A captivating read that will make you question your media consumption habits
585444
Ryan Holiday's book provides a good insight into the smelly sausage factory that is online publishing.  His unique insight as an industry insider gives real teeth to what would be run-of-the-mill media criticism from a journalist or an academic.  Particularly interesting is the moral balancing act that he performs, on the one hand being proud of his effort to manipulate the media and the public for the benefit of his employers, while on the other hand being more than a little outraged at the monster that people like himself have created.  It seems to me that he rides awful close to hypocrisy, diagnosing the disease but not distancing himself convincingly from the malignant industry that he decries.  I also have to say that you have to find his heartfelt admiration for a man like Tucker Max to be more than a little questionable.  Nevertheless, great book, highly recommended.
1369627
A moving debut about a revealing outlook into what leads Ricky to turn a gun on himself after shooting two of his peers. His story is put together by the perspectives of a number of people in first-person accounts, and by emails and chat-room transcripts.  I can't say I enjoyed this book, but it was very soul-stirring  and thought-provoking- the relationships between our real lives and our social media feeds, the faces we show to the world and the real ones. And definitely got me thinking again about using social media to humiliate people, playing pranks......and they just kept getting more and more out of control until, well, somebody like Ricky. How many kids are facing the same feelings Ricky did, hopefully without the same results? The feelings too familiar to us, at least from todays headlines. What happened to him has become all too common in today's world. I'm getting too preachy and political. Sorry! I'm so glad that the psychological aspect of the novel is much more graphical than the physical events. To its great degree, I also appreciated the authentic language of the narrative. However, I  missed, like a lot, Ricky's perspective of any of the events in his life that we learn about, how alone he must have felt with all these people around him, and none of them paid enough attention to him. Other than that, I really loved it and I will definitely read Mattson again.
766791
AOL BY GEORGE! is an intriguing story that I couldn't put down.  It's quite different from what I'm used to reading about AOL; it's certainly not a computer book.
In the early days of AOL, George Thornally was a forum  leader, conducting online discussion groups among wide and diverse people  whose ages, identities, and background were curiously disguised and  anonymous in this new type of communications medium.  And with perhaps  unintended irony, the author uses this earlier medium--print--to weave in  the stories of communication and technology leaders from previous times as  prologue for even more changes to come. This generates a richness to his  story that surpasses the singular importance of new communications media  because we see its role in a historical context.
Unlike other corporate  books that offer an insider's look at the rise and fall of power, with  self-serving praise towards the founders, here we have an intimate look at  the people who really created AOL.  The author bares his thoughts as he  weathered the ups and downs inside AOL, while describing the vicissitudes  of information entreprenuring, and offering musings about the future.  It's  the fascinating tales of his anonymous forum members that I found most  compelling.  For example, there's the wise "old"  philosopher-genius who turned out to be a young boy, the lovely Dawn  surrounded in mystery, and Charlie's life course crisis.
As the new  century approaches, we can expect changes in communications as profound as  those of the last hundred years.  Will virtual organizations overtake the  geopolitical unions that have defined the ability to disseminate  information in the past?  Will an alternative culture develop online due to  a lack of trust in the conventional sources of authority?
The author  speculates, "From associations such as these, relationships can  flourish and, under the right circumstances, community can formulate and be  sustained.  If people so connected become charged up, a great force for  change can be unleashed."
4715316
Most books that I read, I do so over several sittings.  This is one of the few I've read that so thoroughly captured my attention that I felt compelled to read it in one go.

Most of us live our lives in our drab, mainstream, every-day world -- only vaguely aware of the communities and cultures that exist at the fringes of society.  Viva made a choice to ditch the mundane and dive whole-heartedly into a realm that, to the rest of us is nothing more than a collection of cheap one-dimensional stereotypes.  In this book she gives the reader a picture of why that world is such an enticing place.

I cannot overstate how eye-opening and entertaining this book is.
2646315
"Leaving New Madrid" is a riveting read, with topics torn from today's headlines. The author takes on controversies and burning issues which inflame when discussed among the closest of friends on what starts out as an idyllic weekend reunion. Mr. Munger deftly changes this happy time into an ever escalating revelation of hitherto unknown but suspected political affiliations, philosophical stances, and even the deepest of personal secrets, that surprise and shock the weekend revelers. There is a dark, troubling force that raises its head toward the end, and Mr. Munger dispatches with this in a most unusual, unique, and thought provoking manner. This is a book that once started, and you get to know the well developed characters, will keep you racing to the end and even taking sides, thanks to Mr. Munger's tight prose, attention to detail, and fast pace. Highly recommended to all but particullarly to book clubs and reading groups looking for a jumping off point for much needed discussions on the important, contentious concerns in modern day America.
3797421
With his deep background knowledge of the workings of cable television news, Riz Khan spins a satirical tale of behind-the-scene intrigues, of eccentric characters, back-stabbing bastards and starry-eyed optimists. Former CNN and Al Jazeera news anchor and host, Khan keeps us guessing as his story unfolds on several continents.
I honestly don't know how this novel might resonate with readers who have not experienced this world first-hand, but those of us who have find ourselves thinking, "Yes, yes, I know who he's talking about; I worked with that SOB...I knew that sweet kid who found herself struggling to maintain her idealism...I remember the disillusionment of discovering the network's on-air star was a selfish prima donna.
A minor quibble with the book: Khan appears never to have met an adjective or adverb he could resist employing whenever the opportunity arose.
Despite that...a fine read.
1268858
I loved this and read it in one sitting.
The scary part of this book is that it is based on actual research.
The main character was easy, yet uncomfortably to connect with, and first reading the blurb made me wonder why a man would willingly have himself sectioned and having his life taken out of his hands and be at the mercy of doctors and consultants.
Proving he was sane though was nigh-on impossible.
I found myself almost shouting at my kindle to make the authorities listen !
It grabbed me from the blurb and wouldn't let go even after I finished it.
It is definitely a book to make you think.
At times it's an uncomfortable read but I could not put it down.
I recommend it highly.
3025813
I picked this up a few hours ago and was not at all expecting to finish it in one sitting, but once I started, I couldn't stop (the fact that it has no chapters and thus no natural pause points, helped). It was a delight going backwards and forwards over the course of about 48 hours with Wes, a typical wannabe-novelist, literature-obsessed teenager who just takes himself way too seriously. He imagines himself as Prince Andre from "War and Peace", but of course, he's much more Holden Caulfield. Because of his intellect and interest, there were literature, musical and political references aplenty, which I love. My only hesitancy is in the constant references to Twitter, Facebook, iPhones, etc. but I'll let history determine whether this book has a shelf life. All I know is I loved it.
3846394
Sixteen-year-old Alison is confused. What happened to Tori Beauregard? Did Alison really kill her? What is going on with her brain? And what does the handsome neuroscientist Dr. Minta know about it? A kind of 'K-PAX'/'Girl, Interrupted' hybrid that takes utterly unexpected twists and eventually turns into proper sci-fi, R. J. Andersons 'Ultraviolet' is, from start to finish, utterly captivating. (Its sequel, 'Quicksilver,' is somewhat less successful, but still well worth the reading.)

This review appears in&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Romantic-Intentions-Quarterly-Issue-1-April-2018/dp/B07BVZ6V8X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Romantic Intentions Quarterly -- Issue 1, April 2018</a>.
1005049
I found Self-Indulgence in kind of a random way, and being written by a newer author, I wanted to give it a fair chance. I went in with really no expectations and was really surprised at how great of a read this was. Theres a normalcy in Kanes tone and the pace of his characters lives that feels very familiar. Self-Indulgence is told directly through the mind of its main character, Eliot Byrnes. We enter into Eliots life in his mid-20s, as hes dealing with a certain brand of modern complacency and life-purpose conflict. Kane has a way of bringing up these existential crisis in a way thats refreshing - No one has ever read a suicide note and said, You know, he really makes some good points here. Byrnes maintains a fairly standard life; so-so job that pays the rent and hopefully, buys enough weed. It isn't long, however, until Eliots scarce foundation starts to crumble beneath him, leaving him falling deep into the unknown. Thats where Self-Indulgence really gets good. Throughout, I found myself much more involved with Eliot Byrnes perspective on whats happening to him, instead of needing to remember specific plot points. This is especially nice when you're a little stoned and still want to read.
 Brendan Kane has a special ability to ease a reader through his story, shedding light on each new section of the reality he creates just as it happens to his characters.. Those characters also dive into some heavy topics - decline of religion in America, the virtues of will vs. submission, the porn industry, how to really define going crazy? Actually, one of my favorite quotes from this book is about losing your mind - Really though, its you thats lost - the mind is just the labyrinth in which youve lost yourself. Through dialogue, Kane bends and stretches our perceptions of these issues until they feel like our own journal entries (without having to reckon with your own decision making). The content of this book is definitely entertaining, though it can feel like events are happening to the characters without reason. Meaning isn't always readily apparent in Self-Indulgence, but don't worry, Kane covers that too.
Like other great character-driven writers (Palahniuk, Murakami come to mind), Kane creates these very familiar characters and leads them into extraordinary situations, just to see if theyll break. With each page, were brought into another facet of Kanes chaotic, yet close, fictional world. Self-Indulgence is filled with quality writing and the right amount of mind-bending. Id definitely recommend reading it, cant wait to see what this guy writes next!
408926
This is not typically the style or genre of book that I would pick up, but I can honestly say it is one of the most captivating storylines I have ever come across. Once I did pick it up, I couldn't put it down - I couldn't wait to find out what happened next (neither could I possibly have guessed), I loved getting to know the characters and parts were written in such a way that I felt I was standing in the middle of the scene myself. A very entertaining, thought provoking read that I would recommend to anyone - well worth getting out of your usual reading comfort zone for.
3562802
Though THE AUSTRALIAN'S prose should be comfortable to readers of Big 5 lit fic, this book also has a strangeness to it that I relish. As I began to read, it was not at first clear to me just what sort of book I was reading. But just as immediately, the strength of Emma's narrative voice instilled me with absolute confidence that I was in good hands, that this was a journey worth taking. I think what impresses me most is the deftness of the tension she maintains between a critical, at times satirical (& devastatingly funny), distance, and profound empathy with her protagonist. This tension continues through the novel's final page, which leaves ambiguous and open to reader interpretation whether the Australian has at last confronted that which impedes him, or is continuing to flee from intimacy and risk. Other elements of Emma's writing that deeply impressed me: Her associative logic, where often the MC's realizations take the form of abrupt ruminative shifts, seeming like a non-sequitur from the previous paragraph, but in fact making utter and complete sense in the realm of the human and irrational. Also, the specificity and ingenuity of her examplesfor instance, an aside about a film produced by a friend of the protagonist, what in lesser hands might just be a quick joke built on a refreshening of stereotype, moves within a few sentences from broad humor to authentic, observant insight. Throughout the novel, every digression proves essential. The semi-episodic nature of the narrative, its series of false epiphanies and the MC's sometimes absurd reversals of fortune, reminded me of a contemporary take on this old-timey genre that I spent several minutes trying to remember the name of, before I realized it was right there on the dust jacket, in David Leavitt's blurbThat genre is 'picaresque.'

I prioritized THE AUSTRALIAN because Emma is a wonderful friend that I have known since my freshman year of high school in 1996, and if you had told me before I read this book that I was going to so thoroughly enjoy a deep exploration of (primarily but not exclusively heteronormative) masculinity, I would've been like, What are you smoking, bruh? But....  & I hope I won't offend by applying too autobiographical a readingthe story of this book's conception, which can be found in its Acknowledgements, and which intersects Emma's own personal addiction/recovery narrative, is a fascinating one. I feel that Emma's subject position as a woman with lived experience of mental illness and addiction enriches this book, bringing to its exploration of masculinity an elevated consciousness of shame and embodiment that for me, felt more recognizable as a queer reader than what I might expect to find in a book about similar subject matter by the likes of, say, Jonathan Franzen. (Although I must admit that I have never actually read or been interested in reading Jonathan Franzen). Anywaythis book was a delight. Thanks, Emma!
3960708
Captivating story that I could not stop reading
10479
Something Real was absolutely riveting. It was impossible to set down after I'd started, so I read it all in one sitting. The story is infused with equal amounts dramatics and heart, mirroring the intensity of an actual reality TV show.

Reading Something Real inspired further reflection about what it's really like to be on a reality TV show. The pressures outlined, the invasiveness of having the cameras in your face for every.single.moment, the pseudo-celebrity status that makes it hard to form relationships -- all these things are just top of the list of cons of being a reality TV star. Of course, there are undeniable perks too -- the money, the fame, and the opportunities that come with the reputation. But really, Something Real felt like a true look into that aspect of the entertainment industry, with highs, lows and everything in between that viewers at home might not necessarily see.

Bonnie (also known as Chloe) is easy to empathize with. She's finally settling into a life where she feels free to be herself, form friendships and even entertain the idea of romance. But all that is upended when her mother decides to put their family on the air again. Bonnie/Chloe's struggle with being on camera again, and what that means for her life, is really heartfelt. Readers get the sense that she feels trapped, exploited and used. No doubt, I was rooting for her to find a way out of it -- without hurting anyone, of course.

Bonnie/Chloe has solid familial support from her older brother Benton, who understands her plight and wishes for the same freedom she wants. Otherwise, her siblings are basically barely around (which is understandable, as there are too many to account for at all times), and her mother, stepdad and dad are the worst. The love and support she ought to be getting from them, she winds up getting from her friends Tessa, Meredith and Matt (who prove that they're awesome with the lengths they go to protect and help her and Benton), and Patrick (a boy who loves Bonnie/Chloe for who she is, and not just what she's portrayed to be on TV).

The fact of the matter is, Bonnie/Chloe winds up getting exactly what the title declares by the end of her story: something real. Even though the book didn't show the full consequences of her actions, it did end on a note that felt true to what would happen. Something Real could not have concluded any better, leaving the rest of Bonnie/Chloe's life up to the reader's imagination. It might be early on in the year, but I can definitely say this was one of the best books I've read so far!
1360091
I'm not sure, now, exactly why I bought this book, as I generally read more upbeat fare. That said, once I began reading, I didn't want to put the book down. My curiosity was immediately piqued, and Fran's (the main character) narrative helped me to challenge some of my own assumptions and perceptions of what it must be like to be an abused wife/mother/woman. The characters, and their motivations, were believable, without requiring that readers wade through male-bashing dogma or stereotypes that detract from the story.

Fran Bennedetto's story resonates with me, although I've never been struck or abused. Perhaps it is because I could identify with her quest to better understand her motivations, and pursue the difficult search for her own voice, and a life of her own.

Don't pass over this book simply because you think the subject may depress you -- you may be surprised, as I was, at how the author sets the tone for expectation of Fran having a life worth living. This is a worthy and compelling novel.
1782009
I read recently that i am a 'Digital Immigrant". Not having been born among the generation that has never known a world without computers, smart phones and the universe that is the internet at my finger tips is a concept that I cannot fathom having witnessed its emergence never really touched me until I underwent the experience of reading this book while listening to Kris Kristofferson read the book in audio format.

I found myself reading, pausing, and researching what was being described, or making these little detours to listen to a song mentioned in the book. My experience was so much richer as I ventured down this multimedia path.

And yet, the themes so prevalent throughout The Man Called Cash" were so compelling. Even in the world of the digital native, Johnny Cash's life stands out as a life filled with roads less traveled and paths better left avoided. Nonetheless, Cash's trek is a fascinating character study that makes a valiant effort at connecting the dots of a man so richly complicated, flawed and driven to live his life while making sense of a world the he met on his terms. And yet, he could not escape his past.

Perhaps the most prevalent theme pervasive throughout the book is the notion that there are consequences for all we do. And yet, the measure of a life cannot ever be fully caught - perhaps because of its ethereal nature - or perhaps because of the very Human capacity to dial our focus in and out. And a life viewed at 30,000 feet altitude is much different than say, one explored at the microscopic level. Perhaps the digital native will be able to make bigger connections or maybe assimilate the nuances sheerly because of the availability of information accessible, and limited to what is available not at the finger tips but at the limits bounded by one's imagination. I really don't know.

Take for example, Cash'e medical condition and Steve Truner's interesting ability to describe the sequaele of medical events directly connected to Cash's life decisions, his socio-economic status connected to his beginnings as the son of a share cropper, or his abuse of amphetamines etc. All the clues are there for anyone interested in pursuing a forensic investigation of Cash'e health status. Regardless, a retrospective analysis is entirely possible and yet, is that what really defines a life? Most certainly it is a cause and an effect at the same time. I would argue that in itself is life.

I come away from this book garnering different, and quite specifics about a man whose legendary status has stretched across several generations - not because he was defined by any one of the life events, but because he was a product of his times, a digital immigrant himself whose life and times did so much to reflect and define the world he came from as well.

Get the book. Listen to it as well, and enjoy the power at your finger tips as you listen to his music, and that of his contemporaries and see where the experience takes you. I may not be a digital native, but this experience has given me a glimpse of what the future might look like. I have said it before, and this entire experience has shown me that the future belongs to those who can explore their world from many vantage points at the same time. It seems to me, that person like Johnny Cash, whom Kris Kristofferson described in his song, Pilgrim, is someone whose life must be explored from 30,0000 feet, and then dialed in, Nd dialed back out again.

Get the book. You won't be disappointed.
4275712
This is one of the most captivating books I've read in a while