Sean Michaels (1)

Do You Remember Being Born is about 75 year old poet Marian Ffarmer getting invited to spend a week in Silicon Valley to write a poem with an AI named Charlotte. But this book is so much more than that. It's a beautiful story of what it means to grow old and be human.

The writing in this book was absolutely stunning. It's essentially a poem in itself. I loved all of the characters, and I loved how real they all felt. I also liked how the book would switch from present day Marion Ffarmer in show more first person POV, to her reflecting on her life in second person POV (I always love a story that uses second person POV since it's not used too often).

The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the pacing; I found that it moved fairly slow, and I probably would've liked it better if it was just a teensy bit shorter.

Overall, this was a very pretty story, and I highly recommend reading this once it comes out on September 05.

A big thank you to Netgalley and Pengiun Random House Publishing for the gifted copy. show less

I do not have much musical talent but the concept of an electronic musical instrument (the theremin) that can be played/controlled without ever coming into physical contact with the instrument, fascinates me and appeals to my science geeky side. The fact that the instrument was developed by Russian scientist/inventor, Lev Sergeyvich Termen, back in the early 1920’s (it was patented in 1928), just added to my intrigue to read Michaels debut novel. Us Conductors is very much a historical show more fiction novel. While Michaels takes some basic events from Termen’s life, this story – in particular, the kung fu training, the espionage and his one-side romance for a young violinist, Clara, he meets in New York – are best to be viewed as fictions of Michaels imagination. Even so, Michaels vividly brings to life the Jazz age of New York City, filled with dance halls, speakeasies and a swirling of famous celebrities. The story is not all glitz, glamor and hob-nobbling with the famous. Michaels Termen is an ambivalent spy for his homeland while in America and it is only when he returns to a very changed Russia that he starts to realize how precarious his situation really is.

As with any historical fiction, the author has taken liberties to write, what for me, is a wonderful blended story – part music, part romance, part espionage, part science – narrated by a character who tries to comes to terms with the strange shifts his life has taken: from celebrated scientist/inventor under Lenin to being labelled an enemy of Communism under Stalin, all while trying to be seen by his Russian leaders as being a good Russian patriot. show less

Loved this. Low-key, lyrical, with a gentle touch even when it's brutal. As is appropriate to the inventor of the theremin—and to an unintentional, unresisting cog in the Soviet machinery—there's a slightly otherworldly tinge to the narrator, Lev Termin, even (especially) at his most passionate. Michaels gets the bemused scientist voice just right, and this was just lovely throughout.

[3.75] Talk about a book that showcases a timely topic. The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and its sweeping implications is one of the most debated issues among my college communications students. Sean Michaels has written a fascinating book that explores the essence of creativity and what it means to be human. It’s a thought-provoking tale of an aging poet who is enticed by Big Tech to spend a week collaborating on a poem with an AI creation named Charlotte. Don’t expect show more any insights into the economic or legal implications of AI. Instead, the novel focuses all of its literary prowess creating a vivid character study of a complicated artist. The author employs inventive techniques that pay off in the end. The frequent flashbacks that shed light on the main character’s life can disrupt cohesion, and I found my interest waning in a few spots. Still, the flashbacks are essential ingredients in an otherwise engaging character portrait. show less