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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
I guessed many of the things (I knew he was the shrink when she looked over at him during a session and he was on his own phone, and I even wondered immediately if the VNB was actually a coffin) but it was still a fun, smart read.
3.5 stars, only because the last big scene between Ava and Mat was a little too good to be true. But I loved the suspense of this novel. It was so tame and well-behaved in part one; I knew something freaky was coming in part two. It was amusing, the IKEA-like furniture names and the corporate mumbo jumbo. I liked Ava. It will be fun to discuss this book.
This book became vaguely predictable midway, but the extent of the twist was unexpected. I found that the ending fizzled a bit for me though. Like the character suddenly achieved a massive amount of growth based solely on some revelations - there really wasn’t a resolution that I found satisfying. That said, this is a really creative novel with some biting cultural commentary that I found compelling and thoughtfully puzzled through by the authors. As in, there’s nothing right or wrong with having a basketball court or starting “yes, and!” product pitch meetings - it’s the culture regardless of the perks. Quiet, insidious cultural bias that leak in. Recommended.
Ugh mixed feelings. I really liked some aspects of this book -- the descriptions of ludicrous corporate culture were hysterical (and yet sometimes sooooo accurate). I liked Ava reasonably well; I found her naive and willfully blind most of the time (and a crummy friend, Ava, seriously), but I could also see how her life experiences and her grief could cause her to be that way.
Here's where I docked a couple stars
Also I have NEVER hated the jacket copy more than I did with this book. Seriously, it says right here "Mat isn't who he claims to be," so the reader GOES IN KNOWING THAT. Meanwhile -- and no, I'm not labeling this a spoiler, because it's an anti-spoiler compared to the fricking jacket copy -- AVA doesn't realize that "Mat isn't who he claims to be" until page 300 of a 361-page book.
Ugh.
Here's where I docked a couple stars
Spoiler
: the kind of person who can successfully and without detection engage in a complex, multi-year campaign to fully infiltrate someone else's life -- the way that Mat apparently did to Ava -- is NOT the kind of person who misses one college interview and gives up on the idea of ever going to college. The last 50 pages weren't ridiculous-hysterical; they were just ridiculous.Also I have NEVER hated the jacket copy more than I did with this book. Seriously, it says right here "Mat isn't who he claims to be," so the reader GOES IN KNOWING THAT. Meanwhile -- and no, I'm not labeling this a spoiler, because it's an anti-spoiler compared to the fricking jacket copy -- AVA doesn't realize that "Mat isn't who he claims to be" until page 300 of a 361-page book.
Ugh.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/very-nice-box-book-review/2021/07/10/3815fd9c-e0cc-11eb-b507-697762d090dd_story.html?tid=pm_entertainment_pop
Clever concept; convincingly executed. Cishet White Men armed only with optimistic entitlement are the most dangerous game, indeed. That is what we're meant to take from this present-day allegory.
In less capable hands than Laura Blackett's and Eve Gleichman's, it might have been a little too. . . overtly, meanly preachy. But one would be hard-pressed to read the authors' precise prose and convincing character portraits and deny that she/he/they recognize the behaviors and the psychological profile of the antagonist, who you routinely see in the comments section of any social media platform and the seamy, disingenuous spirit of corporate agendas--the same optimistic entitlement in macro we so often see in the micro via "nice guys" who have no concept of accountability or "goodness."
In less capable hands than Laura Blackett's and Eve Gleichman's, it might have been a little too. . . overtly, meanly preachy. But one would be hard-pressed to read the authors' precise prose and convincing character portraits and deny that she/he/they recognize the behaviors and the psychological profile of the antagonist, who you routinely see in the comments section of any social media platform and the seamy, disingenuous spirit of corporate agendas--the same optimistic entitlement in macro we so often see in the micro via "nice guys" who have no concept of accountability or "goodness."
The absolute weirdest book I have read in a very, very long time. It kept me hooked, it had a witty sense of humor, and it seamlessly integrated critiques of corporate ethics into it. But ultimately I couldn’t get past how just plain off some of the events are/how some of the people comport themselves, especially the main character.
Also, I think I am scarred from reading this.
Also, I think I am scarred from reading this.
I liked the slow build of figuring things out. I’m disappointed that I saw the twist coming from the second I accidentally read the back cover which states there is a “surprise ending” because it is just about the same twist as a different, currently VERY popular book. I feel like this book was so close to achieving *something* but fell so so short for me.
For example, the back cover also says: how does toxic masculinity in corporate culture restructure and rebrand itself in order to appear innocuous? Now, I don’t think I have a uniquely low threshold for such a phenomenon but I’m sure most non straight cis males in corporate America can tell you that all too often toxic masculinity does not *need* to rebrand itself to continue pervading corporate culture with very little resistance. It’s not only “acceptable” as is but it is REWARDED. That’s the whole problem!
I normally have no problem reading about or from the perspective of unlikable characters. It’s when they’re *annoying* and *insufferable* and *boring* that I don’t enjoy it.
For example, the back cover also says: how does toxic masculinity in corporate culture restructure and rebrand itself in order to appear innocuous? Now, I don’t think I have a uniquely low threshold for such a phenomenon but I’m sure most non straight cis males in corporate America can tell you that all too often toxic masculinity does not *need* to rebrand itself to continue pervading corporate culture with very little resistance. It’s not only “acceptable” as is but it is REWARDED. That’s the whole problem!
I normally have no problem reading about or from the perspective of unlikable characters. It’s when they’re *annoying* and *insufferable* and *boring* that I don’t enjoy it.
The ending felt a tad rushed, but overall it was fun and unique!