I didn’t really choose to put In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune on my TBR list for 2024. This was actually the most voted-on book for my work Book Club and that is why I used one of my Audible credits on it. I’ve never heard of this author before and I think most of my book club members hadn’t either — all I knew was it was a sci-fi/fantasy with robots. So with only that in mind, I dove right in.
Book Review: In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune
I literally just finished this book today (5/6/24) and I have my actual Book Club discussion about it on Thursday (5/9/24). I short-describe this book as Wizard of Oz meets Pinocchio but with robots and I think that should give you a good idea on the general feel of this book; it’s a sci-fi/fantasy fairytale that takes concepts we’re all familiar with in today’s age and turns them into a very cute story. For those who want the skinny, here it is:
“In a strange little home built into the branches of a grove of trees, live three robots—fatherly inventor android Giovanni Lawson, a pleasantly sadistic nurse machine, and a small vacuum desperate for love and attention. Victor Lawson, a human, lives there too. They’re a family, hidden and safe.
The day Vic salvages and repairs an unfamiliar android labelled “HAP,” he learns of a shared dark past between Hap and Gio–a past spent hunting humans.
When Hap unwittingly alerts robots from Gio’s former life to their whereabouts, the family is no longer hidden and safe. Gio is captured and taken back to his old laboratory in the City of Electric Dreams. So together, the rest of Vic’s assembled family must journey across an unforgiving and otherworldly country to rescue Gio from decommission, or worse, reprogramming.”
In the Lives of Puppets. TJ Klune. https://www.tjklunebooks.com/in-the-lives-of-puppets.
The highlight of the book for sure are the characters. The main cast is very loveable and are truly what makes this book — it’s all about the dynamic between them and how the Main Four embark on this journey together. And I think they’re all strong and contribute their own parts to the overarching story. I simply adore Rambo and I want one; I want an adorable and happy little vacuum that loves his friendships and is so excited all the time and doesn’t know the meaning of the word stealth. As a fan of the One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest film, I deeply appreciate the reference (purposeful or not) to Nurse Ratched in a sarcastic, sardonic medical robot.
The collaboration between Rambo, Nurse Ratched, H.A.P., and our human character, Victor, presents multiple opportunities for comedy and misadventure. This whole book is very much like an episodic saga and a refreshing turn of fiction for me; as someone knee-deep in thrillers I want to read, this romantic sci-fi fairytale is different but appreciated. In the Lives of Puppets has very lovely takes on major concepts: existence, life, death, free will, independent thought, and what it means to be human. The main focus is on a retelling of Pinocchio, but the entire story can also be read as a warning — especially with regards to the rise in A.I. and other advanced technology.
With every fairytale comes the moral at the end, right? While this novel brings up a lot of interesting concepts and is a very well-told story, I think one of the main concepts comes at the end: forgiveness. Forgiveness when faced with the demise of humanity and the people closest to you who contributed to said demise; this is what’s really brought up at the end, as well as bringing a beloved friend and lover back to life. It’s a very cute story and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it. The audiobook narrator is what truly made it for me, with excellent voices performed for each character.
Pick this one up if you are looking for a funny little adventure, a sci-fi take on a classic, and memorable characters you can really get attached to.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
