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Memory Piece
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
9 posts | 9 read | 4 to read
In the early 1980s, Giselle Chin, Jackie Ong, and Ellen Ng are three teenagers drawn together by their shared sense of alienation and desire for something different. "Allied in the weirdest parts of themselves," they envision each other as artistic collaborators and embark on a future defined by freedom and creativity. By the time they are adults, their dreams are murkier. As a performance artist, Giselle must navigate an elite social world she never conceived of. As a coder thrilled by the internet's early egalitarian promise, Jackie must contend with its more sinister shift toward monetization and surveillance. And as a community activist, Ellen confronts the increasing gentrification and policing overwhelming her New York City neighbourhood. Over time their friendship matures and changes, their definitions of success become complicated, and their sense of what matters evolves. Moving from the pre-digital 1980s to the art and tech subcultures of the 1990s to a strikingly imagined portrait of the 2040s, Memory Piece is an innovative and audacious story of three lifelong friends as they strive to build satisfying lives in a world that turns out to be radically different from the one they were promised.
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review
ImperfectCJ
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Mehso-so

I liked this one a lot to start with, but by the time we got to the story from Ellen's perspective, I was fatigued and stopped feeling invested in the story and the future that Ko imagines. I don't really get the connection between these three characters, and the 40-year leap is jarring.

blurb
ImperfectCJ
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Camille said I should finish this book in print instead of audio so we could spend some snuggle time together. She pointed out that this is also a great chance to enjoy my morning decaf and put the heating pad on my sore back before the day gets busy. How did I get such a wise cat?

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 2d
Ruthiella 😻😻😻 2d
Mimi28 She‘s such a cutie pie 😻😻 2d
Chelsea.Poole She seems to know all ♥️ 2d
46 likes4 comments
blurb
squirrelbrain
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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#ToB books picked up from the library yesterday. Two are on the shortlist - I‘m not overly enthused about the Link as I bailed on the only other one of hers that I tried ( and it‘s a chunkster) but it‘s a library book so 🤷‍♀️.

The tagged didn‘t make it onto the shortlist but it was waving at me 👋 from the new books shelf and I do like the sound of it, so couldn‘t really say no.

youneverarrived The tagged sounds really good. Look forward to your review 2w
sarahbarnes I‘m reading the Link right now and liking it, but I did enjoy the short story collections of hers I‘ve read. A fun stack! 😃 2w
squirrelbrain That‘s good to know, thank you @sarahbarnes 2w
53 likes3 comments
review
Centique
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Pickpick

I think a lot of people are going to dislike this book. I didnt entirely like it - BUT i keep thinking about it. It‘s an “idea” book, rather than driven by plot or character development. Three Chinese American girls meet in their early teens. Each one is very driven by a passion which will steer their lives - art, technology, activism. I think many readers will want to get into their heads & emotions but this is more about their achievements ⬇️

Centique their impact. As the 1990s roll through we look at their lives, their accomplishments, during the growth of consumerism and corporate greed - then a violent jump 50 years ahead and into a dystopian reality that is never fully explained. Messy but in parts its brilliant and thought provoking. If im still thinking about this book at the end of the year then ill need to up my GR rating! 3mo
squirrelbrain Great review! I‘ve picked this up at the library a couple of times but never borrowed it but your comments make it sound intriguing…. 3mo
Ruthiella Your description ot the book makes me think of this book read for #CampLitsy24 where early sister seemed more to represent a way of living than be a real person (edited) 3mo
Centique @squirrelbrain i‘m going to be so interested to read other peoples reviews! On GR there has been some negativity but it may be because its so different to The Leavers. 3mo
Centique @Ruthiella the blurb for that really does sound similar! I might try it just to compare. 3mo
58 likes1 stack add5 comments
quote
cherylmorton
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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“To Tam‘s knowledge, her house wasn‘t a target, wasn‘t more surveilled than anywhere else. ‘My expenses are low,‘ she said, ‘and so is my profile. I‘ve opted out of as much as I can.”

2 likes1 stack add
review
REPollock
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Pickpick

I can‘t begin to describe this book but I‘m glad I read it.

review
Decalino
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Pickpick

Giselle, Jackie and Ellen first meet at age 12 only to drift apart and reconnect as life takes them in very different directions. Giselle is compelled to make art of her life, regardless of whether she is understood; Jackie uses her programming knowledge to create a platform for users to document their lives; Ellen organizers a squatters co-op, resisting corporate pressure. Each seeks to live an authentic life in an increasingly dystopian world.

24 likes1 stack add
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Decalino
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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1. I'm looking forward to reading Memory Piece by Lisa Ko soon, as well as Lords of Uncreation, the final book in Adrian Tchaikovsky's Final Architecture series.

2. I pre-ordered Red Side Story by Jasper Fforde--can't wait for that one to come out! It's also possible I've pre-ordered something else and forgotten about it. That happens a lot. 🙂

Thanks for the tag, @TheSpineView !
#Two4Tuesday

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! Enjoy those books!❤️📖 9mo
16 likes1 comment
review
ErikasMindfulShelf
Memory Piece | Lisa Ko
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Mehso-so

I loved The Leavers, but didn‘t care for this one.