Rating: Summary: GREAT ATTITUDE Review: I'VE READ THE BOOK IN IT'S HEBREW VERSION. MS. GAPI AMIR TRANSLATED THE BOOK IN A VERY WISE MANNER, TRANSLATING SLENG INTO HEBREW SLENG (VS. VERBAL TRANSLATION). I LOVED THE WAY WILLIS DEVELOPED THE STORY IN THE BOOK, ALLOWING ME (AS, I BELIEVE, OTHERS TOO) TO IDENTIFY THE CARACTERS IN THE PLOT WITH PEOPLE IN MY WORK-PLACE.
Rating: Summary: Marshmallow Fluff Review: I think Connie Willis is the best writer of English prose alive today. Her other books, in particular "Lincoln's Dreams," are astoundingly beautiful and lyrical, serious books told in a vivid voice that draws pictures, scenarios and characters together with what seems like effortless grace. She is like a breath of cool clear air after the stuffiness of a closed room. "Bellwether," however, is about as subtle as a grocery cart at it careens around the heroine's self-conscious pre-occupation with fads and trends. I must admit, however, there were several things i liked: Flip the office assistant; the little girl's use of a map to tell a story about her Barbie doll; the scene in the cafeteria where everyone has to come up with Dilbertesque slogans. But overall, the book is a disappointment, albiet minor. It's also fast and easy so you might as well read it. My husband, btw, liked it more than I did, especially the bits about bread pudding, the longevity of the angel/devil's food cake fads, po-mo pink, Malibu Beach House Barbie, Alice Blue, diorama wigs and, of course, Billy Ray and the sheep.
Rating: Summary: Go with this flow Review: Probably the most enjoyable book I've read that asks the question: why do people jump on the latest bandwagon only to discover that it doesn't make them any happier than they were before? The protagonist-narrator of the story is a social scientist, working for a research corporation and trying to find how fads begin. The corporation wants to figure out how to use her research to make new fads, and of course gobs of money in the process. The weekly meetings presided over by "management" are hilarious. This book reads so easily that you might be deceived into thinking that it's simply written. Hardly. Willis has worked very hard to tie together a number of disparate elements. Some of the most enjoyable parts of the book are the short descriptions of dozens of past fads -- everything from coonskin caps to bobbed hair to mah jong. In the process, Willis tells us a lot about what we're willing to do to "belong." I noticed from previous reviews that some people were disappointed with this book because it really isn't science fiction. It's true, this is not traditional science fiction, with a futuristic setting, new technology, etc. But Willis's remarks that relate fads to chaos theory are very well thought-out. In giving the reader something new to think about, she meets the basic test of science fiction. And in creating an enjoyable, perceptive story, she meets the challenge of being an exceptionally good writer.
Rating: Summary: I really enjoyed this book Review: I really liked Bellwether. It deals with one of my favourite subjects, chaos theory, among other things. In it, Connie Willis manages to work the plot so that everything the protagonist experiences, is part of the realization the character has at the end. All of the pieces of the puzzle are there, and only once it had been solved at the end, did I truly appreciate how Willis has woven it into the book. The tone is light, and there is a lot of comedy, but to a serious purpose. The elements of the protagonist's life chaotically intertwine with the scientific exploration of the book, and this merging of them is part of the book's point. It is both immensely enjoyable to read, and one of the finest science fiction books I've read.
Rating: Summary: Humorous and intelligent; a blast to read. Review: Makes my list of "must read several times" books--I finished reading it the first time and wanted to start again! This book is *funny*, pure and simple, as well as a compendium of trivia tidbits and, weaved into it all, a *very* intriuging theory into the origins of fads. I am a long-time Willis reader, and this one ranks as one of her best IMO.
Rating: Summary: Breezy, content-free fiction (NOT Science Fiction) Review: "Bellwether" is an amusing, light read, but it is hardly science fiction. Sandra is a sociologist studying fads. Bennett is a physicist specializing in chaos-theory working in animal behavior. Together using an interdisciplinary approach, they try to define the chaotic nature of faddish behavior in mammalian populations by studying a herd of sheep. All this against the background of a "science" factory, and the ultimately, hip population of Boulder, Colorado. Willis's prose is good, the story is light, breezy, and funny as she pokes fun at every target within range. The author's treatment of the main character's friends and colleagues is particularly funny. They are all technically sound and socially impossible. I found the capsule summaries of various fads and discussion of the serendipitous nature of some important science discoveries interesting. This story is however without any depth and could have been written as a short story. The end was apparent before half the novel was read. In addition, it can only be called science fiction because the main characters are scientists and it is a work of fiction. "Bellwether" is humorous. It reminds me of Po Bronson's The First $20M is the Hardest', although not quite as dark. It's a quick read that will keep you smiling.
Rating: Summary: Nothing going on Review: Willis is a capable writer, which makes it all the
more frustrating that there's so little behind this book. The protagonist researches fads at a corporate think-tank. The descriptions of these fads are amusing, as Willis' depiction of corporate mindlessness. But there's not much else to the book--a flimsy plot, likeable but bland characters, and none of the social or technological insight which characterize good science fiction. I got the feeling Willis was capable of much more, given a strong idea to start with.
Rating: Summary: An entertaining, well written compendium of fads. Review: A compilation of well researched fad history woven with Ms. Willis' understanding of scientific corporate behavior. Unfortunately for corporate America, her understanding is fairly accurate for most organizations, which makes the description of corporate management's behavior identifiable to a large readership, scientific and non-scientific.
The Author's ability to link fads with corporate social behavior is somewhat superficial but effective. But then the entire book is light reading for groupies against corporate bureaucracy, i.e., the cartoon character "Dilbert", et. al.
Categorizing the book as "Science Fiction", however, is somewhat of a stretch even if the author is touted by the Denver Post as "One of Science Fiction's Best Writers."
Rating: Summary: Chaos Theory Meets Dilbert! Review: The scientist-heroine of Connie Willis's superb take on research institutions, management bungling, and chaos theory is pursuing a bunch of seemingly-unrelated historical links, looking for something common to them all. What she finds is delightful, funny, clever, and quintessentially Connie Willis. Bellwether, like all of the author's work, transcends genre and goes for the jugular: simply, a very good, unforgettable read. Willis is unique, like no other, and should not be buried in the science-fiction section of bookstores. In the best of bookstores (in the best of all possible worlds, as one philospher once said... ), she would be hand-sold by booksellers who read and love books. Jo Manning (drmwk@juno.com
Rating: Summary: Wonderful commentary on involuntary influence of others Review: I dove into this book not knowing what to consider
and quickly found myself having great fun. The
reference to "The Management" and their interminable but predictable changes reflects a trend one sees today in business. The petty jealousies among grant-seekers is all too true in academia and big business today. But the crowning glory of this book is the sly subtle way that Willis lets the reader know that everything they do is a reaction to yet another event, one that may not have been intended by the antagonist. This book is a must-read for students of human nature, for those in government and other bureaucracies, and for those who appreciate a sly satire on business today. (Just sign me "Pippa")
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