In Machine Man, engineer Dr. Charles Neumann (get it? new-man. lol) crushes his leg in a gruesome workplace accident. He gets the idea to improve upon the leg’s biological design while building his prosthetic. The only problem? that other “fleshy” leg he has left is holding him back. So begins Charles’ obsession with bodily improvement through science, engineering and amputation.
Just like in Barry’s previous excellent books Jennifer Government and Company, he creates a shallow yet philosophical world where large corporate bosses aren’t referred to by real names, only titles, and corporations exist outside the boundaries of law. The story is absurd at one turn and frighteningly possible in another. If Charles works on his prosthetic leg at work, who owns it, Charles or the company?
There’s also amputee love, bionic security guards and tiny dogs dressed in human clothes. It would be impossible for me to NOT like this book. The pacing is fast and the ending is satisfying. Barry wrote the script 1 page a day, posting each page on his website for his rabid followers to discuss and dissect. They helped him with everything from technical details to story line. Kind of like commentators helping bloggers write…good. Be sure to check out Machine Man’s book trailer below. Most highlighted quote from Kindle users:
“It was pointless to ponder who I was because I was whichever combination of chemicals happened to be sloshing around at that time. So I decided not to search for a true self. I decided to choose who I wanted to be.”
If you like anything from Joshua Ferris, you’ll like this.
Movie note: Darren Aronofsky, one of this generation’s greatest directors and hipster clothing fashonista is attached to direct while Mark Heyman (Black Swan) is adapting the screenplay. I haven’t seen any news lately, and Aronofsky keeps himself pretty busy, so I’m not sure where everything’s at right now.
This year I’m participating in Cannonball Read IV. Cannonball Read is a race among Pajiba readers to read and review 52 books in a year. Or 26. Or 13. A charitable donation is made for those who get to 52.
There are 240 people signed up this year. That’s a lot of book reviews. I’ll try to find some of the interesting reviews plus reviews of books I’ve read and post them here.
An intern at a crappy hospital gets mixed up with the mafia and must get through the next 8 hours to Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Joshua Foer writes an article on the US Memory Championships. 1 year later he returns in an attempt to win it.* Nonfiction. Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer
I don’t…uh…I’m not sure what’s going on here. But it sounds pretty interesting. A Singular Man by J.P. Donleavy
The 12th novel in the Discworld series that I’ve always wanted to get into. Maybe I will after I finish all 20-whatever Dresden Files books. Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett
Books I’ve Read
I think I’m enjoying YA books books more now that I’m an adult (of sorts). Ender Wiggin’s journey as “the chosen one” to defeat the alien buggers is one of my favorite sci-fi novels of all time. Oh and it also predicted video games and China’s population control. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
Great book and great movie. They both blend together for me. Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Reviewer Magpie is as baffled as I am about this somewhat empty book that critics loved. A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
*Taken from the ridiculously simplified synopsis on Shelfari.
“A La Modeliste” - Mark Ronson, Mos Def and Erykah Badu with help by Trombone Shorty and The Dap Kings.
This year I’m participating in Cannonball Read IV. Cannonball Read is a race among Pajiba readers to read and review 52 books in a year. Or 26. Or 13. A charitable donation is made for those who get to 52.
There are 240 people signed up this year. That’s a lot of book reviews. I’ll try to find some of the interesting reviews plus reviews of books I’ve read and post them here.
“Two magicians begin a contest, a game or test of skill. However, they play through intermediaries, their students.” Everyone seems to love this book. I’m still emotionally scarred from reading Geek Love. And circuses in general freak me out. Night Circus by Eric Morgenster
A time-traveling English teacher from the year 2011 who is given the opportunity to prevent the JFK assassination. Last year’s Full Dark No Stars and 2009’s Under the Dome have shown that King is on top of his game. 11/22/63 by Stephen King
Drama at the 1893 Worlds Fair in Chicago! White City follows the architect of the Worlds Fair and a serial killer hunting young women. Historical nonfiction that reads like a novel. Good. That’s the only kind of historical nonfiction I can choke down. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
Books I’ve Read
Powerful and unique. Room is told from the perspective of a 5 year old. That made it a little tough to get into, but once you really get into the meat of the story, it’s almost impossible to put this book down. I recommend it, this reviewer does not. Room by Emma Donoghue
The same reviewer also dislikes this book I enjoyed. Maybe they should read One Hundred Years of Solitude. I’d rather punch myself in the face than read that again, so she might like it. The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
The orphan, the freakshow, the tugboat, the narrator; this is Lionel Essrog. Through his mind, riddled with tourettic symptoms, we view his own private Marlowe detective story. Lionel, along with 3 other orphans from St. Vincent’s Home for Boys, is mentored and employed by Frank Minna, a small time mobster that runs a car service/detective agency. The 4 boy’s entire world view is filtered through Frank’s observations and teachings. When Frank is killed, it falls to ”the Freakshow” to solve his murder.
Frank used to say“wheels within wheels” to sneer at the boys’ notions of coincidence or conspiracy. Motherless Brooklyn is full of wheels within wheels. Why is the Giant chasing Lionel? Where did Frank’s wife go? How are the Buddhists connected? What does this have to do with sea urchins? Can Lionel get thru an interrogation without screaming “Stickmebailey!!”?
Lethem has been praised for blending literary fiction with genre fiction. I think, in Motherless Brooklyn, he’s created an incredible book. It’s incredible because I generally hate any literary fiction set in New York. God help me if it’s literary fiction about a writer living in New York. Oh, you could have gotten the pretty girl but you screwed up? :-( die in a fire.
Where was I? Oh right, this wasn’t anything like that. It was a mesmerizing look into the life of someone suffering from Tourettes, and a killer mystery to boot.
Most highlighted quote from Kindle users: And he was too moronic to be properly self-loathing—so it was my duty to loathe him instead.
If you like Michael Chabon, but wish he wrote more like Raymond Chandler.
Movie note: Edward Norton has optioned the film and plans to adapt, star in and direct. This is good news. Norton plays some of the best ‘crazy’ in Hollywood.
I’m going to assume Satan’s Lamborghini is a Diablo.
This year I’m participating in Cannonball Read IV. Cannonball Read is a race among Pajiba readers to read and review 52 books in a year. Or 26. Or 13. A charitable donation is made for those who get to 52.
There are almost 200 236 people signed up this year. That’s a lot of book reviews. I’ll try to find some of the interesting reviews plus reviews of books I’ve read and post them here.
Satan is a hotshot professor that drives a Lamborghini. Someone is trying to bring about judgement day and he has to figure out who before it’s too late. I’m guessing it’s Ted Haggard. What Would Satan Do by Anthony Miller
Reviewer LurkeyTurkey describes this book as an open love letter to 80s and 90s culture. “Truly nostalgia porn”. USA Cartoon Express references or GTFO. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Sisters Brothers is a book about 2 brothers with the last name Sisters. Ok now say the book title again. Different eh? The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
Books I’ve Read
Game of Thrones by R.R. Martin - Watch the show. Read the books. R.R. is a master of weaving 50 story lines together seamlessly. If you’re already a fan, you’ll enjoy this video of Tyrion slapping King Joffrey set to Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles Last Stand”.
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