Monk and Robot, Book Review

I hated this book but it shook me, so it can’t be bad. Can it?

In a future so good that everyone is mostly satisfied, and so bad that it’s post-apocalyptic, a monk goes to the forest in a search for crickets. Finds an intelligent robot with a child-like curiosity. What happens next is a journey with no trouble, where both parties share their beliefs and try to uncover their purpose.

I can’t compare this work of art to anything else from my reading list. It’s more childish than Barbapapa or Paw Patrol. At the same time, it touches deep human needs, like Winnie-the-Pooh. The world is simpler than a cartoon, and the characters are stripped to their essence. Some scenes are romantic so in a sense, it’s not a fairytale and not appropriate for children. What is it then? Comfort Sci-Fi?

Objectively, this book is likely a 5 because the simplified and thought-provoking world is no coincidence. It was built the way Brandon Sanderson builds his magic systems. But I didn’t like how sterile everything is. There’s no jealousy, disease, or consequences for people’s actions.

So, comfort, innovation, philosophy, sci-fi-ness, and stickiness to my brain – 5/5. Print quality – 5+/5. But I gave it 4/5 on Goodreads because it didn’t make me feel good. There were no recognizable humans in there. I felt like each character can be a Paw Patrol puppy.