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nataliastovall's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
coleycole's review against another edition
3.0
I saw Nancy Pearl speak last year, and this was one of the books she recommended. I was expecting more, and ended up skimming the end... I liked the beginning best -- an ex-English professor has travelled in his own personal downward spiral to land in a government job in Texas. The descriptions of his office, his coworkers, his downfall, etc. are all very funny, and delivered in that pretentious English professor voice. It's super surreal, which I like, but, in the end... eh, it just didn't hold my interest.
greghxc's review against another edition
3.0
Total cubical humor with a some crazy twists. Must be willing to let go of reality. An appreciation of the academic is also handy.
mattydalrymple's review against another edition
5.0
A story that manages to be both funny and creepy, bolstered in the audiobook by a fantastic narration by Adam Grupper!
joannavaught's review against another edition
3.0
Really 3.5. While I had some trouble with a few plot elements, there was a lot to like here. Austin friends, this is a must-read: It takes places in a loosely-fictionalized Austin, and he gets it exactly right.
jessrock's review against another edition
2.0
I won this book in a contest and didn't know anything about it prior to sitting down with it. It purports to be a brilliant satire of office and academic life, but I found it wanting in both brilliance and satire. The writing style is pretentious, with flagrant use of "big words" and literary allusions that seem tacked on rather than natural, like the author is trying to say, "Look at me, I can use big words and make literary allusions that you probably won't understand, because I am smarter than you!" Furthermore, the supernatural plot (man is haunted by a ghost cat, office is haunted by unseen minions who will do all of your work for you - at a cost) is weak, unconvincing, and ultimately fails to explain itself sufficiently. This would be a fun little book if not for the heavyhanded insertion of big words and literary allusion, but those grated on me enough to take away most of the fluffy enjoyment the book otherwise might have had.
thereaderofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
stevereally's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Not sure if it was really worth it. Interesting enough to finish, but it has its share of flaws, and they're not really outweighed by some kind of greatness.