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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
dark
funny
fast-paced
Disclaimer: I'm a huge Barry fan. This novel is extremely well-done, hilarious, disturbing and all too relevant in the current dystopia we're living in the Cheeto's America. "In the near future," the main characters have surnames provided by the companies that employ them -- and own them, through punitive contracts and the kind of non-disclosure agreements the current president employs to keep his misdeeds hidden. Every bit of life is mediated by a savage "capitalizm" that requires crime victims to pay the security forces if they want justice done. The world is not run by autocracies like Atwood's Gilead or a Max Maxian strong man, but by the dueling credit card rewards programs that can bring even non-consumer oriented corporations like Boeing to its knees. A great read.
3.5 stars rounded up
Very interesting...I'm not convinced that corporations don't already participate in some of the 'situations' that were presented in the book. I wouldn't put it past them. An easy and enjoyable read.
Very interesting...I'm not convinced that corporations don't already participate in some of the 'situations' that were presented in the book. I wouldn't put it past them. An easy and enjoyable read.
Interesting take on invisible forces in an open market when they have firepower. Marketing plans that involve murder, public schools run by toy companies, and brands that sponsor gangs of thugs. Fun little economic near-future story.
Great bit of near future/satire on corporate society, set in a ultra privatized world where people take on the surnames of the entities they work for.
Ultra Fast paced, breezy style.
Ultra Fast paced, breezy style.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
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
This one is a wild ride, but it’s also all over the place. The concept is cool, but everything’s so overblown that it’s hard to take it seriously. Still, if you’re in the mood for something chaotic, it’s a fun little experiment. 3 stars for the effort and the absurdity.
at some point you’ve simply got to acknowledge you have 250 pages left of the thing giving you a slightly boring panic attack and think “okay……….I can be done I think”
In this post-punk dystopia, corporations literally rule the world which has shriveled in size to three markets: USA (“free market”) countries, non-US economic blocs, and fragmented (ie emerging and hostile) markets. This book takes the reasoning of free trade to a logical but horrifying conclusion: a world where kids attend school funded by Mattel and learn about Barbie releases; where employers names their employees; where identity is supplanted by consumer goods.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a pointed critique of cultural and economic dominance of the US. Critics seemed to dislike the “one dimensional characters” but I think it adds to the atmosphere—where people are judged by their things, how on earth can we expect depth? Others complained about the choppiness, but I put it down to the sort of ad campaign vibe the author was creating.
Oddly, John Nike—the boss John Nike, not his underling John Nike—totally reminded me of this Wharton asshat I dated in college. I wish Jennifer Government had shot him.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a pointed critique of cultural and economic dominance of the US. Critics seemed to dislike the “one dimensional characters” but I think it adds to the atmosphere—where people are judged by their things, how on earth can we expect depth? Others complained about the choppiness, but I put it down to the sort of ad campaign vibe the author was creating.
Oddly, John Nike—the boss John Nike, not his underling John Nike—totally reminded me of this Wharton asshat I dated in college. I wish Jennifer Government had shot him.