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mrswhite's review against another edition
4.0
Last week I found myself in a bit of a pickle. I was supposed to have spent my summer tracking down supplementary readings for a unit on media manipulation, but as of two days before my due date I hadn't found one single thing. Honestly, I hadn't even bothered to try. In short, I was screwed. Fortunately, a friend came to my rescue by suggesting In Persuasion Nation, a collection of short stories by George Saunders, and it proved perfect for my needs. (And thank God I can read a book in a day. Way to cut things close, me.) I wasn't planning on reviewing this book since I read it for work, however I really enjoyed it, and so what the heck - we're mixing work with pleasure over here today.
The cover of In Persuasion Nation depicts a man leaning over to sniff the solitary flower standing in the center of a wasteland - an appropriate image for a collection of stories whose protagonists are often searching for something real, pure and true in a plastic world that values consumerism over humanity. Often humorous, rather quirky and usually disturbing, Saunders' stories serve as a sort of protest of our corporate culture, warning what we very well may one day become if we choose to continue on our current path. The heroes in these stories are the misfits of this modern world. There's Brad, whose life is a sitcom which he is in danger of being written off of once he finds he can no longer continue smiling along with the laugh track, ignoring the world's ills. In the title story, an army of frustrated characters from smug television commercials rise up and refuse to continue being humiliated while hawking Ding-Dongs, Mac and Cheese and Doritos. And, in what I thought was the best story of the lot, there's Jon, an orphan who's spent nearly his entire life as a member of a product focus group, knowing no other way of communicating his feelings but through advertisements.
While some of these stories succeed better than others, the overall collection proves timely, affecting, inventive and highly entertaining. Like the best satirists, Saunders is thought-provoking, but with heart. Fans of Vonnegut and Pynchon should approve.
The cover of In Persuasion Nation depicts a man leaning over to sniff the solitary flower standing in the center of a wasteland - an appropriate image for a collection of stories whose protagonists are often searching for something real, pure and true in a plastic world that values consumerism over humanity. Often humorous, rather quirky and usually disturbing, Saunders' stories serve as a sort of protest of our corporate culture, warning what we very well may one day become if we choose to continue on our current path. The heroes in these stories are the misfits of this modern world. There's Brad, whose life is a sitcom which he is in danger of being written off of once he finds he can no longer continue smiling along with the laugh track, ignoring the world's ills. In the title story, an army of frustrated characters from smug television commercials rise up and refuse to continue being humiliated while hawking Ding-Dongs, Mac and Cheese and Doritos. And, in what I thought was the best story of the lot, there's Jon, an orphan who's spent nearly his entire life as a member of a product focus group, knowing no other way of communicating his feelings but through advertisements.
While some of these stories succeed better than others, the overall collection proves timely, affecting, inventive and highly entertaining. Like the best satirists, Saunders is thought-provoking, but with heart. Fans of Vonnegut and Pynchon should approve.
ecstasia's review against another edition
3.0
Satirical style that i liked, even though there are many American references that i couldn't pick up
thatotherlisa's review against another edition
3.0
a little uneven. mostly searing critiques of contemporary american culture, but, you know, funny. stories range in genre from sci-fi to realistic to fantasy (not of the elves and hobbits variety, think more talking candy bars attacking talking oranges) to... i don't even know where to begin some of the others. a quick read and worth the time.
jacobwayne's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
stevenyenzer's review against another edition
3.0
My first new Saunders in awhile. I wasn't blown away, to be honest -- the shared style grated on me a bit toward the end. But there is some wonderful stuff in here.
readmetwotimes's review against another edition
4.0
Che viaggio. Una serie di racconti nonsense, allegorici, completamente folli. E pazzescamente divertenti.
È stato un bellissimo trip leggere questo libro, mi sento di consigliarlo a tutti!!
È stato un bellissimo trip leggere questo libro, mi sento di consigliarlo a tutti!!
ksoltys's review against another edition
1.0
Such a disappointment compared to his Tenth of December. I found most of these stories pointless and tedious, except for the final two, which were absolutely brilliant and very reminiscent of ToD.
oliverjnolan's review against another edition
4.0
More abrasive than Tenth of December and less consistent, though the highpoints (Jon, The Red Bow, Bohemians, CommComm) are up there with anything in that collection. A pleasure to spend time in Saunders' dystopian world once more.
rocketiza's review against another edition
5.0
This is far and away my favorite George Saunders collection. His themes are closer the surface in these stories than in his other work, speaking to love, individuality and our consumer culture in a thoughtful way that stays with you long after reading.