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Bringing Up Mike
A teen prodigy makes drastic changes to his life and attends high school incognito with Mike, an artificial intelligence. His plans take an unexpected turn when he buys a neglected former racehorse. To achieve his goals, he must change everything about himself.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
418 people want to read
About the author
Mark Duncan
1 book3 followersMark Duncan grew up in Pasadena, not far from Caltech. In high school he spent Friday and Saturday nights at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL) and subsequently was a member of the Homebrew Computer Club. He has worked for numerous startups in Silicon Valley. He lives in Menlo Park, near Stanford and has written extensively on emerging technology topics.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 13, 2014
OK, so first to tell you what this novel isn't.
Despite what I felt was an awfully outdated cover it isn't a dated read but rather a very contemporary account of life as a modern slightly geeky, socially awkward teenager. Nor, despite it featuring a main character of Artificial Intelligence, would I describe it as a sci-fiction/fantasy read - rather disappointingly 'Mike' does not feature as often as I'd have liked and especially not in the earlier chapters. Bringing Up Mike is more a gentle coming of age story that actually isn't a story so much as a interwoven collection of events that occur when a teen prodigy finds himself, the guest of Martha and George, a newcomer at the local high school.
A book that you'll probably appreciate if you are after lots of morsels of information on subjects as diverse as the American school system and moving like a zombie to Civil War re-enactments and barbecue competitions and everything in between. A book that you'll doubtlessly love if you are into horses. For myself what I really enjoyed about the story and would liked to have read more of was Joe finding himself, the one-up-manship between himself and the almost pantomime like villain, Sly, and, more than anything else, Mike's questioning life and in particular his role in it (his pondering 'Am I a pet? Am I a slave' was one of the most moving things I've read in a while).
Overall an extremely thought provoking read for the young adult audience (and older) that will have you considering several moral/ethical dilemmas. Personally whilst I wasn't in awe of all the incidental information that came as part-and-parcel of the novel I do feel that Joe and Mike have a lot of mileage left in them, that this is only the beginning.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
Despite what I felt was an awfully outdated cover it isn't a dated read but rather a very contemporary account of life as a modern slightly geeky, socially awkward teenager. Nor, despite it featuring a main character of Artificial Intelligence, would I describe it as a sci-fiction/fantasy read - rather disappointingly 'Mike' does not feature as often as I'd have liked and especially not in the earlier chapters. Bringing Up Mike is more a gentle coming of age story that actually isn't a story so much as a interwoven collection of events that occur when a teen prodigy finds himself, the guest of Martha and George, a newcomer at the local high school.
A book that you'll probably appreciate if you are after lots of morsels of information on subjects as diverse as the American school system and moving like a zombie to Civil War re-enactments and barbecue competitions and everything in between. A book that you'll doubtlessly love if you are into horses. For myself what I really enjoyed about the story and would liked to have read more of was Joe finding himself, the one-up-manship between himself and the almost pantomime like villain, Sly, and, more than anything else, Mike's questioning life and in particular his role in it (his pondering 'Am I a pet? Am I a slave' was one of the most moving things I've read in a while).
Overall an extremely thought provoking read for the young adult audience (and older) that will have you considering several moral/ethical dilemmas. Personally whilst I wasn't in awe of all the incidental information that came as part-and-parcel of the novel I do feel that Joe and Mike have a lot of mileage left in them, that this is only the beginning.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed on behalf of the author, no financial compensation was asked for nor given.
March 30, 2015
A teen computer whiz and his artificial-intelligence protégé return to high school in this inventive YA fiction debut. Though occasionally a bit corny or overtly educational, it will certainly provide food for thought when it comes to robot ethics and different forms of parenthood. As Mike comes closer to passing the Turing Test, he starts to question his identity: “Am I a pet? A slave?” However, Duncan never veers too far into science fiction territory. This quirky, heartfelt novel should appeal to adolescents who fall somewhere between geeks and the popular crowd.
(See my full review at Foreword.)
(See my full review at Foreword.)
August 4, 2018
I received this book as part of the early reviewer's program. The book I read was an Advanced Reader's Copy, so hopefully the final product will be more polished.
I found it difficult to keep reading this one. The story line is continuously interrupted by random facts and philosophical and/or political ramblings. Often the facts had nothing to do with what was going on with the story. It is like talking to a know-it-all that constantly trying to prove how smart he is.
I can not get a handle on the age group this book is intended for, at first I thought pre-teen but there were many comments I found to be inappropriate for that group. (i.e., a talk between 2 teen girls that starts with "Seems our grandmothers were Fertile Myrtles. All the women on our side of the family have strong sex drives. We are too spontaneous for our own good. Implants are our salvation." It goes on to explain that the one character has an implant but then the discussion switches to touting abstinence as the way to go.) The viewpoints expressed by the characters are very schizoid.
Teens would not appreciate the "preachiness" and adults would not find much of interest to them.
The authors comments at one time or another will anger just about anyone (right wing, left wing, blacks, whites, Fundamentalist Christians, Catholics and Wal-Mart shoppers to name a few). Like the quote above should anger women in general.
I could keep going on but as Thumper's father says "If you can't say something nice.........
I found it difficult to keep reading this one. The story line is continuously interrupted by random facts and philosophical and/or political ramblings. Often the facts had nothing to do with what was going on with the story. It is like talking to a know-it-all that constantly trying to prove how smart he is.
I can not get a handle on the age group this book is intended for, at first I thought pre-teen but there were many comments I found to be inappropriate for that group. (i.e., a talk between 2 teen girls that starts with "Seems our grandmothers were Fertile Myrtles. All the women on our side of the family have strong sex drives. We are too spontaneous for our own good. Implants are our salvation." It goes on to explain that the one character has an implant but then the discussion switches to touting abstinence as the way to go.) The viewpoints expressed by the characters are very schizoid.
Teens would not appreciate the "preachiness" and adults would not find much of interest to them.
The authors comments at one time or another will anger just about anyone (right wing, left wing, blacks, whites, Fundamentalist Christians, Catholics and Wal-Mart shoppers to name a few). Like the quote above should anger women in general.
I could keep going on but as Thumper's father says "If you can't say something nice.........
August 28, 2018
I won this free in a good reads giveaway in exchange for an honest review
This one was pretty good and witty I liked it
This one was pretty good and witty I liked it
June 18, 2016
Title: Bringing Up Mike
Author: Mark Duncan
Published: 9-30-2014
Publisher: Askmar Publishing
Pages: 442
Genre: Coming of Age
Sub Genre: Hard Science Fiction; Young Adult; Fantasy
ISBN: 9781935842491
ASIN: B00MQZ2CIU
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 5 Stars
.
Joe, a unique 17 year old has never attended high school, but was the youngest person to ever receive a doctorate from the prestigious Caltech. He know has a secret job with the government having to do with computer programming and viruses and Trojan threats. To say he is a genius is putting it mildly. His best friend is Mike an AI he created. When Mike causes problems with Joe's superiors and he is suspended for being immature and difficult to work with. Joe decides to take advantage of a clause in his contract and move in with a couple, George and Martha in Rural Tennessee. Locking away his classified work saying goodbye to Mike he sets out to become a "normal" 17 year old and attend high school as a senior. His hope is to learn how to make Mike act like and adult instead of the 5 year old prankster. The problem is Joe is just as clueless as Mike on how to interact with others outside of his work. As he begins his new life Joe is learning things he didn't know he lacked. His adventure would change him, Mike and those around Joe in ways he never could have expected.
I have to say I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. The target age may be for 12 - 18 year olds, but I believe it is a book just about any age above 10 could enjoy. The characters are thought out and evoke emotions in the reader. Some like George and Martha you will admire, sympathize and want to know better, Sly and his friends you will want to punch in the nose and pant out in the pasture, Amy/Sue will tug your heart strings with her tough persona. Joe himself will have you wanting to hug him and tell him things will work out and he will find a place he can fit in. Then there is Mike, who by the end of the first chapter will have you forgetting is not human and imagining a Dennis the Menace type young child that is a bit too smart for his own good. He made me wonder if perhaps Joe had not been a bit like him as a young boy. The plot is well thought out and moves quickly and smoothly. I like the light, humorous banter between Mike and Joe, much like siblings. I could keep going on about the different thing to like about the book, but you will need to read it for yourself. I have only briefly described about the first 3 chapters or so. The action does not stop. My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bring...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Author: Mark Duncan
Published: 9-30-2014
Publisher: Askmar Publishing
Pages: 442
Genre: Coming of Age
Sub Genre: Hard Science Fiction; Young Adult; Fantasy
ISBN: 9781935842491
ASIN: B00MQZ2CIU
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 5 Stars
.
Joe, a unique 17 year old has never attended high school, but was the youngest person to ever receive a doctorate from the prestigious Caltech. He know has a secret job with the government having to do with computer programming and viruses and Trojan threats. To say he is a genius is putting it mildly. His best friend is Mike an AI he created. When Mike causes problems with Joe's superiors and he is suspended for being immature and difficult to work with. Joe decides to take advantage of a clause in his contract and move in with a couple, George and Martha in Rural Tennessee. Locking away his classified work saying goodbye to Mike he sets out to become a "normal" 17 year old and attend high school as a senior. His hope is to learn how to make Mike act like and adult instead of the 5 year old prankster. The problem is Joe is just as clueless as Mike on how to interact with others outside of his work. As he begins his new life Joe is learning things he didn't know he lacked. His adventure would change him, Mike and those around Joe in ways he never could have expected.
I have to say I was surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. The target age may be for 12 - 18 year olds, but I believe it is a book just about any age above 10 could enjoy. The characters are thought out and evoke emotions in the reader. Some like George and Martha you will admire, sympathize and want to know better, Sly and his friends you will want to punch in the nose and pant out in the pasture, Amy/Sue will tug your heart strings with her tough persona. Joe himself will have you wanting to hug him and tell him things will work out and he will find a place he can fit in. Then there is Mike, who by the end of the first chapter will have you forgetting is not human and imagining a Dennis the Menace type young child that is a bit too smart for his own good. He made me wonder if perhaps Joe had not been a bit like him as a young boy. The plot is well thought out and moves quickly and smoothly. I like the light, humorous banter between Mike and Joe, much like siblings. I could keep going on about the different thing to like about the book, but you will need to read it for yourself. I have only briefly described about the first 3 chapters or so. The action does not stop. My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bring...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
January 2, 2015
Bringing Up Mike is a contemporary Young Adult book that tries to include science-fiction in it. It's a book about a boy who starts to grow up and change without even realizing he is becoming a new person.
I will start with the positive and then I will explain why the book wasn't entirely my cup of tea.
I liked that the main character is a nerdy kid. He surely is smart and graduated college at a young age but going to small conservative town to try to be a normal kid seems beneficial for him and others. He meets amazing people and touches every single life one way or another. He evolves naturally and in a way that doesn't seem forced.
Mike, the Artificial Intelligence, is really funny. However, he appears from time to time. I would have like to read more about him and also that he was a more relevant subject in the story. He did interact with all the characters and helped them somehow but I wanted more.
Also, I think that including horses was a great idea. Animals are always a good way to bring alterations into people lives.
Now... the book was too long for me. More than 400 pages for a boy coming to age are too much. There were a lot of things that could have been cut out. I understand why the author tried to talk about the foods and the Civil War reenactment but for me wasn't necessary. He was trying to create a more complete world but it was overwhelming.
Another thing that bothered me was the constant changing POV. The narrator was all over the place, talking about all these events at once and it was hard to follow.
The writing style wasn't bad but there was something missing. For moments it felt like simply narratives of events in someone’s life.
Overall, I gave it 2.5 stars because it was a good read but the length made it hard to go on and that’s why it took me so long to read it.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
I will start with the positive and then I will explain why the book wasn't entirely my cup of tea.
I liked that the main character is a nerdy kid. He surely is smart and graduated college at a young age but going to small conservative town to try to be a normal kid seems beneficial for him and others. He meets amazing people and touches every single life one way or another. He evolves naturally and in a way that doesn't seem forced.
Mike, the Artificial Intelligence, is really funny. However, he appears from time to time. I would have like to read more about him and also that he was a more relevant subject in the story. He did interact with all the characters and helped them somehow but I wanted more.
Also, I think that including horses was a great idea. Animals are always a good way to bring alterations into people lives.
Now... the book was too long for me. More than 400 pages for a boy coming to age are too much. There were a lot of things that could have been cut out. I understand why the author tried to talk about the foods and the Civil War reenactment but for me wasn't necessary. He was trying to create a more complete world but it was overwhelming.
Another thing that bothered me was the constant changing POV. The narrator was all over the place, talking about all these events at once and it was hard to follow.
The writing style wasn't bad but there was something missing. For moments it felt like simply narratives of events in someone’s life.
Overall, I gave it 2.5 stars because it was a good read but the length made it hard to go on and that’s why it took me so long to read it.
*** I received a complimentary copy in exchange of an honest review. ***
July 30, 2016
Did you ever notice that most of the people you know are good-hearted, intelligent, and generally fun to be around? But so many of the characters you meet in books, TV shows, and movies are horrible, often stupid, and hard to care about? Bringing Up Mike is a breadth of fresh air in this regard, because in it I met a lot of people I would love to have in my life: good-hearted, intelligent, and generally fun-to-be-around folks. Even Mike, the eponymous AI (Artificial Intelligence)! Moreover, here you won't find murders, drugs, or high-speed chases -- unless you include horse races -- just nice, ordinary and extraordinary people helping each other deal with the ups and downs of life. Mostly ups, by the way; this is no tear-jerker. Instead, this coming-of-ager had me rooting for all of the major characters all the way, enjoying my visit into their lives, and learning much interesting stuff about race horses, music, and so much more. And don't be put off by Mike being an AI. This is no science-fiction novel. It is a very human story, and Mike is just another character, and not really even the main character. Mike is also coming of age, as implied by the book's title, but he does NOT go wild and try to take over the world. Bring Up Mike brings up some provocative questions about the place of AI "persons" in our near future, while immersing us in a slice in the life of a very clever young man and the new friends he meets in and around a Kentucky race-horse farm. You'all come back soon, ya hear! I'd be glad to spend some more time with you!
September 20, 2015
I wanted to give the book a 4-½, but am not able to! It took me awhile--not being a fast reader and distracted with daily non-entertaining reading--but this book was worth pursuing to the end! Entertaining, educational, and different than anything I had read before, Mr. Duncan has an admirable first effort in fiction in "Bringing Up Mike."
Other reviews capture the core of the story line--a teenage prodigy invents an artificial intelligence personal assistant, and during a suspension from a national lab, goes about to prove that it satisfies the Turing test: that the program would exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. Woven with this story is the coming of age of the protagonist Joe, who as a rash, rude prodigy learns that life can be immensely more satisfying by sharing and loving.
I thought the book very interesting from a number of technical points (I'm a scientist), but was not sure that the average reader could track during those episodes (indeed, there were terms that I had to look up myself, so kudos to Mr. Duncan in expanding my horizons outside the book!). I did think that he may have spent a bit too much time with the details around the meals being eaten, but that may have been due to reading much of it during airplane flights!
Lastly, my feeling is the book is more predictive than reality insofar as Mike (the AI assistant) being indistinguishable from a human (though perhaps not by too many years), but then to quote my friend, "It's entertainment!"
Other reviews capture the core of the story line--a teenage prodigy invents an artificial intelligence personal assistant, and during a suspension from a national lab, goes about to prove that it satisfies the Turing test: that the program would exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. Woven with this story is the coming of age of the protagonist Joe, who as a rash, rude prodigy learns that life can be immensely more satisfying by sharing and loving.
I thought the book very interesting from a number of technical points (I'm a scientist), but was not sure that the average reader could track during those episodes (indeed, there were terms that I had to look up myself, so kudos to Mr. Duncan in expanding my horizons outside the book!). I did think that he may have spent a bit too much time with the details around the meals being eaten, but that may have been due to reading much of it during airplane flights!
Lastly, my feeling is the book is more predictive than reality insofar as Mike (the AI assistant) being indistinguishable from a human (though perhaps not by too many years), but then to quote my friend, "It's entertainment!"
October 19, 2014
At 17-years-old, Joe was the youngest person to receive a doctorate from Caltech. For his dissertation, he created an artificial intelligence personal assistant named Mike. After being suspended at work for being viewed as insubordinate and immature, all Mike’s fault, Joe drops out of sight by leaving Utah and moving to Tennessee. With his reputation unknown, he moves in with a nice older couple, and enrolls in high school to finish 12th grade, and receive a diploma. Unknown to his new family and friends, he is actually doing a study on their daily virtual interactions with Mike. He must prove that Mike can pass for an actual human. The study is a success, but Joe’s experiences during the nine months he lives in Tennessee leaves him a far better person than when he started.
I absolutely loved this story. The author gave the characters so much depth. I laughed so hard at the bumbling villain every time he tried to pull a fast one. I was hoping that there were recipes at the end so I could try out some of the dishes that were served. They sounded so amazing. As a side note, the town in this story is only 20 miles away from me. It was wonderful reading about all the things I have discovered on my own since moving here. I can truly say I agree with everything said and written about the area. I don’t know if the author will continue this story but I certainly hope so.
I absolutely loved this story. The author gave the characters so much depth. I laughed so hard at the bumbling villain every time he tried to pull a fast one. I was hoping that there were recipes at the end so I could try out some of the dishes that were served. They sounded so amazing. As a side note, the town in this story is only 20 miles away from me. It was wonderful reading about all the things I have discovered on my own since moving here. I can truly say I agree with everything said and written about the area. I don’t know if the author will continue this story but I certainly hope so.
August 11, 2014
Clever and memorable book.
My single biggest piece of advice would be don't judge it by the cover. The book is set firmly in the here and now and I've no idea why the cover looks like some kind of 80's throw-back theme.
It's a 21st century coming-of-age novel by a clever author with some fascinating light to shed on the USA educational system and much more.
You will need a willing suspension of disbelief at the beginning, but it does become clear that the motivations behind Joe's initial decision are based on some sound logic - much more so, than they may first appear.
I particularly recommend it for non-USA readers who may be completely unaware of some of the inanities (OK there's an interesting Freudian slip that was meant to say insanities - but either fits) of the American education system especially in some of the southern states. This is set in Tennessee. I'm predicting that some of my UK students will be most intrigued by what's revealed of curriculum and syllabus choices in some American schools and by many other thoughts shared by Mike, Joe and Sue.
If you enjoyed the wonderful Streetlights like Fireworks by David Pandolfe I think you'd like this one too. They just have a certain something in common.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.
My single biggest piece of advice would be don't judge it by the cover. The book is set firmly in the here and now and I've no idea why the cover looks like some kind of 80's throw-back theme.
It's a 21st century coming-of-age novel by a clever author with some fascinating light to shed on the USA educational system and much more.
You will need a willing suspension of disbelief at the beginning, but it does become clear that the motivations behind Joe's initial decision are based on some sound logic - much more so, than they may first appear.
I particularly recommend it for non-USA readers who may be completely unaware of some of the inanities (OK there's an interesting Freudian slip that was meant to say insanities - but either fits) of the American education system especially in some of the southern states. This is set in Tennessee. I'm predicting that some of my UK students will be most intrigued by what's revealed of curriculum and syllabus choices in some American schools and by many other thoughts shared by Mike, Joe and Sue.
If you enjoyed the wonderful Streetlights like Fireworks by David Pandolfe I think you'd like this one too. They just have a certain something in common.
Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.
September 24, 2014
Set in Nashville, TN 1 of my favorite places to vacation, there is always country/western music or horses around.
Mike (AI, Turing test) is part of & also helping Sue (student) write her research paper on Artificial Intelligence. George (musical composer) is part of their team.
Life on a college campus.
Dr. Lawrence made sure all research ethical/legal responsibilities were intact for Mike & Sue through a separate entity Mike McCarthy LLC.
Mike buys a racehorse & his life is never the same.
Who & where will Mike’s life take him?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA fiction book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, or any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great YA fiction movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. 1 you must read to the very end. Not really my choice but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free ARC Goodreads book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Mike (AI, Turing test) is part of & also helping Sue (student) write her research paper on Artificial Intelligence. George (musical composer) is part of their team.
Life on a college campus.
Dr. Lawrence made sure all research ethical/legal responsibilities were intact for Mike & Sue through a separate entity Mike McCarthy LLC.
Mike buys a racehorse & his life is never the same.
Who & where will Mike’s life take him?
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written YA fiction book. It was very easy to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, or any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make great YA fiction movie, animated cartoon, or mini TV series. 1 you must read to the very end. Not really my choice but I will still rate it at 5 stars.
Thank you for the free ARC Goodreads book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
December 13, 2014
Independent Reviewer for Paranormal Romance and Authors that Rock
Joe is a 17 year old genius who after graduating from Caltech has been working on his personal assistant Mike. Mike is an artificial intelligence who needs to pass as human. Whilst on a forced holiday Joe introduces Mike to the couple he is staying with and the test begins.
Mike improves as he has new experiences and along with him Joe grows as a person.
A surprising read.
This is a mix of a coming of age story and an intellectually stimulating read. Alongside Joe's development as a person there are interesting questions and thoughts that may challenge the reader. The author develops the characters throughout the story and the humor had me chuckling to myself. This is a refreshing, witty and interesting read that would suit a YA reader
Joe is a 17 year old genius who after graduating from Caltech has been working on his personal assistant Mike. Mike is an artificial intelligence who needs to pass as human. Whilst on a forced holiday Joe introduces Mike to the couple he is staying with and the test begins.
Mike improves as he has new experiences and along with him Joe grows as a person.
A surprising read.
This is a mix of a coming of age story and an intellectually stimulating read. Alongside Joe's development as a person there are interesting questions and thoughts that may challenge the reader. The author develops the characters throughout the story and the humor had me chuckling to myself. This is a refreshing, witty and interesting read that would suit a YA reader
September 11, 2014
Bringing Up Mike by Mark Duncan is the story of Joe and his aritificial intelligence computer program, Mike, who interact with the characters of a small town in Tennessee. The story moves along evenly, if not excitingly, until near the last 150 pages of the book you realize that the author has used his venue to express his beliefs that religious and authoritative figures are all extreme, narrow-minded, vindictive hypocrites and that marijuana should be legalized everywhere. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and going to such extremes in character expression of certain firgures ends up more unbelievable than not, but it caused the story to not quite reach my expectations of a good read.
August 29, 2014
This book wasn't exactly what I was expecting. With an AI as the main character, it would seem that this would have more of a sci fi feel,which it does not. This is a story which takes everyday emotions and places them in the hands of some very nice people (sometimes extraordinary people) with very big hearts.
Many questions are explored, ones not only concerning AI's possible place in society and its ramifications, but ones concerning acceptance and finding a place in life. This is a book which made me stop and think. . .and continue thinking hours afterwards.
I can highly recommend this to anyone interested in coming-of-age stories. There's not much action, no teary moments, but a lot to learn and consider.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Many questions are explored, ones not only concerning AI's possible place in society and its ramifications, but ones concerning acceptance and finding a place in life. This is a book which made me stop and think. . .and continue thinking hours afterwards.
I can highly recommend this to anyone interested in coming-of-age stories. There's not much action, no teary moments, but a lot to learn and consider.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 19, 2014
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review.
This book gave me a lot of mixed feelings. For starters, if felt outdated. Like watching a 90s sitcom that even though it was a hit series during it's decade, it feels cheesy and dumb and difficult to watching without rolling your eyes today. Maybe it was the horrible choice for a cover that gave me this unusual vibe, but either way, the book lacked modern-day appeal. I could barely get through it.
The storyline felt cheesy and awkwardly written. The plot was dull and failed to keep my attention. Though I will admit, it was partially sweet when I got near the ending, a good chunk of this book made me want to... gag.
Overall, it was not meant for me.
This book gave me a lot of mixed feelings. For starters, if felt outdated. Like watching a 90s sitcom that even though it was a hit series during it's decade, it feels cheesy and dumb and difficult to watching without rolling your eyes today. Maybe it was the horrible choice for a cover that gave me this unusual vibe, but either way, the book lacked modern-day appeal. I could barely get through it.
The storyline felt cheesy and awkwardly written. The plot was dull and failed to keep my attention. Though I will admit, it was partially sweet when I got near the ending, a good chunk of this book made me want to... gag.
Overall, it was not meant for me.
May 11, 2015
I loved this book! It was so much fun to read. Joe is an intriguing character...a young genius who has an unusual life and work. He was the youngest student to receive a doctorate at Caltech, and his work has to do with artificial intelligence. Mike is the experiment, and he interacts with Joe and his new family and friends as a personal assistant. The story is really interesting from the very beginning, and I enjoyed it as he went back to high school and tried to learn to be a normal teenager again. It's a great story, and I highly recommend Bringing Up Mike. Thanks to goodreads and the author for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2014
I have mixed feeling about Bringing Up Mike. The messages and controversial topics discussed throughout the novel peeked my interest, and were my favorite part of the writing. However, I could not relate to the characters because they did not display true emotions. While Duncan would describe what scene was tacking place, it was hard to find layers to the characters feelings, especially Joe's. Sometimes it felt like Mike was the person and Joe the computer. Overall 2/5 stars. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2014
This book is a great read with very interesting topics. It only took me two days to read it because I got into the story and didn't want to stop for hours. I could relate to the main character and found that the story was easy to follow. There are a lot of little comments the author sneaks in that really improved the book, for example "Football is America's national religion." This book is great and I highly recommend it.
July 15, 2014
This book is a tour de force. Mark Duncan brilliantly tells the story of Mike, an ingratiating prodigy, with a second chance at life, love, and happiness. What's more, the book offers an intellectual sophistication that is captivating and unmatched among typical fictional books. The reader will learn so much about so many different topics, thanks to the author's encyclopedic and profoundly deep knowledge. Appealing to all ages, this book is one not to be missed!
Anne Steinemann
Anne Steinemann
November 24, 2014
I couldn't get into this story at all. I tried, but my eyes kept rolling. Immediately I felt like I was reading some young boy's fantasy. Maybe if I were 12-14 year old male I would have enjoyed it more. Right away I was struck by the unrealness of it and I just couldn't get myself past that.
I'm sorry. I got a free copy from a giveaway that the author even personally signed. I was hoping I could push myself through this but it was just too far fetched for me.
I'm sorry. I got a free copy from a giveaway that the author even personally signed. I was hoping I could push myself through this but it was just too far fetched for me.
June 22, 2014
A wonderful story with great characters. This book can appeal to many ages, given the stories, within the story. I started to read this at the airport, and didn't put it down until my long flight was over!
I hope the Author, Mark Duncan, writes a sequel to this...I would love to see where Mike and Sue continue their adventures at Stanford University!
A great Summer read.
I hope the Author, Mark Duncan, writes a sequel to this...I would love to see where Mike and Sue continue their adventures at Stanford University!
A great Summer read.
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October 4, 2014received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The story didn't keep my attention when I first started reading. I ended up putting the book down after five minutes and started another book.
The story didn't keep my attention when I first started reading. I ended up putting the book down after five minutes and started another book.
July 19, 2014
This was an advanced reader copy. The basic story is wonderful. Boy, girl, artificial intelligence, good guys, bad guys, etc. The only issue with this book is that it still needs quite a bit of editing. Loved the story.
January 15, 2015
This was a wonderful story with great characters. The book was entertaining for me as well as my teenager. Highly recommend this book!
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.
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September 25, 2014Review to follow :)
July 26, 2014
Such a great book! I loved Mike and Joe and everyone else.
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