I've taken to blindly beginning books without reading their synopsis. Correction: I read it initially when I decide to add it to my To-Read list, but I refuse to reread it before setting in, by which time I can't remember a word of the back cover copy. This unnerves quite a few people I've talked to, as I'm unable to tell them what any of the books are about when I pick them up from the library! 

I don't feel like this practice served me well while reading this book however. Not to say that I wouldn't have read it otherwise! Just that I had, for some reason, very specific expectations for this book that were not fulfilled. Maybe it's because the cover reminds me of Never Let Me Go? I don't know. But it is a great read and one I would readily recommend to anyone, which I can't say about very many books these days.

The Unseen World is about a girl named Ada and her genius father who is working on the very beginnings of the AI movement in the 80's. Their main project is called ELIXIR. Slowly, Ada begins to notice that her father isn't as sharp as he used to be. As he falls into the grip of early onset Alzheimer's, she learns that her father is not all he appears to be; Ada's forced to figure out for herself who he really is, or have her world fall apart.

Breaking codes, unraveling a secret past, AI and virtual reality - all the makings of a great book! And for all intents and purposes it was. The story kept me involved, I was thinking of it even when I didn't have the book in my hands. I wanted to know the secrets, I wanted to figure it out for myself. However, I did feel, even with all those elements, that there was a bit of a spark missing, like something fell flatter than maybe I'd have liked. The book felt like a mystery/thriller kind of scenario, but it wasn't quite. It felt like a bit of science fiction, but it wasn't that either. It was this weird middle genre where it didn't fit anywhere except general fiction and I wish it had leaned just a little in one direction or another. It wasn't until the last couple chapters that I found some more SF and it was a lovely note to end on.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, definitely not trying to discourage anyone from reading. The story of Ada and her father, their relationship and her losing him as he loses his mind is heartfelt and honest. On top of that, her father's secrets add an element of suspense that carries you through to the end. 

p.s. There were 3 or 4 f-bombs, but other than that, the language is very mild. Nothing inappropriate - there is one scene where a teenage boy gets a little handsy while making out but it isn't described really in detail at all, very glossed over.