lsterb's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
sbaunsgard's review against another edition
4.0
A circus, a dictator, and a pickle recipe forum. This was entertaining and fun to read but the least deep of the interactive books Horowitz has been involved with. If you're feeling the concept I'd recommend it.
maybeillreadtoday's review against another edition
5.0
a silly little story about accidentally anti-establishment circus people
archipeligo's review against another edition
4.0
Read the paperback edition (9780374535810) with the hardcover edition on order. Will updated once that's read, for my own sake.
pimimi's review against another edition
4.0
Read the ios version. A short, funny and light story but with an epic design, almost a game. The app works 100% and it turns the reader into a 1984-ish (orwell) citizen.
cheezh8er's review against another edition
4.0
For this book I would one hundred percent recommend buying the box set. The illustrations as well as the experience of flipping between volumes really made reading this book an experience. The format is fantastic and innovative and matches the fantastic world the author has created.
pearseanderson's review against another edition
4.0
This is really an experimental folktale for the modern day. Basic plot, basic characters with little changing, stylized prose that makes you smile as you read it. It works for what it does, but perhaps it could've worked better if it was serialized, maybe even cartoonified. I'm happy with my $10 that went into this, it was a quick and fun thing, but I doubt it will be Horowitz's best.
jessferg's review against another edition
3.0
The big deal about his "book" is that it is designed as an "experience" with two different print versions and an app. I don't really get it because I'm not a tuned-in hipster, but it is an interesting idea and I applaud the efforts at expanding the written word. To read about the concept check out this article: http://www.wired.com/2015/11/the-pickle-index/
In the meantime, I read the two book version which requires the reader to read from a chapter from one book and then the other to maintain the sequence of the story from two points of view. It's cool, if somewhat awkward for travel reading.
I had a little trouble catching on at first but I didn't realize how tongue-in-cheek it really is. Once I detected the sarcasm, it was smooth sailing - and a lot of fun.
There's no huge character development and the plot is very basic, but the details are interesting and really funny. Generally speaking, this is just veiled (or not so veiled, actually) commentary on what idiots we can be - although it does have a happy ending (Who ruined that phrase for us? I can never ever say that with a straight face. )
I don't think I lost a thing by not downloading the app and I don't think the double book is required, although it's fun if you are a book production geek. The standard paperback version includes all the content from the two-book set and makes for much easier reading so don't be afraid of this tale because of its "experience."
In the meantime, I read the two book version which requires the reader to read from a chapter from one book and then the other to maintain the sequence of the story from two points of view. It's cool, if somewhat awkward for travel reading.
I had a little trouble catching on at first but I didn't realize how tongue-in-cheek it really is. Once I detected the sarcasm, it was smooth sailing - and a lot of fun.
There's no huge character development and the plot is very basic, but the details are interesting and really funny. Generally speaking, this is just veiled (or not so veiled, actually) commentary on what idiots we can be - although it does have a happy ending (Who ruined that phrase for us? I can never ever say that with a straight face. )
I don't think I lost a thing by not downloading the app and I don't think the double book is required, although it's fun if you are a book production geek. The standard paperback version includes all the content from the two-book set and makes for much easier reading so don't be afraid of this tale because of its "experience."
merthelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I read the online interactive version - it's a fun and inventive way to tell a story, but the content itself fell a bit short for me. Still, I enjoyed opening it each day to read the latest chapter, I found it generally amusing, and I give the author credit for exploring interactive ways to tell a tale.
tryingmilo's review against another edition
5.0
A good kind of weird that permeates the entire plot.