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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
This book read a lot like a transcript of a semesters-worth of lecture on the topic. However, it was tremendously interesting. Some parts were a bit too obvious to warrant the attention but overall, I thought the organization of ideas by the author was extremely interesting and insightful. Even her brief mention of different fields of study that relate to internet language and it's impacts was enough to really excited my brain for more information. One part that I really appreciated was the authors work to categorize humanity by their exposure and experience with internet (which obviously closely correlated to year of birth) in order to form the discussions around certain group's (i.e. generation's) relationships with certain fascets of internet language evolution.
With all that said, enough of this book was too obvious or a bit too deviant to make me want to read again. I'm not sure there's enough insight here make me think I need to read or study it again. But it was a wonderful ideological experience while it lasted for anyone with an interest in language or linguistics.
With all that said, enough of this book was too obvious or a bit too deviant to make me want to read again. I'm not sure there's enough insight here make me think I need to read or study it again. But it was a wonderful ideological experience while it lasted for anyone with an interest in language or linguistics.
funny
informative
medium-paced
I picked this up thinking it would be a light yet informative take on internet. While technically it did deliver on the informative side, I found it a little more academic than I was expecting. I think this would have been a better read rather than a listen (I listened to the audiobook) mainly because the author had to phonetically sound out things from the internet that are not usually spoken outloud (or sounded very silly. And very Canadian.)
Not to mention...minor observation, somewhat neutral here. But she speaks very fast. I typically listen to audiobooks at 1.25x to, well, get through the books 25% quicker, but she spoke so fast that I had to listen to it on normal speed, and it still sounded like she was rushing. You could tell when she took breaks with a new chapter and had slowed down (through coaching or self awareness?). If anything, this wasn't too annoying to me, but rather, it was entertaining. However...usually the best audiobook actors/narrators are the ones that blend into the background, or at least enhance the book rather than distract.
Not to mention...minor observation, somewhat neutral here. But she speaks very fast. I typically listen to audiobooks at 1.25x to, well, get through the books 25% quicker, but she spoke so fast that I had to listen to it on normal speed, and it still sounded like she was rushing. You could tell when she took breaks with a new chapter and had slowed down (through coaching or self awareness?). If anything, this wasn't too annoying to me, but rather, it was entertaining. However...usually the best audiobook actors/narrators are the ones that blend into the background, or at least enhance the book rather than distract.
informative
medium-paced
First heard about this book from an episode of the Ezra Klein show, but it wasn't quite the book I expected going in - I thought it'd be more educational and that I'd learn more about how internet slang and memes and such developed, but it was more nostalgic and entertaining than anything else. Like, it did a great job at putting into words things that an internet user already innately knows, but not so much at providing new information. For example, being a Full Internet Person, I already know the "anatomy" of a keysmash - usually starts with "a" or "asdf", made up of the middle row of keys on a keyboard, doesn't usually have the same letter repeated, if it doesn't look genuine enough then people will often delete and do it again (that made me laugh, so real) - but I didn't necessarily want to read about it. And the book is filled with instances like this. It was entertaining as a recap of things I totally do on the internet, but not as informative as hoped.
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
I loved this book.
Loved.
Reading is one of the greatest pleasures of my life, and I love the way words play together. I also live most of my social life online or via text, and have for decades. This book charts the complexities of English and the changes that have occurred within my lifetime.
I’m an Old Internet Person, and that suits me just fine.
I will say that the author did a fantastic job with the audiobook. It was funny and relatable, and I was able to visualize all of the emojis and memes she referenced. If you do not live your life online I highly recommend that you read this in print so you can see the visual cues.
Loved.
Reading is one of the greatest pleasures of my life, and I love the way words play together. I also live most of my social life online or via text, and have for decades. This book charts the complexities of English and the changes that have occurred within my lifetime.
I’m an Old Internet Person, and that suits me just fine.
I will say that the author did a fantastic job with the audiobook. It was funny and relatable, and I was able to visualize all of the emojis and memes she referenced. If you do not live your life online I highly recommend that you read this in print so you can see the visual cues.
Skimmed until about 50% then ultimately DNF. The discussion around emoji was interesting. On the whole, the book was far more detailed, technical, and linguistic than cultural and lightweight (and fun?) like I was expecting. No doubt interesting for the right reader (or the right time).
Absolutely enjoyed reading this book. After reading the description I was intrigued, but I didn't know how interested I really was in this topic. This book was written in such an entertaining way that I wanted to keep reading and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book was interesting! I learned stuff.