Book Review: The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

My rating: 3/5 stars

I raced through this dystopian novel, mostly because it was such an uncomfortable read, and I kept hoping it would get better in the next bit (spoiler: it didn't). This was very well written, and Lalami is as clever as she is talented. She clearly intends to infuriate and disturb the reader. Told mostly from the perspective of Sara Hussein, an apparantly innocent woman who is detained at the airport for a crime she might commit in the future, as picked up by the government's crime prevention algorithm. It transpires that all the women held in the 'not a prison' are held there because of their dreams. It's a fascinating and concerning look at what we'll risk if we don't think through what we're agreeing to when we sign Ts&Cs, of what can happen if technology for the 'greater good' is given too much powe. It's chilling, and makes me want to throw my smartphone and fitness tracker out of the window! Yet, I feel I can't rate this higher than three stars because I was constantly riled up and uncomfortable. Not an enjoyable read, and also I felt it lacked a little plotting and pacing finesse. Still well worth a read, though.

For more tiny book reviews, visit my blog.

If you’d like to support me by buying me a ‘coffee’, click here.