Both versions definitely inspire conversation about the roles technology play in our lives.
To me this novel is a cautionary tale. I still shudder when I think about it- much to my husband's amusement. I'll shudder, and he'll say with a smile, "Still thinking about that book?"
The Circle is about an idealistic young woman named Mae whose friend Annie helps her get a job at a wonderful technology company called The Circle located in California's Silicon Valley. The Circle is like Facebook + Google + other tech companies all rolled into one company.
The Ideal: one online identity means a better online experience and individual accountability.
The Con: a totalitarian regime who has access to all information and controls its use and access, and a monopoly that no one seems able to stop because the naysayers are always caught doing something illegal.
Watching the movie is creepy and thought provoking. Reading the book is very creepy and thought-provoking, and I needed to take breaks and come back to it. The book has more detail, and Mae is less like-able. She bothered me quit a bit in the book. I didn't like her or relate to her very well. In the beginning, I relate to her desire thrill over a new exciting job and to leave a job she hated. However, working at the Circle in Customer Experience using all those screens sounds absolutely awful to me. I was stressed just thinking about having to do that for endless hours each day while worrying about a rating system. The whole company has the feeling of a cult that is social acceptable in modern society by lauding individuality but giving everyone too much to do, so you can never comfortably leave campus.
Of course, my response to The Circle is influenced by my personal spiritual views. I believe in good and evil. I believe in agency. I believe that true choice leads to real growth and being watched all the time does change your behaviors- and thus limits growth- because you aren't given real choices or opportunities when you are being watched. You do what you think other people want you to do. You do what other people have taught you is wrong or right. Experience and agency allow us as individuals to learn those things for ourselves so that we aren't lost sheep.
For readers who are concerned about any sexual content: The book has a few mild sex scenes which I don't feel are needed but were used to address privacy concerns. The movie has only one mild sex scene, which it also used to help illustrate privacy concerns. None of the scenes are long or ridiculously graphic. You know what happens and the story moves on.
Overall, I think The Circle is worth a read or a watch. You have been warned . . .
