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Crosstalk

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'Crosstalk' by Connie Willis is a fun, fast-paced romantic comedy exploring the concept of telepathy and over-communication in a modern technological world. The plot follows the protagonist, Briddey Flannigan, as she undergoes elective surgery to enhance her emotional connection with her boyfriend, only to discover unexpected consequences when she starts hearing voices in her head. The writing style is described as humorous, engaging, and full of well-developed characters, blending elements of science fiction, romance, and social satire.

Characters:

The characters are a mix of relatable and exaggerated personalities, with Briddey as an often-frustrated protagonist and Trent as a problematic romantic figure.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is characterized by a frenetic pace, witty dialogue, and a satirical tone that captures the chaos of modern communication.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around Briddey Flannigan's ill-fated decision to undergo a procedure that pairs emotional connectivity with a romantic partner, leading to unexpected telepathic connections and numerous complications.

Setting:

The setting is a contemporary urban environment facing the challenges of technology and communication overload.

Pacing:

The pacing is fast and chaotic, designed to immerse readers in the high-pressure world of the characters while balancing humor and tension.
By the time Briddey pulled into the parking garage at Commspan, there were forty-two text messages on her phone. The first one was from Suki Parker—of course—and the next four were from Jill Quincy, a...

Notes:

Crosstalk is about a procedure called EED that allows couples to feel each other's emotions.
The protagonist, Briddey Flanagan, works at a smartphone company rivaling Apple.
Briddey agrees to the procedure because she thinks it will enhance her relationship with her boyfriend, Trent.
After the surgery, Briddey finds that she is telepathically connected to her coworker CB Schwartz, not Trent.
The book satirizes modern communication and the pressure of being constantly connected through technology.
Briddey's family is portrayed as hilariously intrusive, representing a common trope in romantic comedies.
The novel mixes elements of science fiction, romance, and social commentary, making it a unique read.
Briddey's experiences after the surgery lead to comedic misunderstandings and chaos in her life.
Connie Willis is known for her fast-paced and witty writing style, showcasing clever dialogue throughout the book.
The book has received mixed reviews, with some readers loving the humor and others finding the protagonist annoying.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The book includes themes of anxiety, the pressure of social communication, and dysfunctional family interactions.

Has Romance?

The romantic aspect is a significant focus of the novel, centered around Briddey, her boyfriend Trent, and her connection to CB.

From The Publisher:

Science fiction icon Connie Willis brilliantly mixes a speculative plot, the wit of Nora Ephron, and the comedic flair of P. G. Wodehouse in Crosstalk-a genre-bending novel that pushes social media, smartphone technology, and twenty-four-hour availability to hilarious and chilling extremes as one young woman abruptly finds herself with way more connectivity than she ever desired.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR

In the not-too-distant future, a simple outpatient procedure to increase empathy between romantic partners has become all the rage. And Briddey Flannigan is delighted when her boyfriend, Trent, suggests undergoing the operation prior to a marriage proposal-to enjoy better emotional connection and a perfect relationship with complete communication and understanding. But things don't quite work out as planned, and Briddey finds herself connected to someone else entirely-in a way far beyond what she signed up for.

It is almost more than she can handle-especially when the stress of managing her all-too-eager-to-communicate-at-all-times family is already burdening her brain. But that's only the beginning. As things go from bad to worse, she begins to see the dark side of too much information, and to realize that love-and communication-are far more complicated than she ever imagined.

Praise for Crosstalk

"A rollicking send-up of obsessive cell phone usage in too-near-future America . . . [Connie] Willis's canny incorporation of scientific lore, and a riotous cast . . . make for an engaging girl-finally-finds-right-boy story that's unveiled with tact and humor. Willis juxtaposes glimpses of claimed historical telepaths with important reflections about the ubiquity of cell phones and the menace that unscrupulous developers of technology pose to privacy, morality, and emotional stability."-Publishers Weekly

"An exhilarating and laugh-inducing read . . . one of those rare books that will keep you up all night long because you can't bear to put it down."-Portland Book Review

"A fun technological fairy tale."-BookPage

"One of the funniest SF novels in years."-Locus

Ratings (8)

Loved It (4)
Liked It (2)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (24):

Read It (8)
Want To Read (11)
Not Interested (5)

3 comment(s)

Liked It
1 month

Annoying in all the typical Connie Willis ways. A sweet ending got me to upgrade from 2 stars to 3.

 
It Was OK
2 months

this is a good connie willis book

it's just not as great as her last two

i have loved connie willis since

to say nothing of the dog

her wit, her banter, her characters who are constantly thinking thinking thinking

the timelines that make me imagine her office as crisscrossed with yarn and postits and pushpins, like some kind of cop solving a cold case

i loved this book too

it just wasn't up to my standards for her, which sounds like a me problem and not a her problem

briddey just wasn't that...smart

or invested in the relationship that launched the plot

i'm not good at solving mysteries when i'm sunk into a book

but i solved this one pretty quickly, and i was a little disappointed that briddey was so slow on the uptake

still loved it for the characters who are so passionate and smart and funny and quirky

didn't love.....something......the connie willis magic was missing.

 
Loved It
3 months

Sci-fi fiction with a tinge of romance is Crosstalk.

Briddey and Trent are the most powerful couple of Commspan( a telephone company, rval to Apple), and for a better emotional communication undergo a brain surgery called EED. And this surgery leads Briddey to open up towards a whole new aspect of science -Telepathy and its Unintended consequences.

She finds out that there are other telepathic people and finds herself in a roller coaster of voices.

On the other hand C.B , a geeky techie (another telepath) at Commspan communicates with Briddey to help her out to control these voices.

SO this fantastic novel is lovely to read, even though its Sci-fi, the science in it is purely relaxing. Connie Willis has put forward a different kind of book (at least for me) in this genre which is light and entertaining.

The part which stopped me form giving 5 stars is, that I found the conversations a bit too long and unnecessary.

To sum it up, I have liked the book which entertained me a lot.

ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making this available!

 

About the Author:

Connie Willis is a member of the Science Fiction Hall of Fame and a Grand Master of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. She has received seven Nebula awards and eleven Hugo awards for her fiction; Blackout and…

 
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