Proposal: I'd like to just write one extensive review, rather than trying to write several smaller reviews from different points of view. However, I'd like my final draft to include more positive things about the book because the review I wrote turned out pretty overwhelmingly negative and there were things about the book that I didn't hate. Also, I'm going to add a little more about the book because I realized after finishing it that I don't really say anything at all about the story itself. Ideally, the final product will be more polished and balanced.
There are a lot of things about Cory Doctorow's book Little Brother that I have trouble with. The protagonist, for example. Marcus Yallow is a whiny, entitled, l33t-speaking, snotty little high-schooler who creates his own problems and then gets all butthurt when he has to deal with the consequences of his actions. I read the first several chapters excitedly, wondering when this guy was going to get his comeuppance, before it slowly dawned on me that this guy was the hero, the one we were supposed to be rooting for. Without giving too much away, I will say that eventually you end up having to root for Marcus as the people he's fighting against descend further and further into the type of villainy that you normally only find in Saturday morning cartoons, but I held out as long as possible.
Another thing is the pacing of the book. Doctorow uses an unwieldy mix of fiction and fact, a technique that can yield impressive results when done correctly. Unfortunately, it's not really done very well here, with the fictional story getting abruptly interrupted by pages and pages of marginally related technobabble. It also makes me confused about who the target audience of the book is. Most of the fictional stuff seems like it was written for high schoolers, but some of the technical stuff is dense and complicated enough that I just skipped over it after the third sentence that read something like "Just plug the QXF84 drives into the DIPHOS generator and then arphids!" While Doctorow certainly provides thorough explanations of the technologies he uses in his book, as well as how to use them yourself, the descriptions he provides are probably too technical for the average high school student.
All in all, my favorite thing about this book is that eventually it ended and then I didn't have to read it anymore. Also, it's available for free on the internet, so I didn't have to pay for it. Doctorow starts to craft what might have been an interesting story, but then he gets overexcited and takes away the grey zones that make the first third of the story compelling, and it's all downhill from there.
I agree with your analysis that the negative tone was pretty strong, but I thought you made some good points about the book's weaknesses. I think a little more balance would be great, as you mentioned. But I liked your funny tone :)
ReplyDelete"Another things is the pacing of the book." I might change "thing" to "problem" or another slightly more specific word.
That's all! Keep up the great work!
I like your review because it reflects a lot of my own opinions on the book. It's hard for me to find areas that could be expanded without making the review overly long, but I think that you could give a quick plot summary somewhere near the start of the review, which might give you some opportunity to cite specific moments in the book that sucked particularly hard, or were actually good.
ReplyDeleteTHAT IS ALL. :D
Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteYou are a funny funny man.
Are you wanting readers to read the book or not read the book? I am a little confused on what message you are wanting the reader to have. I like your honesty and opinions on the book. Hallelujah!
Hey Jeremy,
ReplyDeleteI found your review engaging and (having read the book and held a differing opinion) thought-provoking. Part of the reason I read Amazon reviews is to see (after-the-fact) what others thought of them. Your review could fall firmly into this category for me.
I agree that it would make your review more compelling, and nuanced, to add in some of the things you may have "not hated" about the book. What might these be? In this vein, I'd suggest a different opening than "There are a lot of things about Cory Doctorow's book Little Brother that I have trouble with." If you want to give both positive and negative, and gain readers who are interested in multiple perspectives, this is going to turn off some readers. Can you reel us in with one of your pithy statements rather than something so direct?
You do a very nice job of explaining what you find problematic about the book, especially in the example of the inclusion of "techno-babble." I feel much the same way and wish I had written that! *wink*
Finally, I'd like to hear a bit more about this section:
Doctorow starts to craft what might have been an interesting story, but then he gets overexcited and takes away the grey zones that make the first third of the story compelling, and it's all downhill from there.
Amanda
I actually sort of like the bit of negative spin you give on it. I didn't think it was overbearingly against the book either. It still seems like you enjoyed some of the book enough that kept you reading. Your negativity is almost more like a warning to people who already get annoyed with that kinda stuff. If you're still going to add a little more positivity in, just make a short extra paragraph. Even so, I think it would work without it and gives a contrasting viewpoint to the reviews others may be afraid to post.
ReplyDeleteI liked your tone. I know you said you might put more positive things in it but I don't really think you should.. Your standing by your stance of how you feel as a reader.
ReplyDeletethat said..
I think when you talk about the "technobabble" you should give an example. Which you do later on so I would say switch that around with the target audience part.
that is all
rodger rodger