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anabar's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
reflectiverambling_nalana's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Placeholder review as this is owed more time or energy than I have in my tanks right now. But at its core, what starts out as whimsical quirky commentary on our current age and our relation to media and online social connection clients takes a heart wrenching, gut punching, unforgettable hard turn that you won't soon forget.
spatterson12's review
2.0
Falling somewhere between a 2.5 and 2.75, but can’t give it a three. The book is split in two parts, the second being heavier as the narrator is processing the unexpected uncertainty a young family member is experiencing.
What I did like about this book: the structure. It was written in short paragraphs with clear breaks between thoughts. It’s almost like you’re scrolling through social media, absorbing content from one author and trying to understand why that subject is important, then the next paragraph is focused on different content.
What I didn’t like about the book: Though, I liked the different writing style, it also felt like at times that these were scrap ideas for outlining episodes of Black Mirror or something along those lines. Trying to analyze and process why internet culture finds things funny or “funny.” It also felt disjointed.
Interesting takeaways: I thought the connection to the cyclical nature of folk music getting popular, to people then connecting with their ancestral history, then wanting to make personal improvements an interesting take. I also found it kind of funny to remember that it was national news that we had a president stare into the eclipse.
Overall, it wasn’t for me. There were some nuggets I found fascinating, but as a whole it was OK.
What I did like about this book: the structure. It was written in short paragraphs with clear breaks between thoughts. It’s almost like you’re scrolling through social media, absorbing content from one author and trying to understand why that subject is important, then the next paragraph is focused on different content.
What I didn’t like about the book: Though, I liked the different writing style, it also felt like at times that these were scrap ideas for outlining episodes of Black Mirror or something along those lines. Trying to analyze and process why internet culture finds things funny or “funny.” It also felt disjointed.
Interesting takeaways: I thought the connection to the cyclical nature of folk music getting popular, to people then connecting with their ancestral history, then wanting to make personal improvements an interesting take. I also found it kind of funny to remember that it was national news that we had a president stare into the eclipse.
Overall, it wasn’t for me. There were some nuggets I found fascinating, but as a whole it was OK.
glamorous_ghost's review
5.0
At first this book made me sad because I miss twitter, then it made me sad because of the story. Very good book
goooooby's review
challenging
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.25
rebeccabeckybexs's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I did not like the first half of this book at all but was really compelled by the second half. I see what the author was trying to do but I don't think she really hit the mark.
maisonmarsiela's review
4.0
smart, funny, and moving - i appreciated the discussions surrounding injustice, performative activism, the impact of social media, and What Really Matters. there were passages i didn’t connect with, but so many more that really resonated with me and made me think
azimhol's review
I was prepared for Lockwood’s sharp, funny observations about life online and the anxiety and doom of 2016 in the US (and on a burning planet more broadly). She delivered on that.
What I wasn’t prepared for was Part 2 of this novel. The specificity of the jarring limbo a serious health issue thrusts a family into. The hopelessness, the guilt, the strange moments of comic relief that somehow find a way, the transformation of the once familiar “life before” into an unrecognizable thing. And the dogs who always know.
What I wasn’t prepared for was Part 2 of this novel. The specificity of the jarring limbo a serious health issue thrusts a family into. The hopelessness, the guilt, the strange moments of comic relief that somehow find a way, the transformation of the once familiar “life before” into an unrecognizable thing. And the dogs who always know.
colin_h_atx's review
5.0
This was my favorite book of the last year. Lockwood really nails the fragmented internet speak and the effect is has on our entire thought process.