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sarahlreadseverything's review against another edition
3.0
*Disclaimer: I recieved a copy of this book thanks to Bloomsbury and the Goodreads First Reads Program. All opinions are my own*
Terms & Conditions is the story of Frank, a terms & conditions (i.e: the small print) lawyer, who is struggling to remember who he is after a devastating car accident. The problem is, the more he remembers the less he wants to. Turns out, his life pre-amnesia wasn't that pretty and the circumstances of his accident aren't as simplistic as he has been lead to believe.
On the whole, I enjoyed Terms & Conditions. I'm a sucker for footnotes and the story has them in abundance. It's a good thing really, as they add a lighter note to a tale that verges into the depressing. Frank's life is not a simple or a happy one. He is certainly the most three-dimensional character in the story, in more ways than one. We get to see three sides of Frank: pre-accident, no-memory post-accident and memory-returned post-accident. Each comes across almost as a different character, in the best possible way. It's great character development and I really enjoyed Frank's slow realisation as to what had been happening and what he's going to do about it.
Unfortunately, the supporting characters aren't anywhere near as good, which is where the story fell down a little for me. Frank's wife Alice and brother/boss Oscar were both a little two-dimensional and especially towards the end, lacked a little humanity and strength of character. Frank's other brother Malcolm is obviously intended as more of a symbol of an alternative life path than a character, but becomes simply a catchphrase. Doug, Frank's colleague and confident, comes across as to wishy-washy to be real. And Frank's eventual love interest just develops to late to be meaningful.
That being said, I loved the narrative style - short chapters set out as 'Terms & Conditions' of life, with the interweaving of Franks three pre/post-accident perspectives. The flashbacks to Frank's childhood were well-done and at many points, far more intriguing than the depressing hole of Franks adult life.
Overall? A solid debut. I doubt it will be in my top ten of 2014, but there are certainly parts of it I'll remember.
Terms & Conditions is the story of Frank, a terms & conditions (i.e: the small print) lawyer, who is struggling to remember who he is after a devastating car accident. The problem is, the more he remembers the less he wants to. Turns out, his life pre-amnesia wasn't that pretty and the circumstances of his accident aren't as simplistic as he has been lead to believe.
On the whole, I enjoyed Terms & Conditions. I'm a sucker for footnotes and the story has them in abundance. It's a good thing really, as they add a lighter note to a tale that verges into the depressing. Frank's life is not a simple or a happy one. He is certainly the most three-dimensional character in the story, in more ways than one. We get to see three sides of Frank: pre-accident, no-memory post-accident and memory-returned post-accident. Each comes across almost as a different character, in the best possible way. It's great character development and I really enjoyed Frank's slow realisation as to what had been happening and what he's going to do about it.
Unfortunately, the supporting characters aren't anywhere near as good, which is where the story fell down a little for me. Frank's wife Alice and brother/boss Oscar were both a little two-dimensional and especially towards the end, lacked a little humanity and strength of character. Frank's other brother Malcolm is obviously intended as more of a symbol of an alternative life path than a character, but becomes simply a catchphrase. Doug, Frank's colleague and confident, comes across as to wishy-washy to be real. And Frank's eventual love interest just develops to late to be meaningful.
That being said, I loved the narrative style - short chapters set out as 'Terms & Conditions' of life, with the interweaving of Franks three pre/post-accident perspectives. The flashbacks to Frank's childhood were well-done and at many points, far more intriguing than the depressing hole of Franks adult life.
Overall? A solid debut. I doubt it will be in my top ten of 2014, but there are certainly parts of it I'll remember.
amotisse's review
5.0
Made me feel; frustrated, pleased, cringed, ashamed, amused, horrified, sad, mad...
All of the above because I enjoyed it!
I loved the layout, titles and footnotes, how we discovered who Frank was with him.
The insight into corporate life is scary, such a shallow world where one seems to sell their soul away daily.
This is relevant, we sign papers and agree to online contracts almost everyday.
His brother Oscar, and wife Alice really are awful. They epitomise all that is wrong with that world, only shells of themselves.
Frustrated because Frank keeps plodding along, just taking it all.
However, I enjoyed being a silent witness to his powerful departure from his empty previous life/self, to begin his simple happy ever after.
I wasn't focused on the revenge theme, more the what goes around comes around idea.
Liked the characters Doug and his rebel brother Malcom.
Appreciated some good similes and metaphors.
Definitely leads to some interesting reflection.*
*Don't forget to read the small print!
All of the above because I enjoyed it!
I loved the layout, titles and footnotes, how we discovered who Frank was with him.
The insight into corporate life is scary, such a shallow world where one seems to sell their soul away daily.
This is relevant, we sign papers and agree to online contracts almost everyday.
His brother Oscar, and wife Alice really are awful. They epitomise all that is wrong with that world, only shells of themselves.
Frustrated because Frank keeps plodding along, just taking it all.
However, I enjoyed being a silent witness to his powerful departure from his empty previous life/self, to begin his simple happy ever after.
I wasn't focused on the revenge theme, more the what goes around comes around idea.
Liked the characters Doug and his rebel brother Malcom.
Appreciated some good similes and metaphors.
Definitely leads to some interesting reflection.*
*Don't forget to read the small print!
jager123's review
3.0
The latest in my random reviews of really random books. Today is ‘Terms and Conditions’ by robert glancy.
Frank has been involved in a car accident and has lost his memory. Before the crash he was the terms and conditions guy, the lawyer who wrote the fine print none of us ever read. It’s the story of the relationship between three brothers. The story of a husband and wife. The rediscovery of who he was and becoming the man he never allowed himself to be. Told through chapters titled ‘terms and conditions of ......’, through emails and fine print.
First part is kind of slow but the pace picks up as each chapter starts. It feels right for the development of the story as the memories go from fragments to an avalanche. Terms and conditions of revenge, memorable.
This novel probably won’t change your life but it’s not a bad way to kill some time.
Frank has been involved in a car accident and has lost his memory. Before the crash he was the terms and conditions guy, the lawyer who wrote the fine print none of us ever read. It’s the story of the relationship between three brothers. The story of a husband and wife. The rediscovery of who he was and becoming the man he never allowed himself to be. Told through chapters titled ‘terms and conditions of ......’, through emails and fine print.
First part is kind of slow but the pace picks up as each chapter starts. It feels right for the development of the story as the memories go from fragments to an avalanche. Terms and conditions of revenge, memorable.
This novel probably won’t change your life but it’s not a bad way to kill some time.
clare_tan_wenhui's review against another edition
4.0
You've taught me enough to know that life doesn't care, you have to make it care.
-pg 252
-pg 252
joelkarpowitz's review
4.0
Darkly funny and thought-provoking which seeks to answer the classic question: if you could look at your life with objective eyes, would you want to keep living it?* I feel like this is a book that, had it had a Nick Hornby's name on it, would have been a huge hit. It deserves more readers than it got ( at least in the U.S.). Clever, entertaining, and satisfying.**
*Seriously, would you?
**Even if his use of footnotes is sometimes overdone, though it's a fun device overall.
*Seriously, would you?
**Even if his use of footnotes is sometimes overdone, though it's a fun device overall.
desterman's review
4.0
'Terms & Conditions' is about a contract lawyer, Frank Shaw, who wakes from a car crash with a bout of amnesia. We journey along with Frank as he tries to recover himself, but soon realises that he was lost to himself long before the accident.
I wasn't really looking forward to reading this novel, but a friend lent it to me and I felt obliged to at least give it a go. I'm usually not a great fan of the quirky self-reflective genre, but I enjoyed this immensely. It's dry, cutting wit had me laughing out loud many times. The form is interesting (a collection of reflective pieces, with some emails thrown in) and the footnotes are a necessary addition to the conceptual idea of the novel. Some may find the footnotes intrusive at times as they cause you to break from the bulk of the passage, but personally I didn't have a problem with them. Frank is a recognisable and easily likeable story teller and the theme of revenge-fantasy is one I'm sure a lot of people can relate to...
I wasn't really looking forward to reading this novel, but a friend lent it to me and I felt obliged to at least give it a go. I'm usually not a great fan of the quirky self-reflective genre, but I enjoyed this immensely. It's dry, cutting wit had me laughing out loud many times. The form is interesting (a collection of reflective pieces, with some emails thrown in) and the footnotes are a necessary addition to the conceptual idea of the novel. Some may find the footnotes intrusive at times as they cause you to break from the bulk of the passage, but personally I didn't have a problem with them. Frank is a recognisable and easily likeable story teller and the theme of revenge-fantasy is one I'm sure a lot of people can relate to...
cookiemonstaly's review
4.0
A delightful & satisfying read!
Despite the fact that it centres around a contract lawyer, I found the writing breezy and in no way technical at all.
In an adventure that is part self-discovery/part mystery, we follow Frank as he tries to piece together his broken memories, heal friendships and eventually, get his revenge.
There's quite a bit of swearing and one sexy bit, so definitely for mature readers only. 😂
Despite the fact that it centres around a contract lawyer, I found the writing breezy and in no way technical at all.
In an adventure that is part self-discovery/part mystery, we follow Frank as he tries to piece together his broken memories, heal friendships and eventually, get his revenge.
There's quite a bit of swearing and one sexy bit, so definitely for mature readers only. 😂
jvillanueva8's review
4.0
This was the best book I’ve read in a long time. Beautifully written, footnotes add a wonderful dimension. Nicely executed plot, and BRILLIANT time management.
albloomy's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This is quite different to a lot of books I’ve read in that it is set up with each section being a section of terms and conditions that moves the story along. It is fun and interesting with snarky footnotes that definitely spark joy. The sass and snark is a serious highlight. I’d be interested to see if there are more books in this style to come.
This is quite different to a lot of books I’ve read in that it is set up with each section being a section of terms and conditions that moves the story along. It is fun and interesting with snarky footnotes that definitely spark joy. The sass and snark is a serious highlight. I’d be interested to see if there are more books in this style to come.
brassduke's review
3.0
I was hoping that the end would involve a cleverer kind of resolution. It was a little too easy to guess.
I also found it a little unclear the order of events at times, which took me away from simply enjoying the book.
I did think it was a fairly easy read and a fairly interesting observation of modern times.
I also found it a little unclear the order of events at times, which took me away from simply enjoying the book.
I did think it was a fairly easy read and a fairly interesting observation of modern times.