The Unseen World

A Novel

By: Liz Moore

Narrated by: Lisa Flanagan

Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's summary

A heartbreaking and moving story about a daughter's quest to discover the truth about her father's hidden past.

Ada Sibelius is raised by David, a single father and head of a computer science lab in Boston. Homeschooled, she accompanies her loving father - brilliant, eccentric, socially inept - to work every day. By 12 she is a painfully shy prodigy.

At the same time that the lab begins to gain acclaim, David's mind begins to falter, and his mysterious past comes into question. When her father moves into a nursing home, Ada is taken in by one of David's colleagues. She embarks on a mission to uncover her father's secrets: a process that carries her from childhood to adulthood. Eventually Ada pioneers a type of software that enables her to make contact with her past and to reconcile the man she thought she knew with the truth.

Praised for her ability to create quirky and unforgettable characters, Liz Moore has written a piercing story of a daughter's quest to restore the legacy of the father she desperately loves.

©2016 Liz Moore (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"In her third novel, Moore delivers a striking examination of family, memory, and technology…Moore's exploration of David's decline is remarkable and heartbreaking, and she shifts gears deftly as the story is complicated further: when Liston tries to become Ada's legal guardian, questions about David's identity arise.... Mysteries build, and Moore's gift for storytelling excels. This is a smart, emotionally powerful literary page-turner." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Moore's third and perhaps most ambitious novel is large in scope, as it explores the philosophical issues surrounding human vs. computer consciousness, but it is also a small-scale, powerfully local story about a young girl.... Moore's vivid characters will stay with readers long after the story has ended. Highly recommended for literary fiction enthusiasts, with crossover appeal to sf fans." ( Library Journal)

"Intelligent and brilliantly absorbing.... Filled with achingly memorable scenes...and beautifully nuanced writing, Moore's latest is a stunner in its precise take on identity and the compromises even the most righteous among us must make to survive life's challenges with grace." ( Booklist)

Moore's Character Depth is Impressive

I loved Heft, Moore's second novel. In my opinion the audio production of Heft is in the top 3 audiobooks I've ever listened to. I was very excited when her new novel came out. The audio of The Unseen World is quite good compared to most but no where near Heft. Moore is amazing for her depth of character description, she is able to draw people in a way that puts the listener behind the eyes of her main subjects look no other author I have read recently. In both novels I was amazed by how she crafts her characters as though she has lived their lives. Her description of adolescent angst and fear and uncertainty is so vivid, her insight so clear, you feel the anguish physically. The premise of The Unseen World is based on computer science, which I have no interest in, and certain passages where she describes coding and technical aspects don't lend well to audio, but overall this novel is a success. I do recommended reading Heft first to experience her writing style.

Intriguing

I bought this book because of how much I enjoyed Liz Moore's book Heft.
This book is similar in that the character development is excellent. However, I didn't feel any of the emotional engagement that I expected based on my experience with Heft. Perhaps that is part of the point based on some of the relational limitations of some of the primary characters? I enjoyed the book very much and I thought it was extremely well written, but it left me feeling a little flat...
The themes and ideas around technology and relating are very intriguing and handled beautifully.
The narration is excellent.

Ending was a let down!

Maybe I am just stupid or an optimist? I didn’t see that ending coming and I didn’t like it! Sorry!

Amazing human story with a tech twist !

A very well written novel that's thought provoking and emotionally written. Well narrated a must listen.

Excellent more coming of age story than sci-fi

What did you love best about The Unseen World?

The character of Ada draws you in as you follow her journey. As her world turns on it head you feel her confusion and live through the story.

What did you like best about this story?

The underlying mystery of David.

Have you listened to any of Lisa Flanagan’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you could take any character from The Unseen World out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Ada of course.

Great Book!!

I loved listening to this story. The relatability of the book, even though it is fiction, is uncanny and extremely warming.

An amazing journey through tears and trauma.

This book connect with me on a human level that I think is rarely possible.

This book brings up all of the pain that a person can go through and the beauty of the love that can come from that pain.

This is not an easy book to listen to, as it challenges it's reader to grow as a human being. If you can get through this book though, it will feel like it changed your life for the better.

Good but not Great

Really 3.75 stars. The New York Journal of books review says it all. This doesn't always work but it's great how she keeps trying new things.

I love this book, I enjoyed the reader!

There were the parts where it would read of the exact letters or coding in the book Everytime. it becomes taxing and monotonous, otherwise I just love the story!!!

Interesting.

Ms. Moore has crafted an original and interesting story with likable and well-drawn characters. Different!