Customer Reviews

Notes From Underwhelmed

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The author has done something special with this book. It's an example of that rare beast: plot-driven literary fiction (gasp)!

If you're looking for character-driven fiction with emotions, this is definitely not your book. It's not cathartic, it's not about feelings, and it's not sentimental. It is, however, a wolf in sheep's guise.

It's an amazingly fast-paced read, with several parallel storylines that keep you guessing until the final act and then converge and climax nicely without being too ham-fisted or deus ex machina. So in a word, it's a thriller.

But it's also a sneaky little novel that will stick in your brain. The writer has created an entirely new world, where hidden systems and groups pull the strings behind the scenes of our lives. It's Orwellian with a sense of humor-and not an ironic, satirical sense of humor. The humor is dark, but not pretentious. The writer keeps it moving and keeps it simple. He doesn't use words to show off, he uses words to communicate. He uses words with precision and agility, forcing them to work overtime.

While I was reading NOTES FROM UNDERWHELMED, I was struck by how fast the pages were turning. There is an economy of language that cuts to the heart of every scene, making each sentence (and every thought) mean something. There are no wasted scenes, and the writing acts as a propulsive force-as rocket fuel that powers this book to its final destination.

But then, when the dust clears and you put it down, that's when the real trick happens. Here you thought you finished a rather interesting, minimalist thriller that made you ponder certain aspects of the fractured persona of man circa now, but you'll find your mind coming back to the characters (especially the mysterious Mr. Caution), settings and scenes. You'll arrive at a different place. Because NOTES FROM UNDERWHELMED sneaks in very high-concept social commentary between the action and cliffhangers.

Again, if you're looking for emotional catharsis and insight, avert your eyes. But if you want a thriller that entertains in the deepest way and quietly nestles itself into your mind and forces you to keep thinking and examining it long after you finish it, then NOTES FROM UNDERWHELMED is an ace in the hole.