Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin
Jason Pargin has a way of writing characters and scenarios that make you think. I mean, realllly think.
This novel is a humorous, honest, biting critique of our current internet-dominated society. It opens the conversation about isolation and anger, miscommunication between family and strangers, what it means to be human and happy.
You're not going to like every character (or maybe you are)...but that's the point. Pushing past discomfort to analyze why you're uncomfortable, or, why something doesn't bother you.
If you want an insightful, timely, funny read, pick this Pargin novel up September 24th.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @JasonKPargin for the advance reader's edition.
#netgalley #bookreviews #booktok #fantasy #SciFi #horror #author #reviews #books #arcs #suspense #thriller #comedy #politicalhumor #fiction #advancereaderproof #fyp #foryoupage #Gothic #queerhorror #queer #lgbtqia #lgbt #ace #ImStartingToWorryAboutThisBlackBoxOfDoom #JasonPargin #DavidWong
Jason Pargin has a way of writing characters and scenarios that make you think. I mean, realllly think.
This novel is a humorous, honest, biting critique of our current internet-dominated society. It opens the conversation about isolation and anger, miscommunication between family and strangers, what it means to be human and happy.
You're not going to like every character (or maybe you are)...but that's the point. Pushing past discomfort to analyze why you're uncomfortable, or, why something doesn't bother you.
If you want an insightful, timely, funny read, pick this Pargin novel up September 24th.
Thank you to @NetGalley and @JasonKPargin for the advance reader's edition.
#netgalley #bookreviews #booktok #fantasy #SciFi #horror #author #reviews #books #arcs #suspense #thriller #comedy #politicalhumor #fiction #advancereaderproof #fyp #foryoupage #Gothic #queerhorror #queer #lgbtqia #lgbt #ace #ImStartingToWorryAboutThisBlackBoxOfDoom #JasonPargin #DavidWong
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Even though I finished reading this book a bit ago, I still think about pieces of it on an almost daily basis. It left a lasting impression and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I am probably annoying anyone I know that thinks about reading it because I want to discuss ideas from it with anyone that will humor me. This was my first Jason Pargin book and I think I will need to read more. We read this for book club and had a great discussion on it. The premise of the book is simple-a mysterious woman hires a car to drive her and a mysterious black box across the country. Abbott, a somewhat directionless young man living with his dad who makes money by streaming mostly, accepts the job and craziness ensues. This book is a scathing look at modern life and how the internet, speculation, and anxiety affect every waking second of our lives. I laughed in parts, got very sad in parts, and had tiny bits of hope in parts. The characters were well-written and believable and the plot moves very fast. There are multiple points of view but it adds to the story. This book made me worry about my own relationship with technology and social media and I am pretty sure that I am grateful for the wake up call. This is definitely one of my favorite books I've read this year so far and I highly recommend it!
This started out so strong for me. It is such a unique story and the discourse is so relevant to our times. The author was pretty clever in creating these storylines where he could seamlessy put in the thoughts of the internet generation. It lagged a bit at some point for me and I was ready for it to get to the point. I'd say that this might be better done on audio, the narrator was SO GOOD!
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
this feels like my uncle complaining to me about kids these days.
While this book is highly opinionated, the main characters are so insufferable I could barely finish the story. I struggled through the last half all for a very mediocre climax.
I don't disagree with the argument that this novel is making about social media, that it exists to profit off of argument and conflict and that it is the true "black box of doom".
However, there has got to be a better way to frame this argument than making me listen to an incel argue with a canceled makeup youtuber about whether women deserve to be blamed for men raping them. I truly could not feel sorry for Abbott for any reason after he told karen he'd rather be raped 100 times than falsely accused once.
I understand that he is a flawed person and people should have space to learn and grow from the stupid things that they say when they are young or ignorant, but he never seems to learn that the way he treats women is incredibly dehumanizing, although Karen tells him this several times. By the end of the book, it feels like the author wants us to be rooting for Abbott although he has barely learned anything over the course of the book.
I thought Karen/Ether was really well written as someone who had made mistakes and grown from them and wanted to fix the wrongs that she had done to others. If she had narrated the book it might have been a better read. However I wanted to punch Abbott in the face so bad it was kind of hard to focus on that. I don't think people should be beholden to stupid things they said years ago, but Abbott is still saying incredibly harmful things throughout the course of the book and never learns anything.
Also I think that the book really glosses over the things that the internet has done well for society. Aside from practical applications like access to maps, emergency services, telehealth, and education, there is literally a main character who makes a living as a furry porn artist- a career option not available 10 years ago, solely something that exists because of the internet. Without access to the internet, he would not be able to hold a job to his disability. There is so much access to art and music because of social media that otherwise would never have found its audience. Hell, I would never have even heard of this book or the author without the internet.
Overall I think this book makes a strong argument that is able to come through in spite of its absolutely insufferable main characters.
While this book is highly opinionated, the main characters are so insufferable I could barely finish the story. I struggled through the last half all for a very mediocre climax.
I don't disagree with the argument that this novel is making about social media, that it exists to profit off of argument and conflict and that it is the true "black box of doom".
However, there has got to be a better way to frame this argument than making me listen to an incel argue with a canceled makeup youtuber about whether women deserve to be blamed for men raping them. I truly could not feel sorry for Abbott for any reason after he told karen he'd rather be raped 100 times than falsely accused once.
I understand that he is a flawed person and people should have space to learn and grow from the stupid things that they say when they are young or ignorant, but he never seems to learn that the way he treats women is incredibly dehumanizing, although Karen tells him this several times. By the end of the book, it feels like the author wants us to be rooting for Abbott although he has barely learned anything over the course of the book.
I thought Karen/Ether was really well written as someone who had made mistakes and grown from them and wanted to fix the wrongs that she had done to others. If she had narrated the book it might have been a better read. However I wanted to punch Abbott in the face so bad it was kind of hard to focus on that. I don't think people should be beholden to stupid things they said years ago, but Abbott is still saying incredibly harmful things throughout the course of the book and never learns anything.
Also I think that the book really glosses over the things that the internet has done well for society. Aside from practical applications like access to maps, emergency services, telehealth, and education, there is literally a main character who makes a living as a furry porn artist- a career option not available 10 years ago, solely something that exists because of the internet. Without access to the internet, he would not be able to hold a job to his disability. There is so much access to art and music because of social media that otherwise would never have found its audience. Hell, I would never have even heard of this book or the author without the internet.
Overall I think this book makes a strong argument that is able to come through in spite of its absolutely insufferable main characters.
3.5 stars
This one had good and bad parts to it. It was a great concept, and parts of it were funny/quirky. My issue with it is that the book seemed longer than it needed to be - parts seemed to drag. I also feel that the social commentary took over far too much of the book. As long as that is not a running theme for this author, I’m will to try another one of his books.
This one had good and bad parts to it. It was a great concept, and parts of it were funny/quirky. My issue with it is that the book seemed longer than it needed to be - parts seemed to drag. I also feel that the social commentary took over far too much of the book. As long as that is not a running theme for this author, I’m will to try another one of his books.
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I sped this one up and skipped a bunch in the middle. Maybe not fair. I think I'm in a slump with fiction. But this was also a lot of commentary about society and the mental health crisis and social media influencers and...I'm just too old to care.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes