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A review by randomshai
Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris
5.0
4.5 stars
I’ll admit that I approached this book with low expectations, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the wit and comedy. Anyone who has, at some point or other, worked a desk job can find connection with these characters held simultaneously close yet at arms length. I enjoy a good laugh but oftentimes humorous novels (particularly with a similar slice-of-life style storyline) tend to be somewhat lacking in the connection necessary to evoke laughter - or whatever one might call the internal silent variant thereof - in me. However, be it the sense of relatability or my pre-existing love for the workplace comedy genre (think “The Office, “Parks and Recreation,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Superstore,” etc. etc.), I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe anyone with similar tastes will feel the same. Could the conclusion have left the reader with a bit more? Perhaps, but then again isn’t that our relationship to the narrator? That we too stand in that awkward space between known and unknown, the familiar strangers who come into each others lives suddenly, struggle to remember the name, the quirks, familiarize ourselves, and then rush out again unexpectedly all too soon? Opinions on this novel seem drastically varied, but my shameless opinion is quite favorable.
I’ll admit that I approached this book with low expectations, but I was more than pleasantly surprised by the wit and comedy. Anyone who has, at some point or other, worked a desk job can find connection with these characters held simultaneously close yet at arms length. I enjoy a good laugh but oftentimes humorous novels (particularly with a similar slice-of-life style storyline) tend to be somewhat lacking in the connection necessary to evoke laughter - or whatever one might call the internal silent variant thereof - in me. However, be it the sense of relatability or my pre-existing love for the workplace comedy genre (think “The Office, “Parks and Recreation,” “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Superstore,” etc. etc.), I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe anyone with similar tastes will feel the same. Could the conclusion have left the reader with a bit more? Perhaps, but then again isn’t that our relationship to the narrator? That we too stand in that awkward space between known and unknown, the familiar strangers who come into each others lives suddenly, struggle to remember the name, the quirks, familiarize ourselves, and then rush out again unexpectedly all too soon? Opinions on this novel seem drastically varied, but my shameless opinion is quite favorable.