What do you think?
Rate this book
Carbon Diaries #2
Laura Browns CO2 dagbog 2017
Laura er blevet 18 år, hun er flyttet hjemmefra og er startet på universitetet i London.
Forældrene er flyttet på landet og forsøger at blive selvforsynende, mens søsteren, Kim, arbejder som øko-rejseguide i Thailand.
Lauras band The Dirty Angles vælter i jobs rundt om i byen, men det får en brat afslutning, da et studenteroprør bryder ud, og London forvandles til en kampscene mellem politi og demonstranter.
Bandet beslutter sig for at tage på turné ned gennem Europa i et gammelt folkevognsrugbrød sammen med punk-bandet Tiny Chainsaws in the Distance. Men Europa er ramt af tørke, og borgerkrigslignende tilstande bryder ud, mens flygtningene strømmer ind fra Afrika og Mellemøsten, og langsomt går turneen i opløsning.
Samtidig trues Lauras forhold til Adi af løgn og fortielser. Hun tiltrækkes af den livsglade fyr, Sam, og pludselig er alt meget meget kompliceret ...
Forældrene er flyttet på landet og forsøger at blive selvforsynende, mens søsteren, Kim, arbejder som øko-rejseguide i Thailand.
Lauras band The Dirty Angles vælter i jobs rundt om i byen, men det får en brat afslutning, da et studenteroprør bryder ud, og London forvandles til en kampscene mellem politi og demonstranter.
Bandet beslutter sig for at tage på turné ned gennem Europa i et gammelt folkevognsrugbrød sammen med punk-bandet Tiny Chainsaws in the Distance. Men Europa er ramt af tørke, og borgerkrigslignende tilstande bryder ud, mens flygtningene strømmer ind fra Afrika og Mellemøsten, og langsomt går turneen i opløsning.
Samtidig trues Lauras forhold til Adi af løgn og fortielser. Hun tiltrækkes af den livsglade fyr, Sam, og pludselig er alt meget meget kompliceret ...
Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
572 people want to read
About the author
Saci Lloyd
10 books33 followersSaci Lloyd was born in Manchester, but raised in Anglesey where she spent a lot of time lost in nature or down by the shore.
Saci returned to Manchester as an undergraduate, but soon quit University for a life of glamour. At various points in the glitz she has worked as a very bad cartoonist, toured the States in a straightedge band, run an interactive media team at an advertising agency, co-founded a film company and finally wound up as head of media at NewVIc. She’s now stepped down from that post, but continues her association with the college.
Her first novels, The Carbon Diaries series came out September 2010 to critical acclaim and have been optioned by Company Pictures. They have been translated into fifteen languages.
Her new book, Momentum was released on June 2nd and is already doing really well. Everything Starts Right Here, Right Now!
Saci has just finished her latest book, Quantum Drop, a thriller set against the backdrop of the financial crash, which will be released in February of next year.
Saci returned to Manchester as an undergraduate, but soon quit University for a life of glamour. At various points in the glitz she has worked as a very bad cartoonist, toured the States in a straightedge band, run an interactive media team at an advertising agency, co-founded a film company and finally wound up as head of media at NewVIc. She’s now stepped down from that post, but continues her association with the college.
Her first novels, The Carbon Diaries series came out September 2010 to critical acclaim and have been optioned by Company Pictures. They have been translated into fifteen languages.
Her new book, Momentum was released on June 2nd and is already doing really well. Everything Starts Right Here, Right Now!
Saci has just finished her latest book, Quantum Drop, a thriller set against the backdrop of the financial crash, which will be released in February of next year.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
Read
August 11, 2017[3.5] This is pretty much spot on about the scale of the refugee crisis in real 2017 (esp if you also consider the hardline policies of Australia in the mix) - except that volunteers seeking to help refugees in Southern Europe aren't regarded as such a problem, and she missed the phenomenon of right wing groups trying to down refugee boats. And talking of the right wing, the sense of political polarisation isn't far wrong, though would have rang truer in 2016 before the backlash against UKIP started. Water wars, however, including Israel-Palestine and skirmishes in Western Europe and state-against-state standoffs in the US - those, well, the two latter anyway, probably have a few decades to go.
This is a tighter novel than The Carbon Diaries 2015, but there isn't anything like as much about the carbon rationing scheme here as in the first book. It's become a more normal part of life for the characters. The similarity of the refugee situation, the only-slightly-worse-than-last-year scenario for the rise of the far right in Britain, and accounts of demonstrators being kettled and beaten by police felt more like reading slight fictionalisations of news than anything novel and futuristic; they're like dystopia 2020 that someone might have written in 2016 just before the Brexit vote. (Carbon Diaries Britain is on a different, but not overtly described, timeline where Britain uses the Euro and kilometres, and where an unnamed bank was allowed to collapse in 2009.) The sense of verisimilitude was explained when I noticed in the author's bio that she, like the narrator, Laura, used to play in hardcore punk bands: there is a lot here about squat life and radical political meetings and collectives, and experience on demos that rings very true from what I've heard from people I know and have read online. The sense of threat and emergency is very much what the more anxious or traumatised people in these groups have always felt was the tenor of life and politics - but in the novel it's completely justified because the government is becoming increasingly totalitarian. Laura is a bit more self-aware than in the previous book (as she should be, being 19 now) but still cynical, unsure whether protest changes much but moved by her friends and sometimes policies and experiences she witnesses to do something after all.
This is basically a YA novel about being involved in punk, radical left politics and the squat scene, set against a realist-dystopian backdrop ["Naturalistic fiction written today is necessarily fairly pessimistic — otherwise, it wouldn’t be a realistic depiction of the present." - William Gibson - it's not really about carbon rationing as the previous one was. I don't really know much about contemporary YA, but I get the impression this portrays a way of life that isn't covered in a huge number of other novels, so is probably of interest to some readers for that regardless.
This is a tighter novel than The Carbon Diaries 2015, but there isn't anything like as much about the carbon rationing scheme here as in the first book. It's become a more normal part of life for the characters. The similarity of the refugee situation, the only-slightly-worse-than-last-year scenario for the rise of the far right in Britain, and accounts of demonstrators being kettled and beaten by police felt more like reading slight fictionalisations of news than anything novel and futuristic; they're like dystopia 2020 that someone might have written in 2016 just before the Brexit vote. (Carbon Diaries Britain is on a different, but not overtly described, timeline where Britain uses the Euro and kilometres, and where an unnamed bank was allowed to collapse in 2009.) The sense of verisimilitude was explained when I noticed in the author's bio that she, like the narrator, Laura, used to play in hardcore punk bands: there is a lot here about squat life and radical political meetings and collectives, and experience on demos that rings very true from what I've heard from people I know and have read online. The sense of threat and emergency is very much what the more anxious or traumatised people in these groups have always felt was the tenor of life and politics - but in the novel it's completely justified because the government is becoming increasingly totalitarian. Laura is a bit more self-aware than in the previous book (as she should be, being 19 now) but still cynical, unsure whether protest changes much but moved by her friends and sometimes policies and experiences she witnesses to do something after all.
This is basically a YA novel about being involved in punk, radical left politics and the squat scene, set against a realist-dystopian backdrop ["Naturalistic fiction written today is necessarily fairly pessimistic — otherwise, it wouldn’t be a realistic depiction of the present." - William Gibson - it's not really about carbon rationing as the previous one was. I don't really know much about contemporary YA, but I get the impression this portrays a way of life that isn't covered in a huge number of other novels, so is probably of interest to some readers for that regardless.
July 29, 2010
I'm really torn about this book. On the one hand, it was definitely unique and entertaining. I liked it better than the first book. There were themes of angst and rebellion, of oppression and protestation that I found very interesting.
On the other hand... the writing style really annoyed me. I was somewhat used to all the slang and poor spelling and grammar, having read the first book, but it seemed even worse in this one. Instead of adding to the gritty reality of the book, it grated on me and became distracting. I was constantly having to stop and re-read passages to try and understand what they were saying, and that really stopped the flow of the story. And don't even get me started on Eman!!! I just skipped over whatever he had to say, with his "....." and "uh...."s, and picked up the story again after he was done. Talk about annoying!
Also, the story never really came alive for me. Even the most intense passages - which could really have been gripping and heart wrenching when told in the right way - when told in Laura's matter-of-fact tone, weren't very exciting. It was hard to picture what was happening because there was hardly any description. There were times when Laura acted so childish and immature, I just had to grit my teeth.
Her on-again, off-again relationship with Adi was unrealistic. We were meant to believe that they truly loved each other, but I never saw any reason for them to. They were rude to each other and when they talked it was mostly full of cheap "words of wisdom" or preachy statements. Ugh.
Still... despite all its shortcomings... I can't say I regret reading it. It was an interesting book. I might even read another in the series if the author writes one... but I do hope that Laura grows up a little before the next book!
On the other hand... the writing style really annoyed me. I was somewhat used to all the slang and poor spelling and grammar, having read the first book, but it seemed even worse in this one. Instead of adding to the gritty reality of the book, it grated on me and became distracting. I was constantly having to stop and re-read passages to try and understand what they were saying, and that really stopped the flow of the story. And don't even get me started on Eman!!! I just skipped over whatever he had to say, with his "....." and "uh...."s, and picked up the story again after he was done. Talk about annoying!
Also, the story never really came alive for me. Even the most intense passages - which could really have been gripping and heart wrenching when told in the right way - when told in Laura's matter-of-fact tone, weren't very exciting. It was hard to picture what was happening because there was hardly any description. There were times when Laura acted so childish and immature, I just had to grit my teeth.
Her on-again, off-again relationship with Adi was unrealistic. We were meant to believe that they truly loved each other, but I never saw any reason for them to. They were rude to each other and when they talked it was mostly full of cheap "words of wisdom" or preachy statements. Ugh.
Still... despite all its shortcomings... I can't say I regret reading it. It was an interesting book. I might even read another in the series if the author writes one... but I do hope that Laura grows up a little before the next book!
February 7, 2010
Very disappointed in this, for a number of reasons. I loved 2015 in part because Laura's voice was fantastically engaging, and the combination of the sarcastic take on her messed-up world and the country's response to carbon rationing worked so well.
In this one, though, things have gone seriously downhill, in the UK and world-wide, but the 'gov', which seemed to be at least okay in the first book, has become completely tyrannical and is obviously unwilling to tackle the growing violence from the extreme right. (At a minimum, if not being actually in favour of the racist action of gangs of bigotted thugs.) Laura's family is still in the country, while Laura goes back to a terrifying London, unsure whether to devote her energies to the band, activism, survival -- or uni (not top on her list).
While the first book had a clear 'message' - without being preachy - this one felt a bit of a mess. Laura and Adi have a torturous on-again, off-again relationship, with one or the other regularly giving rather flat, prosy lecture-like statements to the others, and Laura's voice is much, much less engaging. In fact, she comments early on in the book on middle-class uni students who try to talk as if they were working-class, but then seems to do the same thing herself. And there's one new character who has at least *three* "uh....,"s per sentence. Almost unreadably annoying. As is dialogue recorded as virtually text-speak, for just a few characters. ??
Beyond that, I found the government's fascist behaviour a bit hard to understand, especially - tiny spoiler alert - when finally they're convinced to back down over something horribly oppressive by huge crowd protests and the Opposition, still in Parliament and seemingly with some power. And the preachiness of the characters - who seemed to sound off at the drop of a hat, without necessarily having much to say of any worth - got very old. As did the angst between Laura and 'my boy'.
Won't be reading the next one, unless someone who feels the same about this one tells me otherwise.
In this one, though, things have gone seriously downhill, in the UK and world-wide, but the 'gov', which seemed to be at least okay in the first book, has become completely tyrannical and is obviously unwilling to tackle the growing violence from the extreme right. (At a minimum, if not being actually in favour of the racist action of gangs of bigotted thugs.) Laura's family is still in the country, while Laura goes back to a terrifying London, unsure whether to devote her energies to the band, activism, survival -- or uni (not top on her list).
While the first book had a clear 'message' - without being preachy - this one felt a bit of a mess. Laura and Adi have a torturous on-again, off-again relationship, with one or the other regularly giving rather flat, prosy lecture-like statements to the others, and Laura's voice is much, much less engaging. In fact, she comments early on in the book on middle-class uni students who try to talk as if they were working-class, but then seems to do the same thing herself. And there's one new character who has at least *three* "uh....,"s per sentence. Almost unreadably annoying. As is dialogue recorded as virtually text-speak, for just a few characters. ??
Beyond that, I found the government's fascist behaviour a bit hard to understand, especially - tiny spoiler alert - when finally they're convinced to back down over something horribly oppressive by huge crowd protests and the Opposition, still in Parliament and seemingly with some power. And the preachiness of the characters - who seemed to sound off at the drop of a hat, without necessarily having much to say of any worth - got very old. As did the angst between Laura and 'my boy'.
Won't be reading the next one, unless someone who feels the same about this one tells me otherwise.
December 6, 2010
I just can't keep talking about the Carbon Diaries 2 books with people. Fun, light, easy reads, but with some real insight into a future carbon-constrained world. Set in London doesn't hurt: this edition had one scene set in my neighborhood (brick lane). I strongly recommend these books. Read the 2015 one first, I read the whole thing on a plane ride. Many of you probably have more literary sophistication than I do, but if Harry Potter and Twilight can be famous, why can't the Carbon Diaries, even if it it's teen target audience is very readily apparent...
November 29, 2016
I really appreciate the 'Carbon Diaries' series for effectively translating many non-fiction tomes about climate change into novels about a teenage girl's diary. Due to the kind of bore I am, the world-building is the reason I enjoy the series. I'm too much of a grumpy old woman to be terribly involved in the narrator Laura's band and boyfriend problems, but her interaction with current affairs is much more interesting. Her voice rings very true, particularly her ambivalence about political involvement and direct action. The background of economic turmoil, carbon rationing, and extreme weather is highly effective, without blocks of description being shoehorned into the narrative. I'm less convinced by the use of images within the text, for example of emails on phone screen.
I think I narrowly preferred the 2015 prequel to this novel, as the former focused more on how household life in the UK was altered by carbon rationing. In 2017 Laura goes international, which makes for a more adventurous plotline with much less about pig keeping et cetera. It was such mundane details of carbon-rationed life that I liked best. Moreover, Larkin the pig was one of my favourite characters. In short, I wish there were more novels that used climate change and carbon mitigation policies as a background.
I think I narrowly preferred the 2015 prequel to this novel, as the former focused more on how household life in the UK was altered by carbon rationing. In 2017 Laura goes international, which makes for a more adventurous plotline with much less about pig keeping et cetera. It was such mundane details of carbon-rationed life that I liked best. Moreover, Larkin the pig was one of my favourite characters. In short, I wish there were more novels that used climate change and carbon mitigation policies as a background.
June 30, 2010
I still like the premise, but I found Laura and Adi annoying (and Eman too - VERY annoying!) and I was more interested in the events of the world than of the main characters. Also, I am really getting sick of the love triangle being the major subplot of teen books. Enough, already!
September 17, 2017
Het verhaal is leuk, jammer dat er zoveel feiten en dergelijke niet kloppen.
November 2, 2017
This follow-up to the effervescent Carbon Diaries 2015 is a more dour and serious take on the life of Laura. The last edition was the story of a likably cynical teen reluctantly coming to terms with systemic change in the UK, but two years later Laura is unable to dodge the political. A radical far-left group (bizarrely named 'the 2') is beginning a campaign of violent insurrection, the government begins dealing with dissent with riot police, and to be a teenager with oppositional values is to be a target. London is now a wasteland of abandoned luxury apartments converted into grotty squats, and everyone Laura knows is becoming infused with revolutionary fervour. Laura maintains her position of disinterested scepticism in political talk, however, and although this is more #relatable than having your protagonist spout Marxist takedowns, it can be a bit frustrating to hear her dismiss trenchant critiques posed by other characters by moaning about everyone being political.
The question which animates this book is an interesting one directly relevant to the actual political situation in the real-world 2017: in a political and humanitarian crisis, what counts as resistant activism, and what doesn't? Laura's throwback punk band the Dirty Angels start becoming popular in the midst of all this talk of revolutionary fervour, but Laura's guitarist boyfriend Adi becomes convinced that spreading their message isn't enough. Adi, like Laura's heroic former teacher Gwen Parry-Jones, is that rare person who cannot see injustice happening on the news and do nothing about it until it becomes directly relevant to him. He travels abroad in the hope of helping in the immigrant crisis, and this decision distances him from the less messianic Laura, whilst also being conveyed as an admirable but hubistric fool's errand. The novel ends with Laura at peace with her commitment to resistant politics through her art, but also through direct protest. Lloyd doesn't let her off the hook that writing incendiary lyrics is enough, and it is only when Laura participates in direct action against the corrupt government that her political education is finally attained. Her sojourn in a holding centre for immigrants is the real turning point in the novel, when Laura realises how privileged she is and emerges as a soberer and more substantial character.
Lots of worthy themes here, but that doesn't necessarily make for a gripping read. The story drags far more than the breezier and less troubled first novel, with the section in which Laura ends up trapped in Europe being almost interminably dull. Carbon Diaries 2015 bulged with a cadre of enjoyably silly secondary characters, but they are almost entirely absent here, replaced by the po-faced Adi and an uninteresting love triangle. That said, I found the development of Laura's character convincing and I liked the hesitant, ambiguous tone struck by the end of the story. Laura may be yet another reluctantly political girl protagonist in a YA dystopian novel, but she stands out for the realism of her portrayal and the humour which infuses it. I'd definitely read the Carbon Diaries 2027 if Lloyd ever decides to write it.
The question which animates this book is an interesting one directly relevant to the actual political situation in the real-world 2017: in a political and humanitarian crisis, what counts as resistant activism, and what doesn't? Laura's throwback punk band the Dirty Angels start becoming popular in the midst of all this talk of revolutionary fervour, but Laura's guitarist boyfriend Adi becomes convinced that spreading their message isn't enough. Adi, like Laura's heroic former teacher Gwen Parry-Jones, is that rare person who cannot see injustice happening on the news and do nothing about it until it becomes directly relevant to him. He travels abroad in the hope of helping in the immigrant crisis, and this decision distances him from the less messianic Laura, whilst also being conveyed as an admirable but hubistric fool's errand. The novel ends with Laura at peace with her commitment to resistant politics through her art, but also through direct protest. Lloyd doesn't let her off the hook that writing incendiary lyrics is enough, and it is only when Laura participates in direct action against the corrupt government that her political education is finally attained. Her sojourn in a holding centre for immigrants is the real turning point in the novel, when Laura realises how privileged she is and emerges as a soberer and more substantial character.
Lots of worthy themes here, but that doesn't necessarily make for a gripping read. The story drags far more than the breezier and less troubled first novel, with the section in which Laura ends up trapped in Europe being almost interminably dull. Carbon Diaries 2015 bulged with a cadre of enjoyably silly secondary characters, but they are almost entirely absent here, replaced by the po-faced Adi and an uninteresting love triangle. That said, I found the development of Laura's character convincing and I liked the hesitant, ambiguous tone struck by the end of the story. Laura may be yet another reluctantly political girl protagonist in a YA dystopian novel, but she stands out for the realism of her portrayal and the humour which infuses it. I'd definitely read the Carbon Diaries 2027 if Lloyd ever decides to write it.
January 3, 2020
The book The Carbon Diaries 2017 by Saci Lloyd stood out to me as a first choice out of many different climate fiction books. This book grabbed my attention because of two different things. First, the book is about how an average girl in London doesn’t know what to do and is always walking on ice, all she knows is that there needs to be a change in the way the government is facing climate change. The other reason is because as I started reading there is a sense of mystery throughout the book which I particularly enjoy reading because you never know what could happen. However I will say that a few chapters into the book there is a loss of that sense of mystery and the book becomes not as interesting, but if you continue reading it picks back up again.
The overall plot of the book goes through many different stages. It first starts out with a basis of a girl leaving her family in the countryside to be with her boyfriend in London. From there, there is some rising action of going through poverty and the public striking against the government's failure to do something about climate change. Eventually Laura ends up in Italy and makes a final decision to do something about climate change, and force a difference in the world.
Saci Lloyd uses many different writing techniques through the book. One of the most distinctive techniques is her use of diction. Lloyd uses words like anarcho, truncheons, lobbing, coachloads, and pantomime. These words are engaging because of the uncommoness of their use in day to day language. For example Saci Lloyd wrote “in the center there was a long ban-queting table, glistening with candles, tableware and glasses, finished off with a colossal bouquet of roses and lilies. I took a deep breath. It feels like ages since I’ve seen luxury.” This quote shows the author’s attention to detail put in to paint a picture in the reader's mind.
Climate change creates tension and conflict throughout the book. In The Carbon Diaries 2017 citizens are realizing that there is a need for everyone to change their ways due to climate change but the government refuses to acknowledge and take action for what is happening. This creates a conflict between the two sides and fights start arising. Due to this the lives of loved ones are lost and more anger occurs. This affects the reader because of the way it triggers the reader to think about what if this happened in our society and how they would take action in these circumstances. This then makes the reader think about current day and makes them want action for what climate change problems are going on around them.
The overall plot of the book goes through many different stages. It first starts out with a basis of a girl leaving her family in the countryside to be with her boyfriend in London. From there, there is some rising action of going through poverty and the public striking against the government's failure to do something about climate change. Eventually Laura ends up in Italy and makes a final decision to do something about climate change, and force a difference in the world.
Saci Lloyd uses many different writing techniques through the book. One of the most distinctive techniques is her use of diction. Lloyd uses words like anarcho, truncheons, lobbing, coachloads, and pantomime. These words are engaging because of the uncommoness of their use in day to day language. For example Saci Lloyd wrote “in the center there was a long ban-queting table, glistening with candles, tableware and glasses, finished off with a colossal bouquet of roses and lilies. I took a deep breath. It feels like ages since I’ve seen luxury.” This quote shows the author’s attention to detail put in to paint a picture in the reader's mind.
Climate change creates tension and conflict throughout the book. In The Carbon Diaries 2017 citizens are realizing that there is a need for everyone to change their ways due to climate change but the government refuses to acknowledge and take action for what is happening. This creates a conflict between the two sides and fights start arising. Due to this the lives of loved ones are lost and more anger occurs. This affects the reader because of the way it triggers the reader to think about what if this happened in our society and how they would take action in these circumstances. This then makes the reader think about current day and makes them want action for what climate change problems are going on around them.
January 6, 2023
As a 9th grade English student, reading “The Carbon Diaries 2017” by Saci Lloyd was hard. And not in a “I struggle with reading,” kind of hard, it was a “I physically cannot read this book without falling asleep,” hard.
As much of a joke as that sounds, every time I was in the middle of reading I got a sudden hit of tiredness. The way this author wrote this book made me very bored. Even the conflict was tedious. Although the book wasn't completely lacking variety, the protests had some interesting parts to it. And if you’re looking for a CliFi book, it fits pretty well in that category, because most of it is about climate change.
She formatted the book like it was a journal but I did not expect the teenage slang and bad grammar. Honestly, adults using teenage slang in literature does not work out very well. It didn't exactly insult me, it was just a little cringe since I know I don't text my friends like that.
The author was trying too hard to be relatable. She tried to write it in a fun way but instead it turned out to be not engaging and distracting to read. Also, it was too chaotic for me. Everything going on with the goverment was a mess. I had to reread some pages because I didn't understand what was going on at first. I have to say I did not read the first book (2015), so if this connects that would make more sense for some of the confusing parts. I recommend reading the first one if you haven't.
Some of the characters pissed me off as well, like Eman! The “Uhh…”s and the “…” were so weird and I’d rather him just be mute. The main character, Laura, would be so immature and frustrating at points where I had to put the book down and take a deep breath. She made so many stupid decisions I wish I could just take her out of the book. With that, her and Adi’s relationship was not healthy. It was so on and off and Laura was not loyal. You’d think that after a while Laura would finally make a choice, but she’s just so indecisive it’s annoying. The love triangle didn't really fit with the theme either and it was just put in there awkwardly.
Personally, this book did not grab a hold of me. I didn't enjoy it and if you ask me I don't recommend it, but if you're looking for a teenage punk diary filled with chaos, annoying characters, and a boring love triangle maybe this book is for you!
As much of a joke as that sounds, every time I was in the middle of reading I got a sudden hit of tiredness. The way this author wrote this book made me very bored. Even the conflict was tedious. Although the book wasn't completely lacking variety, the protests had some interesting parts to it. And if you’re looking for a CliFi book, it fits pretty well in that category, because most of it is about climate change.
She formatted the book like it was a journal but I did not expect the teenage slang and bad grammar. Honestly, adults using teenage slang in literature does not work out very well. It didn't exactly insult me, it was just a little cringe since I know I don't text my friends like that.
The author was trying too hard to be relatable. She tried to write it in a fun way but instead it turned out to be not engaging and distracting to read. Also, it was too chaotic for me. Everything going on with the goverment was a mess. I had to reread some pages because I didn't understand what was going on at first. I have to say I did not read the first book (2015), so if this connects that would make more sense for some of the confusing parts. I recommend reading the first one if you haven't.
Some of the characters pissed me off as well, like Eman! The “Uhh…”s and the “…” were so weird and I’d rather him just be mute. The main character, Laura, would be so immature and frustrating at points where I had to put the book down and take a deep breath. She made so many stupid decisions I wish I could just take her out of the book. With that, her and Adi’s relationship was not healthy. It was so on and off and Laura was not loyal. You’d think that after a while Laura would finally make a choice, but she’s just so indecisive it’s annoying. The love triangle didn't really fit with the theme either and it was just put in there awkwardly.
Personally, this book did not grab a hold of me. I didn't enjoy it and if you ask me I don't recommend it, but if you're looking for a teenage punk diary filled with chaos, annoying characters, and a boring love triangle maybe this book is for you!
September 11, 2019
A question at the beginning: Is Saci Llyod a freakin Fortuneteller?
I read the first volume when I was about 14 years old- right during my ‚pseudo-punk‘ phase. As a teen (and also now) I loved it from the first page to the last. I could really identify with Laura and her family and I was interested and shocked about all this Environmental Stuff.
But ´guess that the book wasn´t that successful. ´cause the german Edition isn´t produced here anymore, the second volume never was.
It´s such a shame. There´s not many books which are that important for our generation. It´s not science fiction anymore, even when 2015 & 2017 wasn´t as bad as in the books, we´re right way to end like this.
So anyway a few days ago I discovered the second volume. And it makes totally sense to read it now as a 23-years old, starting her new Semester in October and esspecially to read it NOW. The book is so much more dark, angry and grownup. And all the time I read I couldn´t stop thinking about right wing populism & left radicalism, the heat in Germany and the forest fires in Brazile. About fridays for future, student protests in Hongkong and police violence, about refugees in Southern Europe and the Shadow oft he ´tripping point´, the point, when there´s no turning back.
It´s really, really scary to read it nowadays, but I will not chance my mind about the importance to bring this issue to younger (and older) readers.
I read the first volume when I was about 14 years old- right during my ‚pseudo-punk‘ phase. As a teen (and also now) I loved it from the first page to the last. I could really identify with Laura and her family and I was interested and shocked about all this Environmental Stuff.
But ´guess that the book wasn´t that successful. ´cause the german Edition isn´t produced here anymore, the second volume never was.
It´s such a shame. There´s not many books which are that important for our generation. It´s not science fiction anymore, even when 2015 & 2017 wasn´t as bad as in the books, we´re right way to end like this.
So anyway a few days ago I discovered the second volume. And it makes totally sense to read it now as a 23-years old, starting her new Semester in October and esspecially to read it NOW. The book is so much more dark, angry and grownup. And all the time I read I couldn´t stop thinking about right wing populism & left radicalism, the heat in Germany and the forest fires in Brazile. About fridays for future, student protests in Hongkong and police violence, about refugees in Southern Europe and the Shadow oft he ´tripping point´, the point, when there´s no turning back.
It´s really, really scary to read it nowadays, but I will not chance my mind about the importance to bring this issue to younger (and older) readers.
April 26, 2024
I'd already read The Carbon Diaries 2015, and liked it enough that I wanted to read this book, its sequel, as well. While both books are a bit quirky, they were also both good. Where the first book had more of a lighthearted approach to describing some harsh realities in the environment of individual carbon rationing, this book painted a lot more bleak picture of what it's like for young adults living in a world facing some of the more painful, global realities of climate change. The book doesn't subscribe to a philosophy of "We're all doomed!" in any way in regards to climate change (nor do I personally), but it was on the ragged edge of being a little too close to home in comparison to the things happening in the world right now.
January 22, 2023
I read Carbon Diaries 2015 a few years back and although aimed at young adult readers it has a lot of core themes and messages that everyone should take heed about.
Carbon Diaries 2017 is another environmental, political warning about how our nation, continent indeed world needs to make real changes to the way we live if we dont want controls imposed on us. Told through the eyes of Laura Brown and her diary she tells of the struggles to be a student in the mix of carbon emissions restrictions, rationing and limited travel. Her band are singing about situations which they suddenly find themselves in the thick of it. An action packed book but in some ways tried to do so much it lost its way for me at times.
Carbon Diaries 2017 is another environmental, political warning about how our nation, continent indeed world needs to make real changes to the way we live if we dont want controls imposed on us. Told through the eyes of Laura Brown and her diary she tells of the struggles to be a student in the mix of carbon emissions restrictions, rationing and limited travel. Her band are singing about situations which they suddenly find themselves in the thick of it. An action packed book but in some ways tried to do so much it lost its way for me at times.
June 3, 2017
Alot darker than I remember the first one to be. The really weird thing is this is set for 2017 and I'm reading it this year. It was published 8 years ago. So the 'predictions' are not exactly right but it's still worrying.
I liked the main character but she annoyed me that she couldn't make her mind up. The story had potential but then love triangle spoiled it. I would like to read the first one again because I forgot what happened.
I liked the main character but she annoyed me that she couldn't make her mind up. The story had potential but then love triangle spoiled it. I would like to read the first one again because I forgot what happened.
December 29, 2022
Lloyd follows up the Carbon Dairies 2015 with an equally sharp and well researched sequel that has our protagonist journeying across Europe and meeting the reality of a crisis of refugees that feels terribly resonant with the contemporary era.
A lively read, but one that has - sadly - stood the test of time better than many other more hopeful visions of the future.
But- it is not too late to take meaningful action, we just need to stop letting the fossil fuel corporations and their paid think tanks and lobbyists control the agenda and the politicians.
A lively read, but one that has - sadly - stood the test of time better than many other more hopeful visions of the future.
But- it is not too late to take meaningful action, we just need to stop letting the fossil fuel corporations and their paid think tanks and lobbyists control the agenda and the politicians.
September 14, 2017
Definitely an improvement on its predecessor, with story and words tumbling off the page in a way that mirrors the frenetic unraveling of society in the grips of carbon rationing and climate change. I recognised my world in this one. Will we get there?
January 31, 2019
Good read, well structed and good arguments alongside captivating plot. Second in series, but still operates as really good standalone book. Some of the story is in pasted in text messages emails etc that can be quite hard to read and break up rhythm of the book
June 15, 2017
This book is darker than the 1st book, but main character is even more annoying and her relationship with Adi is pointless. Cared too little to finish last 50 pages
January 28, 2020
very informing on what could happen if we don't start paying attention to our planet, plus to watch them struggle and take on everything was very interesting.
February 4, 2023
Heartbreaking, eerie, extremely 2008 meets 2020 meets 20245
March 14, 2017
Grappig dat het zich in 2017 afspeelt. Het voelt, net als de schrijver dit waarschijnlijk zich zo voorstelde, als de nabije toekomst. Vandaar dat ik 'm toevoeg aan mijn Dystopian lijst.
Een deel twee, kwam ik achter. Het was niet echt te merken, dus daar was ik wel blij om.
Leuk boek, lekker dik en zwaar. Herlezen ga ik 'm niet.
Een deel twee, kwam ik achter. Het was niet echt te merken, dus daar was ik wel blij om.
Leuk boek, lekker dik en zwaar. Herlezen ga ik 'm niet.
March 15, 2010
The Carbon Diaries 2015 was one of my favourite books of 2008, but it’s sequel The Carbon Diaries 2017 fell a little short for me.
I loved the fact that the novel was Laura’s diary; I really like the idea of reading someone else’s diary. (Not that I ever would, of course…) The entries were interspersed with texts, emails, photos and newspaper clippings which brought Laura’s world to life. However, as it is written as a teenager’s diary, there was lots of slang and abbreviations. And although it makes me sound snobby, it was just so irritating! I suppose it is pretty realistic, though.
For me, The Carbon Diaries 2017 didn’t really start until the dirty angels began their French tour. Then the action really kicked off. But before that it just seemed to be plodding along, even with all the drama, and moved at a pretty slow pace. Then again, the hilarity of Kieran throughout the novel kept me going.
Novels like this often freak me out. The future that Saci Lloyd has envisioned is a scarily plausible one of for the UK. I just hope that the idiot in charge of our country don’t impost carbon rationing. They should read this book first; it’d definitely change their minds! Protests, riots, poverty, squalour, water wars, extremist parties taking power and impossible taxes. Chaos, basically. The Carbon Diaries 2017 made me very grateful that I was curled up in bed reading a book instead of on the front-line of a revolution with Laura!
I did end up enjoying The Carbon Diaries 2017, though not as much as the first book, and I hope that I get to read more from Laura Brown in the future.
I loved the fact that the novel was Laura’s diary; I really like the idea of reading someone else’s diary. (Not that I ever would, of course…) The entries were interspersed with texts, emails, photos and newspaper clippings which brought Laura’s world to life. However, as it is written as a teenager’s diary, there was lots of slang and abbreviations. And although it makes me sound snobby, it was just so irritating! I suppose it is pretty realistic, though.
For me, The Carbon Diaries 2017 didn’t really start until the dirty angels began their French tour. Then the action really kicked off. But before that it just seemed to be plodding along, even with all the drama, and moved at a pretty slow pace. Then again, the hilarity of Kieran throughout the novel kept me going.
Novels like this often freak me out. The future that Saci Lloyd has envisioned is a scarily plausible one of for the UK. I just hope that the idiot in charge of our country don’t impost carbon rationing. They should read this book first; it’d definitely change their minds! Protests, riots, poverty, squalour, water wars, extremist parties taking power and impossible taxes. Chaos, basically. The Carbon Diaries 2017 made me very grateful that I was curled up in bed reading a book instead of on the front-line of a revolution with Laura!
I did end up enjoying The Carbon Diaries 2017, though not as much as the first book, and I hope that I get to read more from Laura Brown in the future.
June 15, 2012
In Dagboek van een klotejaar: 2017. Geen flauwekul meer gaat Laura's verhaal verder. Het Verenigd Koninkrijk is geheel veranderd. Het CO2-puntensysteem is nu volledig en succesvol ingevoerd, en de maatschappij heeft zich grotendeels aangepast. Laura's ouders zijn naar het platteland verhuisd, waardoor ze noodgedwongen in een kraakpand moet wonen om in Londen te kunnen blijven. Het wordt steeds gevaarlijker om er te blijven omdat de verschillende groeperingen die protesteren tegen de regering steeds meer geweld gebruiken. Ook haar vriend Adi gaat zich steeds vreemder en afstandelijker gedragen. Om de chaos te ontvluchten gaat ze met haar band 'Dirty angels' op tournee door Europa. Maar is het daar wel rustig?
Verhaal
Net zoals het vorige boek in deze reeks wordt het verhaal in dagboekvorm verteld. Wederom wordt het verhaal in kleine stukjes per dag verteld, met veel plaatjes, foto's en krantenartikelen ter verduidelijking. Deze zijn van groot nut omdat ze de situatie goed weergeven en het gemakkelijker maken om je voor te stellen hoe Laura leeft en met welke gevaren en uitdagingen ze te maken krijgt. Het verhaal is interessant, maar de boodschap dat we beter op onze planeet moeten passen begint op het einde wel een beetje te vervelen. Niettemin is het goed uitgewerkt en geeft juist die vervelende boodschap goed aan waar het om draait: hoe kun je als tienermeisje overleven in een wereld waarin de gewoonste zaken, zoals douchen of op vakantie gaan, maar zeer beperkt kunnen? Het is spannend en meeslepend en weet tot het einde te vermaken.
Wil je de gehele recensie lezen? Klik dan hier: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
Verhaal
Net zoals het vorige boek in deze reeks wordt het verhaal in dagboekvorm verteld. Wederom wordt het verhaal in kleine stukjes per dag verteld, met veel plaatjes, foto's en krantenartikelen ter verduidelijking. Deze zijn van groot nut omdat ze de situatie goed weergeven en het gemakkelijker maken om je voor te stellen hoe Laura leeft en met welke gevaren en uitdagingen ze te maken krijgt. Het verhaal is interessant, maar de boodschap dat we beter op onze planeet moeten passen begint op het einde wel een beetje te vervelen. Niettemin is het goed uitgewerkt en geeft juist die vervelende boodschap goed aan waar het om draait: hoe kun je als tienermeisje overleven in een wereld waarin de gewoonste zaken, zoals douchen of op vakantie gaan, maar zeer beperkt kunnen? Het is spannend en meeslepend en weet tot het einde te vermaken.
Wil je de gehele recensie lezen? Klik dan hier: http://www.fantasywereld.nl/recensies...
December 17, 2012
"Oh Brave new world that has such people in it!"
There's something about the Carbon Diaries 2017 that made me think very much of The Tempest. That sort of discovery of what the world now is, and the realisation that you're going to have to live in this order. That you can't keep the world away, it will find you, and it will take you and now's the time to decide what you stand for.
I think this is the book I wanted all along from this series. I liked it a lot better than the first. It's two years on now in the post carbon-rationing world and Laura Brown is still keeping her diary and trying to make it with her band.
The problems of the first, the info-dumps and the rather identikit nature of Laura, are gone here. Previously, I thought Laura a rather identikit, passive character - but now she's truly proactive, reactive, and she's not drowning in this world anymore. Her choices in this book are fascinating, dark, and challenging. And in a way I felt her choices, and connected with her much more in this book. Part of this may be from familiarity but I wonder if there's an ease here with Laura and a confidence that's lacking from the 2015.
Whilst 2015 had its strengths, I think exploring the transition from this world to the next weakened it. 2017, with its ferocious unstinting presentation of the new world order, is a powerful book. And it's one that feels somehow much more terrifying and acute than its predecessor. first.
There's something about the Carbon Diaries 2017 that made me think very much of The Tempest. That sort of discovery of what the world now is, and the realisation that you're going to have to live in this order. That you can't keep the world away, it will find you, and it will take you and now's the time to decide what you stand for.
I think this is the book I wanted all along from this series. I liked it a lot better than the first. It's two years on now in the post carbon-rationing world and Laura Brown is still keeping her diary and trying to make it with her band.
The problems of the first, the info-dumps and the rather identikit nature of Laura, are gone here. Previously, I thought Laura a rather identikit, passive character - but now she's truly proactive, reactive, and she's not drowning in this world anymore. Her choices in this book are fascinating, dark, and challenging. And in a way I felt her choices, and connected with her much more in this book. Part of this may be from familiarity but I wonder if there's an ease here with Laura and a confidence that's lacking from the 2015.
Whilst 2015 had its strengths, I think exploring the transition from this world to the next weakened it. 2017, with its ferocious unstinting presentation of the new world order, is a powerful book. And it's one that feels somehow much more terrifying and acute than its predecessor. first.
September 10, 2013
I'm not really sure how to feel about this book... It was less boring than the first book definitely because Laura's past her obsession with Ravi and Thanzila (thank god) and she doesn't sound like those snobby girls who only cares about themselves.
However in this book the story focuses on a love triangle and it was just plain annoying cause it like lasted through the whole book and I'm just sitting there staring frustratingly at the book thinking 'goddammit Laura just shut up about it'. But it is a diary so i can understand why Lloyd integrated romance into the story.There was also this character in the story who said A LOT of Uhh... and Like... between every few words whenever he spoke and it was kind of annoying to read really.. so i just skimmed through it.
I don't know why but i kind of expected this book to be really dark, so i was a bit disappointed by that. This series also reminded me of another book i read- Life As We Knew It which is part of a series called the Last Survivors, but that series was darker than the Carbon Diaries.
All in all i guess i enjoyed The Carbon Diaries, it did make me well aware of the consequences of global warming.
However in this book the story focuses on a love triangle and it was just plain annoying cause it like lasted through the whole book and I'm just sitting there staring frustratingly at the book thinking 'goddammit Laura just shut up about it'. But it is a diary so i can understand why Lloyd integrated romance into the story.There was also this character in the story who said A LOT of Uhh... and Like... between every few words whenever he spoke and it was kind of annoying to read really.. so i just skimmed through it.
I don't know why but i kind of expected this book to be really dark, so i was a bit disappointed by that. This series also reminded me of another book i read- Life As We Knew It which is part of a series called the Last Survivors, but that series was darker than the Carbon Diaries.
All in all i guess i enjoyed The Carbon Diaries, it did make me well aware of the consequences of global warming.
February 13, 2017
I felt like it rambled on a bit and I didn't like it as much as the first one
October 30, 2016
The Carbon Diaries 2017
Saci Lloyd
The Carbon Diaries 2017 is about what happened after global warming sped up and began to more rapidly destroy the earth. Severe droughts, oil crises, water wars, and civil unrest occur throughout much of the world. The story follows Laura Brown, a teenager in a punk rock band who isn’t interested in politics. However as the story progresses, the politics of a crumbling world follow her until she can’t help but get involved. She winds up in the middle of many world changing protests and uses her band to share her world views.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how everything she went through influenced her actions and ideas. Everything had some sort of importance in the end. There were several parts of the book where she experienced something traumatic and it would give her a reason to stand up to authority or protest something. This made her feel real and developed her as a meaningful character.
Another reason I liked this book was because of the writing style. It is written as a diary and taken day by day. I’ve always really enjoyed books written this way because it makes it easier to digest by breaking it up into smaller chunks.
Saci Lloyd
The Carbon Diaries 2017 is about what happened after global warming sped up and began to more rapidly destroy the earth. Severe droughts, oil crises, water wars, and civil unrest occur throughout much of the world. The story follows Laura Brown, a teenager in a punk rock band who isn’t interested in politics. However as the story progresses, the politics of a crumbling world follow her until she can’t help but get involved. She winds up in the middle of many world changing protests and uses her band to share her world views.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how everything she went through influenced her actions and ideas. Everything had some sort of importance in the end. There were several parts of the book where she experienced something traumatic and it would give her a reason to stand up to authority or protest something. This made her feel real and developed her as a meaningful character.
Another reason I liked this book was because of the writing style. It is written as a diary and taken day by day. I’ve always really enjoyed books written this way because it makes it easier to digest by breaking it up into smaller chunks.
June 3, 2010
Two years after Carbon Diaries 2015 Laura Brown is back. A few things have changes since we last saw her. Her family has moved to the country, she's attending university in London, and there's the possibility of a new romance complicated by her continued feelings for Adi. Things start to get crazy as she and her band, the dirty angels, start a tour across France. Laura finds herself questioning her beliefs, and those of the people around her.
This book focuses less on what is happening to her family, which is a departure from the last book. Instead the focus is on Laura as she struggles to decide how far to involve herself in what is happening around her. The emphasis here is on the revolution that is brewing between the government and the people. This novel takes place only seven years in the future, and if this is where we're heading, there are definitely some scary parallels to today, then it's a grim future indeed, but Lloyd manages to make it hopeful as well.
This book focuses less on what is happening to her family, which is a departure from the last book. Instead the focus is on Laura as she struggles to decide how far to involve herself in what is happening around her. The emphasis here is on the revolution that is brewing between the government and the people. This novel takes place only seven years in the future, and if this is where we're heading, there are definitely some scary parallels to today, then it's a grim future indeed, but Lloyd manages to make it hopeful as well.
August 27, 2010
Another year has passed (we ended Carbon Diaries 2015 on Dec. 31, and start this on Jan. 1, 2017) and London is in truly bad shape. The city is practically under water and the revolution is heating up. Laura is at the university now and trying to keep the band, as well as her relationship with Adi, afloat. I guess I could never survive a real revolution because I couldn't survive this book. The British lingo and references to London geography were just a drag, and the choppy diary format doesn't help the story along. There's a new love interest for Laura, but even that doesn't help the plot. Her parents play a much smaller role in this book, which is a relief, but I couldn't manage to like any of the characters. This is relentless and repetitive bleakness. Students interested in how society breaks down in the face of a crisis might be able to slog through this book, but please, no Carbon Diaries 2019!
January 7, 2013
This is the sequel to The Carbon Diaries 2015, in which a group of London students copes with a climate-change induced flood that devastates much of the city. In 2017, carbon rationing has been in place for two years, but everything is still a big mess. Lani is trying to maintain a semblance of normal university life while also playing in a punk band. When her boyfriend gets involved with an underground protest movement, Lani's plans for a fantastic summer tour with the Dirty Angels are thrown into flux. The story moves well with regular 'artifacts' -- news clippings, photos, a photocopy of Lani's carbon point card -- adding a bleak measure of Lani's downtrodden reality. Author Saci Lloyd manages to juggle multiple story strands; Lani's believable voice and vulnerability carried this dystopian novel for me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews