This year has…been interesting. Kind of overwhelmed my life and made me question a lot of things I had thought were certain.
So, in the interest of promoting something inspiring as a counter to this year, I present my review of The Silver Metal Lover by Tanith Lee.
A lonely rich girl falls in love with an android. Overcoming her overbearing, far-too-logical mother, she escapes with the android into the slums where she finds love and herself.
I don’t know where to start with this story. It would be very easy for me to hate Jane, if she wasn’t so lost in the beliefs that have surrounded her since birth. Tanith Lee did a very good job making it clear that the only reason Jane acts like she does is because she doesn’t know any other way.
All that changes, of course, when she meets Silver, a prototype android out selling himself and others like him to the tune of his lute and for the sake of his corporation. Jane sees him, falls for him, and spends a reasonable amount of time wondering if there’s something wrong with her for being so attracted to an android. Not that Silver has any idea. Jane makes a point of doing her best to be Not Attracted At All and that shows the first bit of spunk from quiet Jane. She then begins to obsess on how she can get Silver just for a night.
Which, of course, changes her whole life.
Jane turns out to be a great heroine. Trapped by convention and her mother’s theories, she learns to find herself through Silver’s eyes. And love herself and others more deeply.
In fact, this book is romance at its finest in its exploration of the nature of true love and its effect on others.
Silver, of course, is part of that. Perfect in every way, Jane’s love begins to effect him as well, leading to some surprising, yet satisfying, plot twists.
I felt transformed after reading this book. I certainly felt more aware of, and grateful for, those around me.
Surprisingly, the second biggest thing I got out of this book was to start growing, building, and creating where you are with what you’ve got. Don’t wait for something better or for some dream to magically come alive without any action on your part.
Act now, with wisdom and joy and gratitude.
May you have a very Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year.
Z. A. Waterstone 