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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
RE: Hilarity, December 17, 2009
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I was intrigued by the concept of this book so I had to give it a go. I had not read "e", but since it seemed successful, I thought this might be worth it. It was entirely worth it! I had expected just a series of emails, but was surprised to find emails, IMs, texts, etc. not only from the staff themselves, but also including family, friends, and anyone who can provide an angle on the story.
At first I thought I would get lost in the maze of communication and maybe even have to start a list of the characters to keep it all straight. But after a bit I realized that I did not even need to read the "To" or "From" lines anymore; I knew who was writing by the style and the issue. It felt much more voyeuristic than a conventional book; making me feel somewhat like I was sneaking around with stolen correspondence. The format also encouraged me to fill in the missing bits with my imagination rather than spoon-feeding me everything the author thinks I *should* know.
Now I cannot wait to read "e"! I highly recommend this book to anyone who finds the concept at all intriguing. I sincerely believe that you will not be disappointed.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Only *slightly* more ridiculous than reality., December 2, 2009
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But only *slightly*.
If you've ever worked in marketing, worked for someone who's worked in marketing, lived with someone who's in the industry, or read an advertisement -- you've love this book. I sat down yesterday to glance through it and four hours later, found myself neck-deep in the hilarious lives of these fictional advertisers, at an agency that could have been any one of a hundred just in this area. It's fairly clear that Beaumont is an ad man; his caricatures of the way things work in modern agencies are just too spot-on for him not to.
Better, the way the story is told is original. A series of emails, texts, and IM conversations between the major players -- a little odd and hard to follow at first (for me, at least), but it felt a little like the reader's allowed to play peeping tom, minus the creepy factor, by the end. In addition, Beaumont's style is laugh-out-loud funny, and in places, I had to actually close the book to avoid losing my place from the tears in my eyes. (And I wondered, just a *little*, if he'd been to my agency. I think I know some of these people. And we're not far from Galax, VA. Which won't make any sense unless you read the book, which you definitely should.)
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Entertaining Read, September 20, 2010
I thought this was a funny and unique look at the loves and lives of the crazy workers at a fictitious Ad Agency, it didn't make me laugh out loud, but I did chuckle a couple of times. I haven't read the first book 'E' so I didn't know any of the characters and it took me quite a while to really get involved in their story as there were so many characters; but once I did I don't think it mattered that I hadn't read the first book.
I really liked the way the workers daily lives are told through technology at Meerkat360 "the agency that's so cutting-edge you slice your finger on the lift button." The whole book just consisted of them emailing, texting, and blogging to each other during the month of January which seemed to be full of crazy advertising ideas; listings on Ebay of various office products from mugs to photocopiers which have myseriously gone missing; a member of staff who is permanently away on one weird course or another.
We learn about their personal problems, the break-ups, the tears, the tantrums and suicide attempts. Amazingley, they even manage to do some work in between, possibly thanks to Mr Fraggles the new Clown in Residence who is employed to give the creative Department "a vital and distinctive edge."
Even though I didn't feel connected with any of the characters, it was very clever how Beaumont made me feel happy, sad or sorry for them. A good, entertaining read.
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