WHAT DID I JUST READ????

Richard Powers is a magician. He is a master of his craft at the top of his game.

I loved the majesty and scope of this book. I loved the style - the many stories and perspectives that melded into one. I loved the throughlines of technology and nature and the way he explored our relationships with both. I loved the TWIST! It was wild to reevaluate everything I had read after the twist happened in the last 4 pages. My mind was BLOWN.

Truly this book blew me away. I will also shout out the various narrators for creating such vivid characters and capturing the energies of each of them so perfectly. A well written book made even better by a perfectly cast audiobook.

The complexity of this novel does not lend itself to audiobook narration. The printed text offers clues to the plot with its selection of font types which many readers might find important when trying to follow the storyline. That said, the full cast provides excellent narration including narration superstar Edoardo Ballerini.

I know I am an outlier, but I had a tough time with the novel. I loved the Overstory but had a hard time getting through Playground. The novel explores intriguing themes like the environment, colonialism and AI which was cool. Some of the characters were intriguing but there were moments when it felt like it was just a list of ocean creatures and to me was repetitive and sometimes confusing. I thought the narrative structure was overly complex, with constant shifts between characters and timelines that I found frustrating. Overall, it wasn’t the right fit for me.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audio arc which I received in exchange for my honest review.

Richard Powers does an amazing job encompassing whole worlds into single books and this is no exception. Playground covers so many topics so extensively that it’s hard to pin down one thing to say about it. I’d recommend it to lovers of the Overstory, to people who love games, people who love the ocean, people who love AI, to people who hate AI, and to readers who just love a good story. This was possibly my favorite book of 2024.

The themes were interesting, including the environment, AI, colonialism. I also liked some of the characters However, at times it felt like the author was just presenting a laundry list of ocean life. I also found the structure needlessly confusing. Basically, I hated all of the jumping around among the characters and times. This just wasn’t for me. I received a free copy of this audiobook from the publisher.

Playground provides a timely tale of people on the brink of change figuring out what legacy they wish to leave. Like Power's other work, it is very human, and thought provoking.

This is a beautiful book but the audiobook was really, really, really hard for me to get into. I almost did not finish several times. I read some reviews on Goodreads that other people were having similar experiences and that they powered through and it got better for them. This was the case for me but it felt like it took a really really long time before I was immersed in the story. I am not sure what it was about the audiobook that made it difficult for me to get into but I think I would've enjoyed this book more as a hardcopy read. The story is beautiful and Powers is an amazing author but I struggled with the audiobook format and this review is more about the audiobook, rather than the book/story/author itself. Thank you for this audiobook ARC.

Alright, let's talk about "Playground" by Richard Powers—an audiobook experience that surprised me in all the best ways. This was my first foray into Powers' writing, and I'm already a convert. Powers crafts a story that doesn't just entertain; it digs into some significant, thought-provoking issues that feel uncomfortably relevant in today's tech-crazed world. Think of it as a mirror to our own anxieties around companies like OpenAI and SpaceX—those high-stakes players speeding toward the future without always hitting pause to consider the ethical potholes. Powers gets it, and he doesn't hold back in showing us the clash between rapid technological progress and the untouched beauty of the natural world.

But let's get real—the narration absolutely made this audiobook. Edoardo Ballerini was a revelation. I'm officially on the "I'd listen to him read a grocery list" train, and now, I actively hunt for audiobooks he narrates. Add Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae, and Kevin R. Free into the mix, and you've got a phenomenal cast. They don't just read; they perform. Each character comes to life with such personality and nuance that you almost forget you're listening to a recording. It's that immersive.

So, would I recommend "Playground?" Absolutely. It's smart, engaging, and packed with moments that make you pause and think. This is for anyone who loves audiobooks with an engaging story that tackles big questions with style.

Thank you to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book evolves over the years between four main characters:: Two young men, one born to wealth and the other to poverty, that become friends and competitors, when they meet at an elite Chicago High School, a young artist who moved around the world as a child of a career military man who meets and is loved by the two young men from Chicago, and Canadian woman, whose life path is chosen when she is thrown into a pool with prototype diving gear.

It follows the woman throughout her career as a diver of oceans and the views she witnesses in her long celebrated career, and the book she writes for young people of her adventures. The two men, close friends, become bound together by their love of games, especially the game GO, and while one is analytical and computer/technology driven, the other finds purpose in literature and the perfect words for a perfect sentence, but both are drawn to the vision of the well traveled artist. Until they come apart.

All the pieces of their lives come together around a French Polynesian island that is rebounding from years of resource stealing, and a proposal is made from a group to start floating cities around the island. Decisions regarding the proposal by the people on the island are seen from the population, the artist who uses plastic waste the washes up, the peace and perfection by the literary man, and the vision of the future through the words of an AI program, called Playground, invented by the Chicago man and his love of technology and games.

Will Ai be the world's vision on the future, or will it only reflect the visions offered to it by the input it absorbs?

I found the ending to be a little confusing and had to go back and reread it, and go online for additional views, so that's why I have it a 4 star rating, instead of 5 stars.

Overall, a beautiful and thought provoking book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

A literary love triangle that tackles environmental change, the beauty of the ocean and more in this new compelling literary fiction story from the best-selling author of The overstory. While this didn't make it to the top of my favorite reads by this author, it was still enjoyable and thought-provoking. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book and the audiobook presentation was great. All of the cast members were excellent and did a great job narrating the voices of different characters. The performance of French Canadian oceanographer, Evie was the best.

I felt this novel had some similar “vibes” to Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow & Same Bed Different Dreams. Those who enjoyed this book will probably enjoy Playground. too.

This is the first book by Powers that I've read. Makes me want to go back and read some of their back catalogue.

I never got into this book and it seemed too big to be a concise narrative. Unfortunately this book was just not for me.

PLAYGROUND is Richard Powers' newest exploratory novel.

"We are condemned to freedom," Powers tells us, and he adeptly crafts a complex story with multiple storylines that explore the themes of what we owe to the environment as well as what we owe to each other, humans and creatures alike. It is a provocative exploration of friendship, of families, of the earth, and of the tenuous bonds around us.

The audiobook boasts a cast of narrators: Edoardo Ballerini, Robin Siegerman, Eunice Wong, Pun Bandhu, Krys Janae, and Kevin R. Free. Each one takes on a different character, which helps keep the various storylines straight for readers and lends itself to a richer listening experience.

(Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.)

This was my first Richard Powers book and after seeing all the awards he has gotten previously (and assuming he would get one for this one), I wanted to jump on the bandwagon early to read it. But it took me forever to get through. I had trouble keeping up with what was happening, maybe it could have been a little more focused. Great ending though.

Richard Powers is an incrediblly talented author, so it came as no surprise when I saw that this book was longlisted for this year's Booker Prize. I immediately requested this audiobook, because I have a deep fascination (and fear) of the ocean. Powers explores the relationship and impact between technology and nature, and the balance between innovation and preservation for one French Polynesian island. These themes and nuanced, but Powers' ability to traverse the topical landscape reveals so much about his passion and dedication to the subject of environmentalism. I was also impressed with the narration here, and I thought the distinction between voices was helpful. I think all books should have full casts, but especially for stories like this where there are a lot of moving parts. I would definitely recommend this audiobook to my audience!

Excellent! As a tree hugger (and conifer society member), I loved The Overstory by Richard Powers. I was a bit reluctant to request Playground (also by Richard Powers) because I couldn't imagine liking his new release (about the ocean) nearly as much as The Overstory. Well, I was wrong ... and admit that I enjoyed Playground just as much (or more!) than Overstory.

I loved learning about the ocean and I loved the characters (and character development) in Playground. Additionally, I appreciated the midwest setting of Chicago for part of this novel.

Don't miss Playground. Longlisted for the Booker Award.

On my list of favorite books for 2024!

Many to NetGalley and Spotify Audiobooks for approving my request to listen to the advance review copy of Playground in exchange for an honest review. Approximately 13 hours.

I might be talked into bumping it to a round 3 based on the ending. Just read Trust and In Ascension instead.

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this highly anticipated audiobook from NetGalley. In this rich literary novel, multiple storylines intertwine. As each character’s arc unfolded it took a bit for me to sink into their storyline but ultimately I did get drawn in. I love the full cast of diverse narrators that bring the audiobook to life. The book did feel a bit long to me and loved slowly at times. I was excited to see this was longlisted for the Booker Prize and named a finalist for the Kirkus Prize in Fiction.

Thanks, Spotify Audiobooks, for the audiobook via NetGalley.

I’m not smart enough for this one. I thought I was staying afloat, but then another wave of time frame or POV shift would hit me, and I’d flounder. I typically enjoy stories with interweaving storylines, but I finished this audiobook and just stood there, frowning and blinking.

Let me see if I can explain it.

Todd Keane, age 54 (voiced by my beloved Ballerini), tells us about growing up and befriending Rafi at a prestigious high school in Chicago. Todd is white and wealthy, and Rafi is poor and black, yet they bond over strategic games like chess and Go while debating the value of their separate philosophical loves: computers and literature. We jump back and forth in time as he tells his life story.

Rafi’s story also jumps back and forth in a separate but overlapping storyline: he’s a teen in Illinois, and then he’s a 50-year-old father on the history-scarred island of Makatea in French Polynesia.

There’s also Evie Beaulieu, a French Canadian who tests one of the world’s first aqualungs as a child and later becomes a world-renowned diver and ocean expert (who, at age 90-something, is on the same tiny island as Rafi). Again, her timeline bounces from childhood to adulthood, detailing her experiences (including writing a book that influences Todd at the beginning of the story).

Other POVs include Rafi’s wife (an artist making a sculpture from trash) and Makatea’s mayor as residents vote on a project to build seafaring cities on their tiny, poverty-stricken island.

And that’s just the mechanics of the novel! Then, there are overarching themes of friendship, loyalty, class, climate change, AI, humanity, progress, pollution, oceanography, love, relationships, etc.

If you read it, let me know so we can discuss it. I have questions.

"Playground" by Richard Powers is a compelling exploration of childhood, imagination, and the intricate relationship between humans and nature. The narrative centers around a group of children who transform their surroundings into a vibrant playground of creativity and discovery. Through their adventures, Powers delves into themes of innocence, community, and the profound impact of the natural world on young minds.

Powers’ writing is both lyrical and evocative, capturing the wonder of childhood with vivid descriptions and a sense of nostalgia. The characters are richly developed, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences that contribute to the overall tapestry of the story. Their interactions are genuine, highlighting the importance of friendship and the shared joy of exploration.

The novel’s structure allows for a seamless blend of individual stories, showcasing how each child's journey reflects broader themes of growth and self-discovery. Powers skillfully illustrates the tension between the carefree nature of childhood and the encroaching realities of adulthood, creating a poignant narrative that resonates with readers of all ages.

One of the standout aspects of "Playground" is its emphasis on the natural environment. Powers beautifully intertwines the children’s experiences with the landscapes they inhabit, emphasizing the importance of connection to nature and its role in shaping our identities. This theme serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty and fragility of the world around us.

I felt "Playground" was a thought-provoking and heartwarming read that captures the essence of childhood and the enduring power of imagination. Richard Powers has crafted a narrative that not only entertains but also invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of play, creativity, and the bonds that shape us. Highly recommended for those who cherish stories that celebrate the joy of discovery and the wonders of the natural world.