Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin: a review

At no point in this review am I going to refer to certain dystopian sci-fi shows by Charlie Brooker. It would be an easy comparison, and one that’s oh so common with any media criticising the sinister aspects of technology. 

CW: nudity, paedophilia mention, sexual content, violence

            Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin is a dystopian novel following a series of people as they interact with the new global sensation, Kentukis. These little devices look like little stuffed toys of various animals, be it pandas, bunnies, moles, or even dragons. However, these little creatures can make their way around your house on their little wheels, and see and hear everything with the cameras fitted inside. They’re connected to a randomly allocated person that could be anywhere in the world. Who knows who you’re letting into your house?

            If you struggle with a large cast of characters, then this might not be the book for you. Schweblin does a really good job of making sure everything is clear, and I settled into it within a few chapters. I am someone who struggles when there are a lot of names to keep track of, but didn’t have much of an issue with this book. The large cast is in no way a negative, it’s just something to bear in mind.

            This book is terrifying in a way that sits deep in my gut. Like, I know that a lot of the tech I own is listening in. I try not to own too much smart tech. I like my stupid fridge, thank you very much. I think what unsettles me most about Kentukis most is that this isn’t some vague organisation listening and watching. There’s just a person, a regular person, able to see and hear every part of your life at home. It sets me on edge. The thing is, I know that if these things were sold in real life, they’d be flying off the shelves.

            The ‘Beijing-Lyon’ chapter broke my heart. Unlike most of the other chapters, this is more of a standalone short story. This isn’t a narrative that continues into later chapters. It’s incredible and I cried so much. It’s the sort of heartache that bleeds from the pages and makes its way to your soul. 

 

 

 

SPOILERS AHEAD. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO SEE SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK, SCROLL TO THE BEAR RIDING A JETSKI AND MY FINAL CONCLUSIONS WILL BE AFTER THAT.

Okay so, that final chapter was, and I mean this as a compliment, horrendous to read. Not only do we find out that Sven has been fully spying on Alina via the Kentuki, but she sees who has been controlling said Kentuki, and it’s so rough. She’s been exposing a child to things he never should have seen. It’s sickening, but that isn’t even everything. By Sven publicly revealing what Alina has been doing, he’s just put revenge porn out there. I’m lost for words. It was so hard to read. Throughout, I knew that this story was going to end in disaster, but I never thought it would be this bad. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was enthralled by this book every step of the way and I cannot recommend it enough. I’d have to give some time, but I can certainly see myself reading this again. I think it’s so unsettling because it’s just so believable.

 

Given that I received one of these books today, it is clear that y'all are interested in seeing my suffering in review form. So, here's the Bad Reputation Book Club wishlist:

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/33XX7MWZ3PD7A?ref_=wl_share