Scan barcode
lisakerd's review against another edition
4.0
Not every story was great, but BJ Novak’s writing is witty and imaginative—and it was a delight hearing (some of) The Office cast back together. This is definitely an audiobook (vs manual book) must!
aliandjupiter14's review against another edition
It started out with some good short stories but they just kept getting worse and worse and I no longer enjoyed reading it.
okevamae's review against another edition
3.0
This book could really benefit from the stories being in a different order. I did not like most of the first dozen or so stories, and the ones I did like were just barely enough to keep me interested. But then I liked one, and then another - overall, I would say I probably liked more of them than I disliked. It's just that the ones I didn't like were mostly at the front, and that very nearly made me stop reading.
It's also pretty obvious that B.J. Novak is a TV comedy writer - and I don't necessarily mean that in the best way. Many of the stories are funny, and he does some really clever things (characters described in one story appear in a later one, an unexpected angle on a familiar trope, or a metafictional twist, some that worked well and others less so). But a lot of the stories have too pat an ending, in that awkward sketch comedy way that often feels forced. Like, "I've said what I need to say, now how do I end this? Just slap something on the end." I totally acknowledge that endings are hard to get right - but you don't always have to wrap it all up neatly. In short stories, just as in comedy acts, sometimes the bit just ends - and that's OK. In some stories, BJ Novak gets that (mostly in the flash-fiction stories of a page or less.) In others, he doesn't, and it's jarring.
I liked it overall, but it could have used more polish.
It's also pretty obvious that B.J. Novak is a TV comedy writer - and I don't necessarily mean that in the best way. Many of the stories are funny, and he does some really clever things (characters described in one story appear in a later one, an unexpected angle on a familiar trope, or a metafictional twist, some that worked well and others less so). But a lot of the stories have too pat an ending, in that awkward sketch comedy way that often feels forced. Like, "I've said what I need to say, now how do I end this? Just slap something on the end." I totally acknowledge that endings are hard to get right - but you don't always have to wrap it all up neatly. In short stories, just as in comedy acts, sometimes the bit just ends - and that's OK. In some stories, BJ Novak gets that (mostly in the flash-fiction stories of a page or less.) In others, he doesn't, and it's jarring.
I liked it overall, but it could have used more polish.
kellllllllli's review against another edition
5.0
I actually laughed out loud multiple times throughout this book. I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend. BJ Novak brought the stories to life with his talent and had many fun guest stars (notably Rainn Wilson). I think the book would have still been good to read, but the narration makes it 5 stars for me.
I loved the fast paced, witty, and surprising writing of each story. Although zany and off the walls I enjoyed the existentialism and real talk under (most) of the stories.
I loved the fast paced, witty, and surprising writing of each story. Although zany and off the walls I enjoyed the existentialism and real talk under (most) of the stories.
noahpech's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Despite only rating 3 stars, I think this book is well-worth reading. On an individual level, some stories are in themselves 5 stars easily. Alternating between being funny and genuinely moving, this is a great collection by a great writer.
joey_erg's review against another edition
1.0
Opening piece was very funny, everything goes downhill from there. The right width to keep a door propped open so there's some use for this one.
chelsea2020's review against another edition
5.0
It feels like it has been a lifetime since I have read a book of short stories. The first and last time I did was the "Scary States of America" when I was young. I completely forgot what I had been missing! This was a fantastic set of unique reads!
I felt like I could truly take my time with this book; completely in control of whether or not I wished to continue on to the next mystery that the book had to offer, or catch some much needed sleep because those stories would not be progressing without me.
Very pleased with what I found inside these pages and so glad that my friend introduced me to this amazing little set of short stories.
I felt like I could truly take my time with this book; completely in control of whether or not I wished to continue on to the next mystery that the book had to offer, or catch some much needed sleep because those stories would not be progressing without me.
Very pleased with what I found inside these pages and so glad that my friend introduced me to this amazing little set of short stories.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
A very strong collection of short stories by the wonderfully talented B.J. Novak! I don't read short stories that often, but this is exactly the kind that I enjoy. They are all relatively short and they each have something unique and creative about them that makes them stand out. Some have twist endings, which I always love especially if I don't see it coming, while others are so off the wall that the whole thing is a twist. I found the quality dropped off a bit as the collection went on, but it wasn't too drastic that I would recommend stopping before the end.
One standout for me was "The Man Who Invented the Calendar" just for it's creativity. Obviously told in a modern voice, the story explains the quirks in our modern calendar in a way that I would have never come up with in a million years.
Another entertaining story was "No One Goes to Heaven to See Dan Fogelberg." We have all spent time imagining what Heaven is like, but I'd never thought about it in quite these terms. A well told story that makes you think and has some laughs as well.
I was hooked from the very first story "The Rematch." In it, the hare feels regret for botching his first race with the tortoise and learns a valuable lesson about patience and dedication. There is a ton of great irony here and the story moves along with perfect timing and nice funny moments.
Worth a read even if you aren't a fan of his work on TV, though I should add as a disclaimer that I am a fan of his from The Office and he is approximately my age and seems to share a similar sense of humor.
One standout for me was "The Man Who Invented the Calendar" just for it's creativity. Obviously told in a modern voice, the story explains the quirks in our modern calendar in a way that I would have never come up with in a million years.
Another entertaining story was "No One Goes to Heaven to See Dan Fogelberg." We have all spent time imagining what Heaven is like, but I'd never thought about it in quite these terms. A well told story that makes you think and has some laughs as well.
I was hooked from the very first story "The Rematch." In it, the hare feels regret for botching his first race with the tortoise and learns a valuable lesson about patience and dedication. There is a ton of great irony here and the story moves along with perfect timing and nice funny moments.
Worth a read even if you aren't a fan of his work on TV, though I should add as a disclaimer that I am a fan of his from The Office and he is approximately my age and seems to share a similar sense of humor.
togglesmcbobbins's review against another edition
4.0
Such a fun and easy read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover!
wintrovia's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable and quirky collection of stories. They mostly start off with a clever idea at the centre and some are developed into decent short stories and others feel a bit undercooked, like they could have gone somewhere but have been abandoned more than finished. Having said that, on the whole, I had fun reading these stories and thought there were some original and clever ideas, even if some of them felt a bit underdone.