin. Some have noble causes but others can threaten the systems we rely on so much. Sometimes it’s a bit of both.
One thing Petri cares about is her right to vote, to make sure there is a future for her generation. Her naivety is something that slowly wears off throughout the book. There’s a quote, that I have lost, which is about the true meaning of privilege, which struck a chord. I don’t think we are too far away from her world, which is frightening stuff. I loved every page.
Review copy provided by author.
May 11, 2014
This is the story of Petri Quinn and the world that she lives in which is not too dissimilar to our own. She lives in a world where Glaze, a multimedia network, is all the rage and at age 16 you're allowed to join. Glaze is everything, you can send messages, watch films, get data and information, video, take photos, anything and everything is possible.
Glaze was made by Max, and Petri's mother Zizi helped to ensure that the system is hack proof. Together they have designed an entirely new way of life which not only brings everyone closer together, but has also helped to decrease crime and improve the day to day standard of life.
Petri is one of the youngest in her year and is also one of the last to be given access to Glaze. She often dreams of having access and is counting down the days to her 16th birthday until something happens which could be the end of that dream.
Due to the situation that arises all of Petri's plans are thrown into chaos and she is led down a totally different road than she ever would have believed.
She is certainly a strong and intersting character and I have to say shes actually pretty believable considering that this is a YA book. I often find that YA characters can be a little fickle and silly in dark situations but the way that Petri handles some of the worse situations was actually a lot more realistic than I had expected making her far more interesting as a character.
Zizi and Max have a rather strained and argumentative relationship and Zizi's relationship woth Petri is not much better. Petri and Zizi try to get along but typically when a teen and mother live together they have their arguments. Zizi's past and the way that she thought about things and went about her day to day life was very typical of a working modern woman so again a believable character which was good.
On the whole the premise was actually very intersting and although I could predict some things to come, I couldn't predict how they would sort themselves out which was fun to see unfold. I did love the idea for Glaze itself as it was so unique and such and intriguing idea that every time new things were introduced I was more and more interested.
I would certainly recommend this book and I think it's a great YA storyline and has some very entertaining characters within it.
Glaze was made by Max, and Petri's mother Zizi helped to ensure that the system is hack proof. Together they have designed an entirely new way of life which not only brings everyone closer together, but has also helped to decrease crime and improve the day to day standard of life.
Petri is one of the youngest in her year and is also one of the last to be given access to Glaze. She often dreams of having access and is counting down the days to her 16th birthday until something happens which could be the end of that dream.
Due to the situation that arises all of Petri's plans are thrown into chaos and she is led down a totally different road than she ever would have believed.
She is certainly a strong and intersting character and I have to say shes actually pretty believable considering that this is a YA book. I often find that YA characters can be a little fickle and silly in dark situations but the way that Petri handles some of the worse situations was actually a lot more realistic than I had expected making her far more interesting as a character.
Zizi and Max have a rather strained and argumentative relationship and Zizi's relationship woth Petri is not much better. Petri and Zizi try to get along but typically when a teen and mother live together they have their arguments. Zizi's past and the way that she thought about things and went about her day to day life was very typical of a working modern woman so again a believable character which was good.
On the whole the premise was actually very intersting and although I could predict some things to come, I couldn't predict how they would sort themselves out which was fun to see unfold. I did love the idea for Glaze itself as it was so unique and such and intriguing idea that every time new things were introduced I was more and more interested.
I would certainly recommend this book and I think it's a great YA storyline and has some very entertaining characters within it.
May 28, 2014
Review: Glaze-the next level of social media. A chip is inserted into your head, and you are on Glaze. You can see everyone's names and stories. You can see the history of an object. You are connected to everyone all the time. Petri is fifteen when she is charged with inciting a riot. As a punishment, she isn't allowed onto Glaze until she's twenty-one, as opposed to the standard age of sixteen. Unable to take being left out, Petri goes to some hackers to get a chip inserted on the black market. But this illegal chip means she can't get away from Glaze even if she wants to.
I really enjoyed Shift and Control, and I'm looking forwards to Delete coming sometime soon. When I heard about this, the concept and the author made me sure i'd have to read it.
I loved the world of this. It's scary how we're progressing ever faster towards it; google glass is putting our data in front of our eyes, it's only a matter of time before we get data in our heads. And the dystopian element of a company having all the data and controlling you is something that intrigues me a lot.
The pacing is really good. There's always something happening, and the ways the plot develops keeps you hooked. It was a little predictable as to who did –the thing-- but the reasoning behind it was harder to see, and I still enjoyed reading.
The characters are all varied and really well done. I loved Petri, and her desire to fit in is not an unfamiliar one for anyone. I didn't really feel anything for any of the romance in this, but i'm glad that it didn't detract from the plot. I liked the characters by themselves though, from the resourceful hackers to the friendship and to the real social dynamics of the school to the slightly crazy Mimi.
The best thing about this book is the way it connects with contemporary life, the way this kind of thing could happen if the way we’re going is taken to extremes,, and that this is a book about our reliance on the internet and what happens if we let this internet connectivity control our lives.
Overall: Strength 4 to a fast paced dystopian with a great world and a look at what happens if technology goes too far.
I really enjoyed Shift and Control, and I'm looking forwards to Delete coming sometime soon. When I heard about this, the concept and the author made me sure i'd have to read it.
I loved the world of this. It's scary how we're progressing ever faster towards it; google glass is putting our data in front of our eyes, it's only a matter of time before we get data in our heads. And the dystopian element of a company having all the data and controlling you is something that intrigues me a lot.
The pacing is really good. There's always something happening, and the ways the plot develops keeps you hooked. It was a little predictable as to who did –the thing-- but the reasoning behind it was harder to see, and I still enjoyed reading.
The characters are all varied and really well done. I loved Petri, and her desire to fit in is not an unfamiliar one for anyone. I didn't really feel anything for any of the romance in this, but i'm glad that it didn't detract from the plot. I liked the characters by themselves though, from the resourceful hackers to the friendship and to the real social dynamics of the school to the slightly crazy Mimi.
The best thing about this book is the way it connects with contemporary life, the way this kind of thing could happen if the way we’re going is taken to extremes,, and that this is a book about our reliance on the internet and what happens if we let this internet connectivity control our lives.
Overall: Strength 4 to a fast paced dystopian with a great world and a look at what happens if technology goes too far.
August 25, 2014
Glaze is essentially the internet of the future. Instead of needing a computer or other device to access it, you are implanted with a chip that gives you access. You can then send messages to your friends, send status updates, watch videos and so on without having to move. It is all conducted in front of you, in front of your current surroundings. At 15 years old, Petri Quinn is one year away from being of the age to be implanted and feels extremely left out as everyone else in her year is already 16 and has access.
Petri is falsely charged with inciting a riot and fitted with a blank chip which means she has to wait a further five years before being allowed access to Glaze. The thought of being an outsider in her society for another five years is too much to bear and so she resorts to hackers. She is fitted with an illegal chip which gives her access. However, this backfires and she is given access to all information everywhere. She has no way to control it.
The main theme throughout Glaze is being an outsider in society for not being on the social network. Whether it's through choice or by police order, if you aren't on Glaze you can't help but feel excluded. As someone who doesn't have a Facebook account I can relate to this.
Glaze is a fast-paced dystopia and the technology is definitely really interesting. It makes you think about how far we are taking social networking and how willingly we share information with the world. It was nice to have a dystopia world set in London too as I am so used to these worlds being in America. The ending feels a little bit rushed but overall I thought the story was great and well thought out.
Petri is falsely charged with inciting a riot and fitted with a blank chip which means she has to wait a further five years before being allowed access to Glaze. The thought of being an outsider in her society for another five years is too much to bear and so she resorts to hackers. She is fitted with an illegal chip which gives her access. However, this backfires and she is given access to all information everywhere. She has no way to control it.
The main theme throughout Glaze is being an outsider in society for not being on the social network. Whether it's through choice or by police order, if you aren't on Glaze you can't help but feel excluded. As someone who doesn't have a Facebook account I can relate to this.
Glaze is a fast-paced dystopia and the technology is definitely really interesting. It makes you think about how far we are taking social networking and how willingly we share information with the world. It was nice to have a dystopia world set in London too as I am so used to these worlds being in America. The ending feels a little bit rushed but overall I thought the story was great and well thought out.
July 29, 2016
I thought Glaze had very good pacing and after a slowish start I was completely immersed. The technology of social media as an omnipresent force in society was well thought-out, and one could imagine a world not too far in the future with some of these problems occurring. That is one aspect of the book I found a little too familiar - many references to modern day Western issues and events. So this is future but not far-future world.
Curran's protagonist is believable, likeable, imperfect as a protag should be, and her relationship with mom & friends is well illustrated. Some very well done scenes worked to reflect characters struggling with various issues. The romantic angle was done with a light hand, and I thought it worked. Action scenes are mostly very well done, and I was 'in there' with the characters. Overall, imagery was good and unlike other reviewers, I was glad there was not more description -- I filled in the world in my head as a somewhat run-down version of London.
Where things don't work are where things should get dicey, as no characters really convinced me they are quite dangerous enough :-) I think Curran could get grittier. With the ultimate antagonist, Curran does well to try to paint his evil as somehow well-intentioned.
This was my first foray into YA lit in many years and I found it rewarding. Four stars for an engaging read.
Curran's protagonist is believable, likeable, imperfect as a protag should be, and her relationship with mom & friends is well illustrated. Some very well done scenes worked to reflect characters struggling with various issues. The romantic angle was done with a light hand, and I thought it worked. Action scenes are mostly very well done, and I was 'in there' with the characters. Overall, imagery was good and unlike other reviewers, I was glad there was not more description -- I filled in the world in my head as a somewhat run-down version of London.
Where things don't work are where things should get dicey, as no characters really convinced me they are quite dangerous enough :-) I think Curran could get grittier. With the ultimate antagonist, Curran does well to try to paint his evil as somehow well-intentioned.
This was my first foray into YA lit in many years and I found it rewarding. Four stars for an engaging read.
May 4, 2016
Aku suka Petri, dan sudut pandangnya yg realistis sbg remaja. Dan juga Ethan... *swooning*
Intinya aku suka cerita dan karakter utama di buku ini. Terjemahannya bagus. Bahasanya pun enak dibaca. Spekulasi teknologi di masa mendatang termasuk tema favoritku, apalagi yg mengancam umat manusia. Teknologi yg sekarang dipakai aja udah bisa memberikan efek negatif ke penggunanya dan bisa disalahgunakan.
Sebenernya banyak keingintahuan yg muncul terkait hacking2 di buku ini (kok bisa? kok bisa?), tapi ya karena ini dr sudut pandang Petri yg bukan hacker seperti Logan ya mau gimana lagi. Lalu ada keheranan kenapa lokasi chip hanya bisa dilacak jika penggunanya membuka mata. Tidak bisakah digunakan IP address? Atau di setiap chip ngga ada semacam IP address pada masa teknologi di buku ini? Aku jg pengen tau gambaran yg ditangkap kepolisian dari sinyal yg dikirim chip kosong yg dipasang ke tikus. Chip kosong itu kan tadinya untuk melacak lokasi dan memantau aktivitas Petri. Tapi ya mungkin itu kerjaannya Logan biar yg terlacak lokasi chip duplikatnya.
Yah tapi buku ini keren, jadi cuman aku kurangin 1 bintang.
Intinya aku suka cerita dan karakter utama di buku ini. Terjemahannya bagus. Bahasanya pun enak dibaca. Spekulasi teknologi di masa mendatang termasuk tema favoritku, apalagi yg mengancam umat manusia. Teknologi yg sekarang dipakai aja udah bisa memberikan efek negatif ke penggunanya dan bisa disalahgunakan.
Sebenernya banyak keingintahuan yg muncul terkait hacking2 di buku ini (kok bisa? kok bisa?), tapi ya karena ini dr sudut pandang Petri yg bukan hacker seperti Logan ya mau gimana lagi. Lalu ada keheranan kenapa lokasi chip hanya bisa dilacak jika penggunanya membuka mata. Tidak bisakah digunakan IP address? Atau di setiap chip ngga ada semacam IP address pada masa teknologi di buku ini? Aku jg pengen tau gambaran yg ditangkap kepolisian dari sinyal yg dikirim chip kosong yg dipasang ke tikus. Chip kosong itu kan tadinya untuk melacak lokasi dan memantau aktivitas Petri. Tapi ya mungkin itu kerjaannya Logan biar yg terlacak lokasi chip duplikatnya.
Yah tapi buku ini keren, jadi cuman aku kurangin 1 bintang.
September 28, 2014
The premise behind this is brilliant. Also frighteningly plausible, like all the best stories are. Essentially, people over the age of 16, who aren't criminals, are chipped to make them part of Glaze. Being part of Glaze is like having Youtube, Google, Twitter and Facebook plugged directly into your brain - a constant stream of information and social media - those in Glaze are permanently in the loop. It's an absolutely fascinating premise and it's executed really well.
Each character felt unique, with quirks and a voice of their own - regardless of how much time they appeared for. The side characters and the extras didn't feel like placeholders or hollow people there to simply push the plot along.
If you're looking for a fluffy romance story or a light-hearted comedy I would steer clear of this, however, if you're looking for a gripping, thought-provoking, dystopian read I would highly recommend you read Glaze. It's brilliant.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog.
Each character felt unique, with quirks and a voice of their own - regardless of how much time they appeared for. The side characters and the extras didn't feel like placeholders or hollow people there to simply push the plot along.
If you're looking for a fluffy romance story or a light-hearted comedy I would steer clear of this, however, if you're looking for a gripping, thought-provoking, dystopian read I would highly recommend you read Glaze. It's brilliant.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog.
January 8, 2016
I love Kim Curran's books! This was another fabulous speculative feast. Petri was an entertaining heroine and I could completely sympathise with her desire to fit in, her wish that her mother could be different from her embarrassing reality, and her struggle not to be in love with a boy she knows is an idiot was painfully realistic.
Ethan was an excellent hero, capable from the start and with a complex and conflicted back story that made for lots of conflict.
The plotting was superb - tight and tense and pacey. The tension never stopped and all the elements fitted together perfectly.
Highly recommended!
Like my reviews? Find reviews for this and lots of other YA books at https://paisleypiranha.wordpress.com/
Ethan was an excellent hero, capable from the start and with a complex and conflicted back story that made for lots of conflict.
The plotting was superb - tight and tense and pacey. The tension never stopped and all the elements fitted together perfectly.
Highly recommended!
Like my reviews? Find reviews for this and lots of other YA books at https://paisleypiranha.wordpress.com/
May 11, 2014
When I first saw Glaze on goodreads I knew I had to read it. I have only read one of Kim's books before but I absolutely loved it. When I found out Faye was putting together a blog tour for Glaze I filled in the form and kept my fingers and toes crossed that I would get a date. I don't want to give too much away about what happen in Glaze so this review will mainly be my thoughts and what I have come away with, rather than what exactly happens in Glaze.
Check out my full review as part on the tour on 13th May 2014 on my blog, Much Loved Books.
Check out my full review as part on the tour on 13th May 2014 on my blog, Much Loved Books.
August 31, 2015
A mediocre novel about social media. It's competent enough (although often dipping into cliche) but not doing anything particularly fascinating with the concept. Air by Geoff Ryman explores much more interestingly the impacts of this kind of technology.
There are two things that drag it down for me, which are almost contradictory. Firstly, it is very curmudgeonly about teenagers, I half expected Bill O'Reilly to turn up to complain about texting epidemics. Then, at the end, she attempts to invert this. However, this undercuts the message about the dangerous effects of technology and turns it into a standard mad scientist.
There are two things that drag it down for me, which are almost contradictory. Firstly, it is very curmudgeonly about teenagers, I half expected Bill O'Reilly to turn up to complain about texting epidemics. Then, at the end, she attempts to invert this. However, this undercuts the message about the dangerous effects of technology and turns it into a standard mad scientist.
October 19, 2015
Pernah ambu bilang kalau ambu engga suka dystopia?
Nah, yang ini dystopia banget. Dystopia dalam masyarakat internet, yang internet-nya bahkan udah bukan di PC bukan di smartphone, tapi dicangkokkan di otak.
Nah lho! Dan bagaimana kalau ada yang berusaha memanjangkan jangkauan chip yang ditanam agar bisa dipakai untuk mengendalikan kebahagiaan?
Dan ambu suka buku dystopia yang ini! Stand alone gitu ya? *buka-buka gudrids lebih jauh* lalu Indonesia disebut-sebut bersama meja kayu jati. Lalu antagonisnya 'melarang hijab di luar rumah dan masjid'. Berasa jadi dekat, seperti keluarga, seperti Glaze #hus!
Nah, yang ini dystopia banget. Dystopia dalam masyarakat internet, yang internet-nya bahkan udah bukan di PC bukan di smartphone, tapi dicangkokkan di otak.
Nah lho! Dan bagaimana kalau ada yang berusaha memanjangkan jangkauan chip yang ditanam agar bisa dipakai untuk mengendalikan kebahagiaan?
Dan ambu suka buku dystopia yang ini! Stand alone gitu ya? *buka-buka gudrids lebih jauh* lalu Indonesia disebut-sebut bersama meja kayu jati. Lalu antagonisnya 'melarang hijab di luar rumah dan masjid'. Berasa jadi dekat, seperti keluarga, seperti Glaze #hus!
May 1, 2016
When I first read the first pages of the book, I actually gave some hope that this will be a whole new different YA book. I went deeper then I thought WTF? I've read this one before, it's divergent! Although it's not really divergent, but both have the same mind controlling scheme, there's just social media in this one. It follows the same cliché as all YA books now. Unnecessary romance, uninteresting but attractive pale hunk that the protagonist will make out, revolution, older villain dressed in white. It's just annoying for me that books now a days are so obviously wanted to copy hunger games. Instead of creating a new original concept and story line.
April 29, 2014
3.5 stars
A really fast-paced, action-packed, enjoyable dystopian read. It felt very real at times, almost like social commentary. I thought the concept was great, with people being too connected, the idea of being a hive mind, having your choices taken away from you, an all powerful corporation...this all rang very true with me. However, I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to and none of them were particularly likable. Also it ended rather abruptly, where I would have wanted a little bit more closure in a standalone.
A really fast-paced, action-packed, enjoyable dystopian read. It felt very real at times, almost like social commentary. I thought the concept was great, with people being too connected, the idea of being a hive mind, having your choices taken away from you, an all powerful corporation...this all rang very true with me. However, I didn't connect with the characters as much as I wanted to and none of them were particularly likable. Also it ended rather abruptly, where I would have wanted a little bit more closure in a standalone.
June 27, 2014
Kim Curran’s fourth book is anchored firmly in time: a year or two from now, 2014. Facebook has died a death in the face of the ultimate social network, Glaze. Curran investigates and questions several fundamental assumptions about our interconnectedness in social networking. She’s got a clear sense of character and creates a living, breathing collection of young people – adults in fact, but not in name, who are something of a stock in trade for her – that go on and save the world. Fast-paced, thoughtful, and loads of fun – and examines how we build the infrastructure of our own future.
September 9, 2015
pada bagian awal, saat membaca blurb...cukup membuat saya tertarik untuk membacanya, tapi sayang eksekusi dari ide ceritanya terasa lari kemana-mana dan tidak fokus pada ide awal, saya nggak tahu apakah keterbatasan halaman atau memang dibuat begini.
karakter tokohnya sendiri bukan tipe yang saya suka, plinplan dalam artian cepat berubah pikiran (hanya dalam jentikan waktu) dan tidak punya sikap.
sebenarnya pengen kasih 2 tapi karena buku ini tidak membuat saya merasa sangat bosan, dengan senang hati saya berikan 3.
karakter tokohnya sendiri bukan tipe yang saya suka, plinplan dalam artian cepat berubah pikiran (hanya dalam jentikan waktu) dan tidak punya sikap.
sebenarnya pengen kasih 2 tapi karena buku ini tidak membuat saya merasa sangat bosan, dengan senang hati saya berikan 3.
December 31, 2015
Ceritanya seru, benar-benar sebuah "konspirasi besar".
Namun karakter Petri Quinn disini selalu berubah-ubah, seperti tidak punya pendirian.
Disisi lain mungkin sang penulis Kim Curran ingin membuat karakter remaja pada umumnya, dimana masih belum bisa membuat keputusan yang tepat, dan masih diliputi rasa bimbang.
Tokoh yang saya sukai disini adalah Ethan Fishcer, seorang lelaki misterius yang tidak terhubung dengan Glaze. Ia sangat ingin mengakhiri ketidakjelasan dan keanehan Glaze!
My first review, i hope it good enough.. ^.^
Namun karakter Petri Quinn disini selalu berubah-ubah, seperti tidak punya pendirian.
Disisi lain mungkin sang penulis Kim Curran ingin membuat karakter remaja pada umumnya, dimana masih belum bisa membuat keputusan yang tepat, dan masih diliputi rasa bimbang.
Tokoh yang saya sukai disini adalah Ethan Fishcer, seorang lelaki misterius yang tidak terhubung dengan Glaze. Ia sangat ingin mengakhiri ketidakjelasan dan keanehan Glaze!
My first review, i hope it good enough.. ^.^
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