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A review by jen_prouvaire
Hard Copy by Fien Veldman
funny
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
As a fan of "weird" books I was very excited for Hard Copy, girl meets printer, what's not to like? There was a lot of things to like in this book, but it wasn't entirely what I was expecting. I would say this is more in the realm of My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh than say, A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers or Nightbitch by Rachel Yoder. There was a lot of stream of consciousness from our very anxious narrator and her observations were quite funny. However, I often found the italicized sections confusing, at first thinking they were flashbacks, then that they were unconnected to the main story at all. I now think they were meant to be the narrator directing her thoughts to the printer (?) but I couldn't say that with certainty.
I think my main disappointment is that the marketing of the book uses the phrase "Girl meets printer" which drew me in, but that wasn't the focus of the book really, it was more about her anxiety, the workplace environment and her allergy to stress. Although there was a lot of printer talk, we don't get to see the "relationship" develop, we aren't privy to the change in behaviour of the narrator, who presumably did not always think of the printer in the way she does now. That is what I was expecting from the blurb, and unfortunately I do think it would have made the book more interesting for me. I did not dislike the book, but I think it may struggle to find an audience, as it's magical realism and odd concept may turn away those who prefer their reading to be grounded in reality, yet not bring in the crowd who enjoy strange books, by not embracing the weirdness enough.
If you would enjoy a reflective look at office culture and how work can define people's lives, often to their detriment, then this might be the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
I think my main disappointment is that the marketing of the book uses the phrase "Girl meets printer" which drew me in, but that wasn't the focus of the book really, it was more about her anxiety, the workplace environment and her allergy to stress. Although there was a lot of printer talk, we don't get to see the "relationship" develop, we aren't privy to the change in behaviour of the narrator, who presumably did not always think of the printer in the way she does now. That is what I was expecting from the blurb, and unfortunately I do think it would have made the book more interesting for me. I did not dislike the book, but I think it may struggle to find an audience, as it's magical realism and odd concept may turn away those who prefer their reading to be grounded in reality, yet not bring in the crowd who enjoy strange books, by not embracing the weirdness enough.
If you would enjoy a reflective look at office culture and how work can define people's lives, often to their detriment, then this might be the book for you!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.