Scan barcode
timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
Mixed feelings here. I'm OK with an asocial engineer geek getting obsessed. I'm almost OK with Greedy Corporation. But things can be taken too far, and that's my problem with this. Especially when each revision makes our hero heavier, to a point of ridiculousness.
But it was kinda fun anyway.
But it was kinda fun anyway.
kbone's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
read this for a book club & did not enjoy it. Main character very disturbed & it was unnerving to live inside his head
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, Mental illness, Blood, Gun violence, Death, Gore, Medical content, and Medical trauma
aberdeenwaters's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn't read this since college, and read it for a book club. Holds up! I think I liked it more this time, as I wasn't reading and writing things for school. It's a clever satire that has only become more potent in the 10 years it was written. May be the only time a writer has narrated simple things like, "I put my phone down." or "I reached for my phone." Subtle reminder of how attached we are to these little black mirrors.
jmoses's review against another edition
4.0
Like the other Barry novels I've read, this takes an interesting idea or behavior to its absurd end. Not that the book is absurd, or that the idea is treated that way, just....it's all taken right to the edge of "too far" then thrown off. It's excellent. Although you may hate it.
bailo2's review
3.0
The book asks some interesting questions and the main character is well developed of static. Conceptually this was unique. However, the execution in terms of the rest of the plot and other characters falls flat.
dee9401's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a big fan of Max Barry's works, with Company being one of the funniest and snarkiest books I've read. I remember when Barry started Machine Man. He wrote then published one page at a time on his website. It was an experimental approach to novel writing. I read for awhile then but got a little bored. I wanted to read more in one sitting and felt the story was too fragmented. Then he put up a pay-wall and I lost interest. Now that it was out in print, I decided to return to it. Indeed, I made it the first book I read on my new Kindle (basic edition).
The book is a fast read and has some funny lines. It's especially fun for computer people and geeks who get some of the inside jokes and moods. Unfortunately, the way the novel was originally created overshadows the story. It feels disjointed and without a even flow. It does seem as if he reedited the ending of the story, which is seamless and quick moving.
Overall, a quick read and if you've read other Barry works, you'll find some of his voice here. Though, it's more of a twitter feed than a story telling.
The book is a fast read and has some funny lines. It's especially fun for computer people and geeks who get some of the inside jokes and moods. Unfortunately, the way the novel was originally created overshadows the story. It feels disjointed and without a even flow. It does seem as if he reedited the ending of the story, which is seamless and quick moving.
Overall, a quick read and if you've read other Barry works, you'll find some of his voice here. Though, it's more of a twitter feed than a story telling.
hank's review against another edition
2.0
The main character was unlikable without anything you could come up with to mitigate his dickness. The author tried to setup the fact that he was an "engineer" and didn't deal with people well but mostly it seemed like an excuse for poor behavior. The love affair was unrealistic, the tech not explained well and the whole reason for the novel (I think), that of how many human parts do you have to have left to be human, was not well represented.
I liked Lexicon but this was a miss.
I liked Lexicon but this was a miss.
kirstenmeek's review against another edition
4.0
This is a pretty great book. Don't start it if you have to wake up early the next morning. It's one of those deliciously amazing books that you can't put down. What happens when a brilliant engineer loses a leg in an accident? He realizes the shameful lack of technology in the field of prosthesis. He also realizes that the human body could be improved with a little bit of efficient engineering. I didn't love the ending, but overall I really enjoyed the book.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
I think I may be a sucker for books that say to me "This is not going to end well". It helps if the story is fast-paced. Combine the two and it's like crack on paper. This book was crack on paper. Max Barry writes good books. He should write more of these good books.
I also laughed a few times and it's uncommon for a book to make me laugh. I suppose I saw tiny bits of myself in the protagonist - or maybe I just know people like him.
I also laughed a few times and it's uncommon for a book to make me laugh. I suppose I saw tiny bits of myself in the protagonist - or maybe I just know people like him.