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tackling_the_tbrs's review
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
cheap_and_cheerful's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
bethniamh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
There seems to have been a glut of books about women choosing to live in defiance of social norms in recent years, and this unfortunately isn't a particularly memorable entry in this subgenre. While it did remind me at times of Convenience Store Woman, it lacked a lot of its warmth and wit and the main character was not nearly as sympathetic. I would have preferred for the story to have leaned more into the surreal, which I expected given that one of the central themes is the relationship between a woman and her printer. Additionally, while effort seemed to have been made to remove all references to a specific place, it would have given the story a bit more of an anchor had there been more explicit references to the city and culture (I can only assume, based on vague descriptions and the author's nationality, that the story takes place in Amsterdam). It was, however, well-written and very readable, although how much of that is down to the translation is hard to say.
There seems to have been a glut of books about women choosing to live in defiance of social norms in recent years, and this unfortunately isn't a particularly memorable entry in this subgenre. While it did remind me at times of Convenience Store Woman, it lacked a lot of its warmth and wit and the main character was not nearly as sympathetic. I would have preferred for the story to have leaned more into the surreal, which I expected given that one of the central themes is the relationship between a woman and her printer. Additionally, while effort seemed to have been made to remove all references to a specific place, it would have given the story a bit more of an anchor had there been more explicit references to the city and culture (I can only assume, based on vague descriptions and the author's nationality, that the story takes place in Amsterdam). It was, however, well-written and very readable, although how much of that is down to the translation is hard to say.
sandytfrench's review
2.5
Hard Copy by Fien Veldman, translated by Hester Velmans
⭐️⭐️ 2.5 stars
Thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
A customer service assistant spends her long workdays printing letters. Her one friend is the printer and, in the dark confines of her office, she begins to open up to him, talking about her fears, her past, her hopes and dreams.
I do not mind quirky or weird; I do not mind stream of consciousness; I do not mind "no plot, all vibes." But I have to admit that this book really stretched the limits of my enjoyment of all those things. I understand some of the points the author was making such as the dehumanisation of the corporate environment; our main character is unnamed, her colleagues only known as the department they work for - "Sales," "Marketing," "HR," etc.
And there was a strong focus on mental ill-health and a mind unravelling through the story. I even enjoyed the writing a lot; the second part of the book, which is from the POV of a printer (stay with me on this one), was stunningly written. But it all felt a bit too pointless for me to fully appreciate this book - it could be a case of me being too dumb for it and missing the point, which maybe... The synopsis really caught my attention, and I was really looking forward to reading this but sadly, the delivery didn't live up to my expectations.
⭐️⭐️ 2.5 stars
Thank you to Head of Zeus and NetGalley for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
A customer service assistant spends her long workdays printing letters. Her one friend is the printer and, in the dark confines of her office, she begins to open up to him, talking about her fears, her past, her hopes and dreams.
I do not mind quirky or weird; I do not mind stream of consciousness; I do not mind "no plot, all vibes." But I have to admit that this book really stretched the limits of my enjoyment of all those things. I understand some of the points the author was making such as the dehumanisation of the corporate environment; our main character is unnamed, her colleagues only known as the department they work for - "Sales," "Marketing," "HR," etc.
And there was a strong focus on mental ill-health and a mind unravelling through the story. I even enjoyed the writing a lot; the second part of the book, which is from the POV of a printer (stay with me on this one), was stunningly written. But it all felt a bit too pointless for me to fully appreciate this book - it could be a case of me being too dumb for it and missing the point, which maybe... The synopsis really caught my attention, and I was really looking forward to reading this but sadly, the delivery didn't live up to my expectations.
laylar's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book about an incredibly anxious woman who is allergic to stress and the relationship she forms with her work printer. She sits in her office all day talking to "him" until, unsurprisingly, her boss thinks she's losing her mind and puts her on leave.
This book does not have much in the way of a plot, which is not an issue for me but may be for some. I recognised a lot of my own experience with anxiety in her inner ramblings and her struggle to function in the world, so maybe that's why I enjoyed the read more than I was expecting to. If you like weird books that are mostly vibes, you'll probably enjoy this.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC :)
This book does not have much in the way of a plot, which is not an issue for me but may be for some. I recognised a lot of my own experience with anxiety in her inner ramblings and her struggle to function in the world, so maybe that's why I enjoyed the read more than I was expecting to. If you like weird books that are mostly vibes, you'll probably enjoy this.
Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC :)
zukythebookbum's review against another edition
simultaneously quirky and mundane. I really liked this but I can see how the marketing for it is setting readers up for something they’re not necessarily getting. rtc
abbie_'s review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my free digital ARC!
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Pitched as ‘a story of girl meets printer’, I think Hard Copy might end up suffering from heightened expectations. I think that tagline suggests a more a salacious vibe than what you get, which is more a hybrid of Convenience Store Woman and We Are Light. Contemporary Dutch novelists seem to enjoy narrating from the POVs of inanimate objects, and I’m here for it frankly.
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Pitched as ‘a story of girl meets printer’, I think Hard Copy might end up suffering from heightened expectations. I think that tagline suggests a more a salacious vibe than what you get, which is more a hybrid of Convenience Store Woman and We Are Light. Contemporary Dutch novelists seem to enjoy narrating from the POVs of inanimate objects, and I’m here for it frankly.
.
The main character of this book is working a tedious office job - her main duty is printing documents nobody reads - and she finds solace in talking to the printer she shares her tiny room with. When she is forced to go on leave after a colleague sets her up, her already-intense anxiety spirals and she struggles to cope without her inanimate pal. To be fair, he also seems lost without her - we get to hear from him in the middle of the book and that was probably my favourite part!
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I wasn’t entirely sold on the secret that’s revealed slowly about the protagonist’s past throughout the book. I’m not someone who needs a massive amount of resolution, but it seemed too flimsily tied to the present narrative.
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Overall a decent workplace novel with the critiques of capitalism you’d want from a novel with a corporate setting. It was funny, oddly heartwarming at times, and just a little bit different. Perhaps just a tad underdeveloped for me!
readingwitheden's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
readingtempeh's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0