This is both oddly truer than I expect the author thinks it is and less funny. Also the ending was terrible. There are some interesting ideas and characters but it didn't coalesce for me.

Good book, though nothing spectacular in terms of writing.

An unusual book. Wasn't sure what rating to give it, because on the one hand, it had weaker parts that I barely plodded through; on the other, it had some interesting ideas and the characters were well portrayed.

And as for the ending: my first thought was "wait, was this just a first in a dilogy?" - it seemed somehow cut off. But it might just be because I'm used to all these modern books that don't really do open endings very often. And as for open endings, this one wasn't bad.

So I can't say I'd definitely recommend it, but it wasn't bad, either.

Also, an unrelated thought: it's creepy, how thin a line there is between a hinted cyber-dystopy, and the actual reality. Mostly it just seems that when the names are made up it's fiction - but that's the only real difference. :|

My bookclub chose this book largely on the strength of the reviews. No one had read the book before we selected it. I'm generally the bookclub curmudgeon, but I enjoyed this choice. The book isn't one that I'll be rushing to recommend to everyone I know, but I was pleased to have read it and felt entertained during the week I spent with the story. I particularly fell for Leo, the trust fund son who was having trouble putting his life together. There is a definite hip feel to the dialogue and the characters -- these are people that you'd feel cooler for having as facebook friends. I hear the book is being developed as an HBO comedy and that seems wonderful. I'd watch it.

So this was another buzz book from last year, Laura Miller of Salon gave it a rave review and one of the Tournament of Books promoters described it as one of the best of 2014. The plot follows three main protagonists as a conspiratorial cabal tries to take over everyone's valuable information for future nefarious use. Challenging these evil plotters are the Dear Diary folks, part freedom fighters, part magical hypnotists.

Frankly I was hoping for something more amazing than what I got. The writing is quite strong, especially the chapters that focused on the three main characters as they work through the shitiness that is their life, their insecurities, their regrets. It is the psychological examinations of the book that are the most interesting to read. The whole spy story, however, seems so thin and unbelievable. Not that this is necessary in a thriller of this sort, but it really felt tacked on, that the good elements could have been slotted into any other sort of story, instead of really intertwining them. Like the whole "eye test"...is never really explained nor does it really seem necessary to even be there.

Anyways, it was a fun read at times, but I won't go out of my way to recommend it.

good but seems unfinished

What? A cliffhanger? Grrrrrmble

I enjoyed the story, but as the end drew near I knew it couldn't possibly wrap up. Hopefully the next installment will provide a little more depth to the story. And Ned?!!! How did that happen?

Simply awesome.