mhh831666's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
eb00kie's review
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jrobles76's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite quotes:
This describes the woman I'm attracted to: "...the girls who fight life every step of the way so by the time they're twenty they're funny and smart and cynical and utterly, utterly desirable.
That's what I like."
This describes my business philosophy: "You can stomp around and complain that the rules aren't fair, or you can grow up and start playing the game.
I'm a fan of Max Barry, I've read two of his other books and they were both great satires. This one is a satire of the marketing/advertising industry. In it a cola is launched because it sounds cool and the flavor is developed later. A movie is green-lit for the sole purpose of selling Coke. This would be funny if Transformers and Battleship we're real movies.
Ultimately, it's actually about a guy named Scat who is really naive about how business works and is shown reality one too many times. You really identify with him, because you would make those same mistakes. Not knowing how business works you wouldn't expect your friend to trademark your idea right out from under you.
Also a great little romance that would be a great romantic comedy, preferably an indie comedy.
This describes the woman I'm attracted to: "...the girls who fight life every step of the way so by the time they're twenty they're funny and smart and cynical and utterly, utterly desirable.
That's what I like."
This describes my business philosophy: "You can stomp around and complain that the rules aren't fair, or you can grow up and start playing the game.
I'm a fan of Max Barry, I've read two of his other books and they were both great satires. This one is a satire of the marketing/advertising industry. In it a cola is launched because it sounds cool and the flavor is developed later. A movie is green-lit for the sole purpose of selling Coke. This would be funny if Transformers and Battleship we're real movies.
Ultimately, it's actually about a guy named Scat who is really naive about how business works and is shown reality one too many times. You really identify with him, because you would make those same mistakes. Not knowing how business works you wouldn't expect your friend to trademark your idea right out from under you.
Also a great little romance that would be a great romantic comedy, preferably an indie comedy.
reviews_with_rach's review against another edition
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
ury949's review against another edition
3.0
At first I didn't know whether I would like this book or not because the protagonist fails and fails and fails again and again, each time really bad, worse and worse. By the time I'm halfway through, I thought, this book sucks! This guy never gets a break and has the most terrible luck. But perhaps it's all going to build up to this overwhelming glory success in the end. Well kinda.
The writing in this book is so witty I found myself laughing out loud. The characters are so distinctly written that the author ensures the reader's love/hatred/trust/distrust. The plot never drags, but it does do quite a bit of up-and-down roller coastering causing lots of intensity and anticipation which I love. It's a really fast read. There's nothing deep or meaningful in the story, and the relationship between Scat and 6 kindof sputters and unceremoniously farts in the end - I'm never super happy or sorry for Scat whenever 6 treats him nice or mean. But fortunately that's not the main feature of the book so I easily got past it.
I wish the end had more whiplash than it did - it was fairly obvious what was going to happen. That said, you don't really have to finish the story to enjoy it - just read it for the humor and great characters.
The writing in this book is so witty I found myself laughing out loud. The characters are so distinctly written that the author ensures the reader's love/hatred/trust/distrust. The plot never drags, but it does do quite a bit of up-and-down roller coastering causing lots of intensity and anticipation which I love. It's a really fast read. There's nothing deep or meaningful in the story, and the relationship between Scat and 6 kindof sputters and unceremoniously farts in the end - I'm never super happy or sorry for Scat whenever 6 treats him nice or mean. But fortunately that's not the main feature of the book so I easily got past it.
I wish the end had more whiplash than it did - it was fairly obvious what was going to happen. That said, you don't really have to finish the story to enjoy it - just read it for the humor and great characters.
hanne's review against another edition
3.0
3,5ish
The ending was a bit rushed, I think. A bit weird. The book itself was good.
The ending was a bit rushed, I think. A bit weird. The book itself was good.
raquelzuniga's review against another edition
5.0
Damn. I'd only seen the movie, but I can say, the book is just as good. I have no words to describe just how amazing this work is. Max Barry, you are a shoo-in to my new favorite author.
beccajules's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jakemcc's review against another edition
4.0
The story focuses on Scat, a young marketer trying to make a ton of money. He meets another marketer name 6 and this book tells their story of success and failure. The book is a satire and its target is marketing.
The book is divided into very small sections. It keeps up a fast pace. I thought it was fun and I just kept wanting to read it.
The book is divided into very small sections. It keeps up a fast pace. I thought it was fun and I just kept wanting to read it.