crispymerola's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Such an eccentric book. Surprisingly readable and engaging despite how little occurs. Nice elegance in the way character traits relate to the conflict at hand - our protag loves the ever underdog Red Sox, which foreshadows his falling into obsession with the conspiracy that he belongs to a secretly persecuted ethnoreligious group called the Ulm.
Really dug the dentist backdrop. I do wish we had more theme and variation with our core character, as little surprised me throughout the story except for how much Joshua was willing to leave unexplored by the end.
Was very funny to read this book in 2023, in many respects the book came out in this awkward interim where smartphones had just started to impact modern life - the protag rants and raves against "me machines", I wonder how he'd feel about the algo-driven social media of today. In fact, much of the online impersonator conflict in the 2011-based story feels tepid compared to how it might play out now.
Really dug the dentist backdrop. I do wish we had more theme and variation with our core character, as little surprised me throughout the story except for how much Joshua was willing to leave unexplored by the end.
Was very funny to read this book in 2023, in many respects the book came out in this awkward interim where smartphones had just started to impact modern life - the protag rants and raves against "me machines", I wonder how he'd feel about the algo-driven social media of today. In fact, much of the online impersonator conflict in the 2011-based story feels tepid compared to how it might play out now.
helmituuli's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
3.5
I needed a book about a dentist for a reading challenge, this was the only one I could find. Imagine my surprise, when it turned out to be all about religion, obscure Hebrew Bible references and Judaism - in other words, a few of my favorite things.
Unfortunately I didn't love this book. It had some great moments, and at times I really enjoyed the writing style (especially with dialogue). But. The main character was insufferable. His critiques of technology and society in general were so cliché that I started to suspect if it was meant to be a parody of self-important new atheist guys from the early 2010's. If that was intentional, I have to say, very well executed. Unfortunately it's very difficult to enjoy being inside the mind of such an unlikeable person. On the other hand, this was a great study of how often we are blocking meaningfulness and happiness in our own lives.
One thing I really appreciated was how the author approached the idea of religious fictionalism (not in those words, but the idea is clearly there). I wish there had been more of a resolution with that, but maybe it's more thematically appropriate this way.
I don't think I would read this again, but I don't regret picking it up either.
Unfortunately I didn't love this book. It had some great moments, and at times I really enjoyed the writing style (especially with dialogue). But. The main character was insufferable. His critiques of technology and society in general were so cliché that I started to suspect if it was meant to be a parody of self-important new atheist guys from the early 2010's. If that was intentional, I have to say, very well executed. Unfortunately it's very difficult to enjoy being inside the mind of such an unlikeable person. On the other hand, this was a great study of how often we are blocking meaningfulness and happiness in our own lives.
One thing I really appreciated was how the author approached the idea of religious fictionalism (not in those words, but the idea is clearly there). I wish there had been more of a resolution with that, but maybe it's more thematically appropriate this way.
I don't think I would read this again, but I don't regret picking it up either.
bevolk's review
3.0
It was so good the first 100 pages! But then it got too much into religion and very wordy. Loved all the baseball stuff, though!
girlgeekcyclist's review against another edition
3.0
There were many parts of this book that I found really funny, which is a welcome break from some of the other stuff I've been reading and viewing, but I got a little lost when the story diverged into the religious element and I think the ending lets it down a lot. Still, a light and enjoyable read.
nhlove365's review
4.0
What a life...
Fun writing style that wraps you into Dr. O'Roukes world. It's a wooden rollercoaster ride that beats you up yet in the end has you begging for more.
Fun writing style that wraps you into Dr. O'Roukes world. It's a wooden rollercoaster ride that beats you up yet in the end has you begging for more.
pbobrit's review
4.0
An excellent book about connectedness, identity, dentistry and baseball. The book is well paced, the characters, even the minor ones, engaging and well written. Some great dialogue and sharp observation. I really enjoy Joshua Ferris' writing general, so if you are the same you will not be disappointed. I could see some having a hard time getting into it, but it is well worth persisting.
gerda7's review against another edition
2.0
I think this book probably had a intellectually amazing insight into religion and loneliness - but I didn't get it - way over my head
tinyastrogeist's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
cher_n_books's review
2.0
2 stars - Meh. Just ok.
Started out funny with heavy sarcastic overtones, but quickly became boring. I was expecting this one to be a controversial read that explored modern technology and social networking issues similar to what Eggers did in [b:The Circle|18302455|The Circle|Dave Eggers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376419833s/18302455.jpg|25791820], but that never quite came to fruition. Instead this one was very theological, sports centric, dry and quite slow. It was weird and original but unfortunately, that did not equate to enjoyable.
------------------------------
Favorite Quote: I was a dentist, not a website. I was a muddle, not a brand. I was a man, not a profile. They wanted to contain my life with a summary of its purchases and preferences, prescription medications, and predictable behaviors. That was not a man. That was an animal in a cage.
First Sentence: The mouth is a weird place.
Started out funny with heavy sarcastic overtones, but quickly became boring. I was expecting this one to be a controversial read that explored modern technology and social networking issues similar to what Eggers did in [b:The Circle|18302455|The Circle|Dave Eggers|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1376419833s/18302455.jpg|25791820], but that never quite came to fruition. Instead this one was very theological, sports centric, dry and quite slow. It was weird and original but unfortunately, that did not equate to enjoyable.
------------------------------
Favorite Quote: I was a dentist, not a website. I was a muddle, not a brand. I was a man, not a profile. They wanted to contain my life with a summary of its purchases and preferences, prescription medications, and predictable behaviors. That was not a man. That was an animal in a cage.
First Sentence: The mouth is a weird place.
wuzzy246's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5