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shimmery's review against another edition
5.0
This book perfectly encapsulates the nauseating absurdity of social media (in particular twitter) that led me to delete my own account at the end of last year. Lockwood here articulates an uneasy feeling I’m sure many of us have — that the internet is shaping our perceptions, speech patterns, even thought patterns for the worse. This passage (about the internet, called the portal in the novel) particularly struck me:
‘It had also once been the place where you sounded like yourself. Gradually it had become the place where we sounded like each other, through some erosion of wind or water on a self not nearly as firm as stone.’
The first half of the book shows the total lack of sincerity and originality online and then the second half of the book serves as a contrast to that, with the main character’s sister born with a rare condition that means she is in constant need of intensive care. Yet even in this serious situation the main character finds herself processing what is happening in the bizarre language of the internet.
A very poignant read, and a thought provoking appraisal of the way many of us live now.
‘It had also once been the place where you sounded like yourself. Gradually it had become the place where we sounded like each other, through some erosion of wind or water on a self not nearly as firm as stone.’
The first half of the book shows the total lack of sincerity and originality online and then the second half of the book serves as a contrast to that, with the main character’s sister born with a rare condition that means she is in constant need of intensive care. Yet even in this serious situation the main character finds herself processing what is happening in the bizarre language of the internet.
A very poignant read, and a thought provoking appraisal of the way many of us live now.
louisarc's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
baratheonbooks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Child death
happylilkt's review against another edition
4.0
I am still deciding what I think of this one, but I am giving it 4 stars because it is highly original. It is a very experimental piece of writing, which I think is good to know going in, but I actually would recommend not knowing much more than that? I purposely avoided reading the blurb of this book and had no awareness of Patricia Lockwood previously, so it was a bit of a surprise jumping right into this short (perhaps slightly autobiographical?) novel. Especially because the first half doesn't read like a novel, but just satirical social commentary.
I can't really recommend this to anyone who is sensitive to profanity and sexual content. There aren't really any sex scenes, but the humor relies on a lot of the profane topics of the internet, so ...
I will say that the first half often made me think of the wife in Fahrenheit 451... if she were living in the here and now, would this be her story? The second half ... there is definitely a shift and the book is less satire and more novel.
I can't really recommend this to anyone who is sensitive to profanity and sexual content. There aren't really any sex scenes, but the humor relies on a lot of the profane topics of the internet, so ...
I will say that the first half often made me think of the wife in Fahrenheit 451... if she were living in the here and now, would this be her story? The second half ... there is definitely a shift and the book is less satire and more novel.
mateaaah's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
jayseewhy's review against another edition
4.0
The first part of this book tells the story of someone who is always online, through fast paced, disjointed snippets that are absurd, funny, and at times poetic. A good chunk of the referenced memes went over my head — maybe that was the point.
The second part told an authentic story of life and grief in sharp contrast to the chaos of the online world. Maybe this was influenced by recent experiences I’ve had, but many of the scenes towards the end of the book resonated with me quite strongly. I felt like I was in the sadness.
I skimmed the acknowledgments and it was only then (when I realised there was more truth to the story than I’d thought) that I had a little cry.
The second part told an authentic story of life and grief in sharp contrast to the chaos of the online world. Maybe this was influenced by recent experiences I’ve had, but many of the scenes towards the end of the book resonated with me quite strongly. I felt like I was in the sadness.
I skimmed the acknowledgments and it was only then (when I realised there was more truth to the story than I’d thought) that I had a little cry.
scohen_'s review against another edition
5.0
Devoured in a sitting to start off 2022 right. Despite the controversial thoughts twitter had i loved it. Laughed out loud and also cried. Biiiig recommend