Book Review: The Infinite Sadness of Small Appliances by Glenn Dixon
A young sentient Roomba names herself Scout and helps a family after the loss of their matriarch.
In a smart-centric future where everything in life is run through the Grid, all appliances, big and small, are programmed to help the humans that live in their home. When an elderly Edie passes away, leaving Harold by himself in a large home, the appliances try everything they can to help as he navigates his grief. Some of their approaches are a bit unorthodox, like signaling a neighbor kid to come play the dormant piano in the living room, or scheming to message his estranged daughter, Kate, to come home and help pack Edie's things away. But what happens when one family's individual wishes run contrary to the good of the neighborhood overall, like repurposing the house to accommodate a different family that needs the space? Will the appliances help their humans, or will the Grid overpower their wishes?
This cozy book has all the feelings of a Miyazaki film, but with a notable balance of nods to nature and technology. What starts as cute robots helping an old man grieve and reconnect with his humanity ends in an anti-AI adventure with larger societal ramifications. It is a very fun take on a dystopian novel with plenty of family reconnection along the way. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone you know who wants to explore cozy books that are lightly science fiction.
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