Then We Came to the End: A Novel
by Joshua Ferris
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Book Reviews of Then We Came to the End: A Novel
Book Review: A Marvelous Read, but for a VERY Specific Audience
Summary: 5 Stars
I can understand the mixed reviews of this book, though I loved every page of it and wished it would never end. To appreciate it, you not only need to have worked in an office, you need to have worked in this KIND of office.
I happened to work in two offices where everyone had their noses in everyone else's business, where people had conniptions over nonsense such as where their "legitimate" chair is located, and whether or not the axe will fall anytime soon. That it is set in the Spring and Summer just prior to 9/11 is no accident; the economy was already starting to tank and 9/11 only made things worse for those teetering on the brink. In this office, people are being fired right and left, but the remaining folks are more worried about the health situation of their boss and the private lives of their co-workers. Who has a crush on whom? Who is a complete whackjob? This is office life, folks, at least in my old office.
This book is so full of quotable lines and great twists that there isn't much I can say without giving it away. People who have worked in my situation will likely love it. People who haven't, or who don't enjoy programs such as The Office because they hit too close to home, will not like it at all.
Joshua Ferris is an excellent writer and this is a stunning debut. I'm very much looking forward to what comes next.
Book Review: If you hate wearing a corporate suit, polo shirt, and/or Dockers, this is the novel for you
Summary: 4 Stars
Stellar, really stellar, this novel. It gives legitimacy to the sense of ennui that every intelligent, cynical working person has ever experienced while putting on their dockers in the morning, only to go to work and read mundane memos from fascist bosses while simultaneously trying to win a game of solitaire on the clock. The tone is consistently sardonic and wry as the narrators tirelessly document the intraoffice antics of coworkers at an ad agency. The first person plural point of view is effective, hilarious, and I would argue, essential, to at least one premise of the novel: the ridiculousness and absurdity of a modern corporate office culture that encourages and prefers a herd mentality.
This novel refuses, though, to be pigeonholed as just another savvy and deadpan office satire. Ferris sensitively juxtaposes the story of Lynn, one of the ad agency's partners who is diagnosed with breast cancer,with the rumors and the perceptions her employees have about her. Lyn's story, embedded within the novel and told in 3rd person limited, is an agonizing and painful story of the night before she's scheduled for a life-changing and body-altering surgery. The author's insight into Lyn and her solitary evening, his wit and sarcasm, along with the character development of at least six or seven of the office workers, make him an unforgettable and masterful author.
Book Review: Then our reading had to come to an end
Summary: 3 Stars
We sat down to read this work with remarkable gusto. Although some of us were hesitant, we rather enjoyed the gossip-like tone of the text. And all those fascinating details on breast cancer and a child's funeral and which schmo was having fun with which co-worker after hours. This ad agency sure looked like the happening place to be. But it wasn't.
Parody aside, this read was tedious. Although I can admire the use of the first person plural, it gets tired by page 250. To think that it goes on for another 150 pages really made me tired. The problem with this book is it ends up coming off as a gimmick, or maybe an excercise in creative writing. If you are looking for an involved story, you won't find that here. The characters all have a real feel to them, in the way they dress, and talk, but you never get to know any of them. And that is one of the major problems here.
This writer has talent. There's also alot of buzz ,good energy and smart, substantive sentences at work here. (That's why I gave it three stars). I just felt that it was one long exercise in proving something. What, I am not so sure. What does gripe me is the over-the-top praise. In the inside cover there are several pages of accolades from other writers, reviewers, etc. And while I am usually keen on these things, I fell for it. And I bought the book. Sorry I did.
Book Review: My observational skills are lacking...
Summary: 3 Stars
Three months ago, I was browsing around in the library and came across the hardcover copy of this book. I've always enjoyed books about office life (i.e. Company, by Max Barry and Kings of Infinite Space, by James Hynes), so I grabbed it.
Within minutes of reading this book, I went insane with all the "we" references. I tried to like it...I really tried, but couldn't, and then scrapped it.
Now, I see the same book in Barnes and Noble (only this time in paperback with a different cover) read the description again, and now I've got the same book again, only I don't know it.
So I'm reading the crazy thing thinking it sounds familiar, and finally I realize what an idiot I am...and blah blah, but anyway...
I actually enjoyed the book this time. It wasn't great by any means... it was a tad long (but come on, my attention span isn't what it used to be). I really enjoyed reading little snippets about the lives of characters, and there was really a lot I could relate with.
If you're interested in all this freakishly overdone office crap like I am, you'll probably enjoy the book on some level.
I mean, how can you not love some pissed-off office worker dressed like a clown, blasting people with red paint pellets to make 'em think the end is near?
Book Review: A very tough read
Summary: 1 Stars
I'm about a fifth of the way through this book, and I'm having a really tough time getting through it. Like many of the other reviewers, I was impressed by the praise it was getting and was expecting a quick, entertaining read. Instead, reading it has dragged on for 2 weeks (I actually stopped and read Generation Kill, which is the same size, in 2 days in between). A lot of the negative reviewers have mentioned the Office in comparison, and I think that highlights how poorly the characters are developed in this book. On the Office, Michael is a massive douche 80% of the time, but the other 20% is used humanize him, make him sympathetic, and provide insights on why he is the way he is. As a result, you care about the character, and his bumbling comes off funny and less anger-inducing. That is not the case in this book. So far, I have seen nothing to make any of the characters endearing. As a result, you have the guy that plays asinine pranks, the guy that prattles on about his "buckshelves", and the guy that constantly interrups. They are all hateable, because there's nothing that makes them stand out in any way except for their annoying quirks. I don't think I can finish this one, which bugs me, because I rarely put a book down, and I'm also tempted to find out what this "High school writing" ending is.