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Miss Misery
Lonely Brooklyn twentysomething David Gould has problems: blown work deadlines, an obsession with an Internet temptress he's never met in the flesh, and, worst of all, a hedonistic double attempting to steal his identity. Full of gripping characters, mood-altering detail, and a killer virtual soundtrack, Miss Misery is a genre-defying exploration of growing up and going out in the new century. As he rockets the reader from cyberspace to nightclub bathrooms, from the heart of New York City to the suburbs of Utah, Andy Greenwald unspools a fast-moving, funny story about the timeless need to become the main character in your own life.
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
About the author
Andy Greenwald
6 books135 followersAndy Greenwald is an author, journalist and screenwriter living in Brooklyn, NY. His writing appears daily on Grantland.com and occasionally in Spin, Entertainment Weekly and Penthouse. He tweets often (www.twitter.com/andygreenwald) yet hasn't updated his website since 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 24, 2012
After reading through other reviews, I think I may be alone in truly loving this book. I first read it while I was in high school and I identified very strongly with the main character. Not that I've ever fallen in love with someone through their blog or created a blog of everything I WISH happened in my life, but I was lost. I wanted my life to be more exciting and have more grandeur. Miss Misery helped me realize that it was okay to feel that way, but I might also be wrong in hoping that.
Its still my go to book if I have a bad day. Miss Misery is a dear old friend who still comforts me after all this time.
Its still my go to book if I have a bad day. Miss Misery is a dear old friend who still comforts me after all this time.
March 22, 2007
Ok, so I love pop music, indie rock, and many things about the ever-evolving culture that surrounds it...and this book, which sort of purports to celebrate such stuff, was so annoying and infuriating that it had me wishing death on every stupid, shallow, trendspotting indie rocker on Earth for awhile. For most people this wouldn't be a problem, but I also enjoy writing about music and it sucks when all the fun's been drained out of it.
This bit of fiction is a thinly-veiled autobiographical work about an NYC-based music journalist with writer's block. Unfortunately the author resorts to a retread Twilight Zone plot device that's utterly predictable from square one. He should stick to nonfiction.
This bit of fiction is a thinly-veiled autobiographical work about an NYC-based music journalist with writer's block. Unfortunately the author resorts to a retread Twilight Zone plot device that's utterly predictable from square one. He should stick to nonfiction.
October 2, 2007
i am so goddamn sick of these so-called trendy books. you know, the ones you find at urban outfitters.
just because it has to do with music and is recommended by spin or UO doesn't make it well-written.
this book lacked a decent plot, and i found it incredibly boring. yeah some things were cool, and maybe interesting, but over-all the plot sucked and the characters lacked development. or more specifically believable development.
but i believe above all, what bothered me most is the use of a doppelganger in a non-metaphoric way.
basically this book has been done before. and will continue to be done again.
(can you tell i hate this book? and anything andy greenwald writes?)
just because it has to do with music and is recommended by spin or UO doesn't make it well-written.
this book lacked a decent plot, and i found it incredibly boring. yeah some things were cool, and maybe interesting, but over-all the plot sucked and the characters lacked development. or more specifically believable development.
but i believe above all, what bothered me most is the use of a doppelganger in a non-metaphoric way.
basically this book has been done before. and will continue to be done again.
(can you tell i hate this book? and anything andy greenwald writes?)
August 2, 2007
What the fuck? Its supposed to be about a blog guy, but sadly it sounds just like a blog guy. Why did I get a "are you there god it's me Margaret" vibe from this?
Read
September 10, 2020I have a very vague memory of checking this out from a cruise ship's library strictly based on the title and the fact that I was emo
January 21, 2010
I thought the setup was good. Man's girlfriend moves to a different country leaving him alone in Brooklyn NY obsessing over online journals of various people. Lots of interesting possibilities, but the story did not pick up for me at all. At least, not in a way that made me actually care about the story. 400 pages (10 audio discs) is WAY too long for this story.
The writing was eh and some of the metaphors were groan-worthy. I.E., "... Like a strobe on qualudes" describing lightening during a storm, and "my mouth was like Chicago in 1871" after the narrarator eats something spicy.
Also, Cath (Miss Misery) keeps physically hitting the narrarator over and over across the chest. For some reason it just really started to annoy me. I know it sounds really really picky, but at one point where she hit the nararator across the chest, I just couldn't take it anymore and turned off the audiobook. I am more than confident I gave this book a fair shot.
The writing was eh and some of the metaphors were groan-worthy. I.E., "... Like a strobe on qualudes" describing lightening during a storm, and "my mouth was like Chicago in 1871" after the narrarator eats something spicy.
Also, Cath (Miss Misery) keeps physically hitting the narrarator over and over across the chest. For some reason it just really started to annoy me. I know it sounds really really picky, but at one point where she hit the nararator across the chest, I just couldn't take it anymore and turned off the audiobook. I am more than confident I gave this book a fair shot.
July 7, 2009
Could I give it zero stars? Really terrible. Main character, who is really just a whiny, indecisive putz, spends the entire novel dropping indy band names to show how hip he is. The two major female characters' main modes of communication are sticking out their tongues at him or smacking him in the chest or arm. I would have liked to smack him senseless myself. Do not waste your time on this book!
April 2, 2008
I think I prefer his non-fiction work but this was alright. The whole thing seemed a bit young, but the concept was really interesting, by using the internet for the basis of the novel and the idea of the whole self reflexive element of the story was interesting. The whole thing did seem really far fetched though.
February 4, 2012
I absolutely adore this book. Since it's release, I have been desperately waiting for another fiction or even non-fiction novel by Andy Greenwald. I didn't want this book to end and ever since I've finished reading it a long time ago I can't seem to get it out of my head. If you are looking for a good fiction read, this is it.
August 18, 2021
Would you look at that! The Goodreads reviews indicate I'm in good company with my one-star review! What joy!
I had hoped I could summarize this review and even provide a TL;DR. As I kept reading, I realized I was going to rip this book to shreds and it was gonna be a long one.
TRIGGER WARNING: An adult who has no boundaries around a teenager. My opinions on what that's called and what should happen are discussed herein.
The book starts out with David, the protagonist, experiencing possible depression written to seem like lethargy and later laziness. This is sprinkled throughout but is simultaneously more of the book than it should have been. Dude, your girlfriend clearly broke up with you early on in the novel. Stop acting like you're still together when she left the country and used phrases that indicate breakups! Oh, you did when Cath showed up and you drooled over her, then you went back to pining for Amy at odd moments. Eighty percent of the book was: party party drugs New York New York Blah Blah BLAH. To quote Smosh when Ianthony was still together: "SHUT. UP.!" Side note: I stopped watching the day Anthony left but had unsubscribed before that. Now, I regularly watch Anthony's channel. To paraphrase Lindsay Ellis as Nostalgia Chick's "Ferngully" review: And now back to this festering pile of pointlessness! A few pages of the book involved an evil twin...doppleganger...thing. Boring, weird and stupid. This book is all over the place.
There's a lot of 2004 LiveJournal stuff in here, which was cool at first. Lots of memories. MySpace had those survey things too. Now, they're slowly happening on Facebook 2021 for the theatre performer crowd. There's a lot of playlists. music references, and the LJ entries' mood and music fields are always filled out by each character. That could have been neat in a better book. You know what song should have appeared on David's playlist a lot? "Little Girls" by Oingo Boingo. It's catchy but creepy, and fitting of David. FWIW, I choreographed my first modern dance piece to it, a commentary on the ballet industry, when I was sixteen. It won an award.
Ashleigh showed up in the book here and there until roaring forth as the book's only real plot point on page two hundred and forty-five. The plot lasts barely ninety pages. The paperback I got ahold of was nearly four hundred pages. The plot is unfortunately stunningly problematic: Ashleigh is seventeen. David is nearly a decade older, and knows this. Ashleigh ran away from arguably emotionally abusive but certainly controlling parents. David has not been a mentor to her--their exchanges online read like a romantic attempt on -David's- part. NO! BAD AUTHOR! BAD!
David reveals himself as a shit-headed, boundary-less cowedly moron at best. At worst, I wonder if he's read a book called "Catcher in the Rye." A guy about David's age is into younger girls, too: his sister. But the guy is a rumored sociopath, so David's probably terrified of the book. Ashleigh literally shows up on David's doorstep without warning. I wager most adults would start screaming for a neighbor, and CALL ASHLEIGH'S PARENTS, FOLLOWED BY THE FBI SINCE SHE CROSSED STATE LINES. David, um, chooses to have her sleep at his apartment. He acknowledges he's breaking the law. He buys her food. He takes her to the fair, which...my skin was crawling and I was trying not to scream. David gets her on a plane. She has been savvy enough this whole time to get to New York and to his doorstep with no problems. She is convincing enough to have him come with her. He needs very little convincing. THERE ARE ADULTS ALL AROUND YOU AT THE AIRPORT, YOU MAN-BABY. GET HELP. Ashleigh says to the flight attendant that they're engaged. I had to set the book down so I wouldn't cry. The flight attendant thinks this is wonderful and I think she's on crack. David whines about buying an expensive plane ticket; another, much more expensive one when a little girl pouts at him--oh ew, I just became even more convinced of his inclinations--and then buys flight snacks and stuff, all on his emergency credit card while whining it's overpriced. Hey David, here's a bright idea. CALL THE FBI AND USE THE MONEY FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND BAIL AFTER WITHDRAWING CASH SOMEHOW. CAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL ASHLEIGH'S PARENTS. They'll probably call the FBI -FOR- you, you cowardly utter creep.
Doesn't happen. Ashleigh feels him up and kisses him. He pretends to flip out and she explains how she interpreted the situation when he doesn't want to sleep with her. I alternated between going thermonuclear and being horribly disgusted. Then the doppleganger subplot was back. When it was over, so was the book. My nerves were shot.
I think I can answer this already, but Andy Greenwald, what is WRONG with you?
Save your minds and nerves, and skip this book entirely.
I had hoped I could summarize this review and even provide a TL;DR. As I kept reading, I realized I was going to rip this book to shreds and it was gonna be a long one.
TRIGGER WARNING: An adult who has no boundaries around a teenager. My opinions on what that's called and what should happen are discussed herein.
The book starts out with David, the protagonist, experiencing possible depression written to seem like lethargy and later laziness. This is sprinkled throughout but is simultaneously more of the book than it should have been. Dude, your girlfriend clearly broke up with you early on in the novel. Stop acting like you're still together when she left the country and used phrases that indicate breakups! Oh, you did when Cath showed up and you drooled over her, then you went back to pining for Amy at odd moments. Eighty percent of the book was: party party drugs New York New York Blah Blah BLAH. To quote Smosh when Ianthony was still together: "SHUT. UP.!" Side note: I stopped watching the day Anthony left but had unsubscribed before that. Now, I regularly watch Anthony's channel. To paraphrase Lindsay Ellis as Nostalgia Chick's "Ferngully" review: And now back to this festering pile of pointlessness! A few pages of the book involved an evil twin...doppleganger...thing. Boring, weird and stupid. This book is all over the place.
There's a lot of 2004 LiveJournal stuff in here, which was cool at first. Lots of memories. MySpace had those survey things too. Now, they're slowly happening on Facebook 2021 for the theatre performer crowd. There's a lot of playlists. music references, and the LJ entries' mood and music fields are always filled out by each character. That could have been neat in a better book. You know what song should have appeared on David's playlist a lot? "Little Girls" by Oingo Boingo. It's catchy but creepy, and fitting of David. FWIW, I choreographed my first modern dance piece to it, a commentary on the ballet industry, when I was sixteen. It won an award.
Ashleigh showed up in the book here and there until roaring forth as the book's only real plot point on page two hundred and forty-five. The plot lasts barely ninety pages. The paperback I got ahold of was nearly four hundred pages. The plot is unfortunately stunningly problematic: Ashleigh is seventeen. David is nearly a decade older, and knows this. Ashleigh ran away from arguably emotionally abusive but certainly controlling parents. David has not been a mentor to her--their exchanges online read like a romantic attempt on -David's- part. NO! BAD AUTHOR! BAD!
David reveals himself as a shit-headed, boundary-less cowedly moron at best. At worst, I wonder if he's read a book called "Catcher in the Rye." A guy about David's age is into younger girls, too: his sister. But the guy is a rumored sociopath, so David's probably terrified of the book. Ashleigh literally shows up on David's doorstep without warning. I wager most adults would start screaming for a neighbor, and CALL ASHLEIGH'S PARENTS, FOLLOWED BY THE FBI SINCE SHE CROSSED STATE LINES. David, um, chooses to have her sleep at his apartment. He acknowledges he's breaking the law. He buys her food. He takes her to the fair, which...my skin was crawling and I was trying not to scream. David gets her on a plane. She has been savvy enough this whole time to get to New York and to his doorstep with no problems. She is convincing enough to have him come with her. He needs very little convincing. THERE ARE ADULTS ALL AROUND YOU AT THE AIRPORT, YOU MAN-BABY. GET HELP. Ashleigh says to the flight attendant that they're engaged. I had to set the book down so I wouldn't cry. The flight attendant thinks this is wonderful and I think she's on crack. David whines about buying an expensive plane ticket; another, much more expensive one when a little girl pouts at him--oh ew, I just became even more convinced of his inclinations--and then buys flight snacks and stuff, all on his emergency credit card while whining it's overpriced. Hey David, here's a bright idea. CALL THE FBI AND USE THE MONEY FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES AND BAIL AFTER WITHDRAWING CASH SOMEHOW. CAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL ASHLEIGH'S PARENTS. They'll probably call the FBI -FOR- you, you cowardly utter creep.
Doesn't happen. Ashleigh feels him up and kisses him. He pretends to flip out and she explains how she interpreted the situation when he doesn't want to sleep with her. I alternated between going thermonuclear and being horribly disgusted. Then the doppleganger subplot was back. When it was over, so was the book. My nerves were shot.
I think I can answer this already, but Andy Greenwald, what is WRONG with you?
Save your minds and nerves, and skip this book entirely.
November 30, 2018
This book presented itself as an alt-rock urban odyssey. I flipped through it and caught names like Interpol, The Go! Team, and Death Cab. I eagerly threw myself into Miss Misery. The disappointment came early and often.
I hate this book. The very idea of this book ignites a fire of anger in me unparalleled by any other piece of literature.
Instead of a novel celebrating the mid-aught's alternative lifestyle that I so earnestly participated in, I got some douchey Jew boys lament about how hard it is to be adult and weird and like...so totally uncool that you're the coolest. Good god, the self-righteous dribble went on page after page. And when Andy Greenwald wasn't praising himself for being so cool and name dropping like his life depended on it (at one point he referred to Phoenix as "this little French band" or some shit and I honest to god started screaming), he's wallowing in self-pity because nobody gets him and adulting is hard and whine whine whine.
I could go on and on about how truly terrible this garbage is, but it doesn't deserve any more of my time. Or yours. Do not read this book. In fact, don't read anything Andy Greenwald has ever written. He's clearly David Gould, and Dave is complete fuckstick.
I hate this book. The very idea of this book ignites a fire of anger in me unparalleled by any other piece of literature.
Instead of a novel celebrating the mid-aught's alternative lifestyle that I so earnestly participated in, I got some douchey Jew boys lament about how hard it is to be adult and weird and like...so totally uncool that you're the coolest. Good god, the self-righteous dribble went on page after page. And when Andy Greenwald wasn't praising himself for being so cool and name dropping like his life depended on it (at one point he referred to Phoenix as "this little French band" or some shit and I honest to god started screaming), he's wallowing in self-pity because nobody gets him and adulting is hard and whine whine whine.
I could go on and on about how truly terrible this garbage is, but it doesn't deserve any more of my time. Or yours. Do not read this book. In fact, don't read anything Andy Greenwald has ever written. He's clearly David Gould, and Dave is complete fuckstick.
September 4, 2020
I didn't like this book, but I finished reading it anyway.
At first it seemed promising, including the online journal entries of the three characters, but then it turns solely into David's Story, and how he has to track down his look-alike.
The "fight of his life" isn't really much of a fight at all, and it seems like a rip-off of Fight Club, except the alter ego helps his life.
The relationships between David and Cath were creepy, and I never understood any motivation for them liking each other. The book also kept bringing up Cathy's age (22) all the time David and Ashleigh was another story. He is 27, and she is 17!!!! This is NOT COOL! Sure, letting her stay the night, but personally flying her back to Utah? Entering her home and room? This is NOT GOOD! Even for 2006!!!
I must say, this novel reads like a gratuitous piece written just so the author could show off his music taste and write about women. It's just about how average man feels average and is sad about it. Real compelling stuff.
Not a fan. Good thing this was at a little free library.
At first it seemed promising, including the online journal entries of the three characters, but then it turns solely into David's Story, and how he has to track down his look-alike.
The "fight of his life" isn't really much of a fight at all, and it seems like a rip-off of Fight Club, except the alter ego helps his life.
The relationships between David and Cath were creepy, and I never understood any motivation for them liking each other. The book also kept bringing up Cathy's age (22) all the time David and Ashleigh was another story. He is 27, and she is 17!!!! This is NOT COOL! Sure, letting her stay the night, but personally flying her back to Utah? Entering her home and room? This is NOT GOOD! Even for 2006!!!
I must say, this novel reads like a gratuitous piece written just so the author could show off his music taste and write about women. It's just about how average man feels average and is sad about it. Real compelling stuff.
Not a fan. Good thing this was at a little free library.
September 7, 2017
The end ruins an otherwise OK book
September 28, 2019
Too far-fetched for me to truly enjoy.
December 7, 2019
A great love letter to the days of AIM and LiveJournal. I wish Andy would write more like this!
July 4, 2017
Overview
"Lonely Brooklyn twentysomething David Gould has problems: blown work deadlines, an obsession with an Internet temptress he's never met in the flesh, and, worst of all, a hedonistic double attempting to steal his identity..."
David is a writer with writer's block. He has yet to start the book he's been contracted to write, all about online diaries. He has developed an interest in Cath Kennedy, aka Miss Misery whose online diary interests match his own. An online diary may not be truthful, but can be cathartic for writer & reader.
The doppelganger is the real problem. He's out & about with people David knows. Despite his illegal activities David doesn't go to the police, he just chases the impersonator around New York. When the look-alike steals his wallet and begins draining his bank account he still doesn't report it.
Near the end the author takes a break from chasing Misery and the doppelganger.
A 17 year old David knows from online chats and diary interviews shows up in New York. He gives the runaway a one-day tour of the city and convinces her to go home. David accompanies her back home and even dazzles her parents. This part of the story is well written and a better story than the preceding nonsense.
As it turns out, the story is just a MF to mess with your mind. The doppelganger is real, but conjured by David's indecision and longing for thrills. When he finally makes a firm decision about life with Amy, the double fades away and David is back in control of his life. He says goodbye to Miss Misery and heads to Europe to be with his love, Amy.
Fair, Not impressive.
"Lonely Brooklyn twentysomething David Gould has problems: blown work deadlines, an obsession with an Internet temptress he's never met in the flesh, and, worst of all, a hedonistic double attempting to steal his identity..."
David is a writer with writer's block. He has yet to start the book he's been contracted to write, all about online diaries. He has developed an interest in Cath Kennedy, aka Miss Misery whose online diary interests match his own. An online diary may not be truthful, but can be cathartic for writer & reader.
The doppelganger is the real problem. He's out & about with people David knows. Despite his illegal activities David doesn't go to the police, he just chases the impersonator around New York. When the look-alike steals his wallet and begins draining his bank account he still doesn't report it.
Near the end the author takes a break from chasing Misery and the doppelganger.
A 17 year old David knows from online chats and diary interviews shows up in New York. He gives the runaway a one-day tour of the city and convinces her to go home. David accompanies her back home and even dazzles her parents. This part of the story is well written and a better story than the preceding nonsense.
As it turns out, the story is just a MF to mess with your mind. The doppelganger is real, but conjured by David's indecision and longing for thrills. When he finally makes a firm decision about life with Amy, the double fades away and David is back in control of his life. He says goodbye to Miss Misery and heads to Europe to be with his love, Amy.
Fair, Not impressive.
August 14, 2009
This gentle satire of the emo blogosphere is wilfully postmodern and irreverent, but, perhaps ironically, it is most successful when it tends towards warmth and honesty.
It’s far too easy to compare anything with elements of postmodernism and zeitgeist to Chuck Palahniuk. Nonetheless, I think here the comparison is well-taken. Not because Miss Misery bears more than a passing resemblance to Fight Club, but because Greenwald suffers similar plotting problems to early Palahniuk. The set-up of Miss Misery is a good one – the ‘shadow self’ of embellishment and wish-fulfilment that bloggers leave on the internet comes to life here as a Machiavellian double of the protagonist, who runs around Manhattan wreaking havoc – but like Survivor or Choke, the author clearly doesn’t know where to take this high concept. This result is an entertaining beginning, a saggy middle and an underwhelming conclusion.
It’s a shame that poor plotting drags down an otherwise charming novel. Greenwald writes well and, even though I’m not crazy about the ‘writer writing about writing’ trope, he carries off this ironical solipsism with ease. The other two main characters, crazy-sexy-mundane Cath/Miss Misery and misunderstood Mormon Ashleigh, are thoughtfully-observed and a pleasure to read about. (Actually, if there were more Miss Misery in this book titled Miss Misery, I probably would have liked it more.) There are some genuinely funny moments in the novel, and Greenwald evokes the absurdity of the emo hipster set (with their Sidekick addictions and buttons that read, ‘I made out with Ultragrrrl’) without unfairly skewering them.
I should note that the novel may be terribly boring to people who don’t know who Ultragrrrl is, or have never been transported out of the everyday world by a Jimmy Eat World song. It’s also a little worrying that I – a longtime Livejournal’er whose favourite band is Brand New, i.e. the novel’s prime demographic – was not completely taken with Miss Misery. If I didn’t love it, who would?
If you liked Palahniuk’s Survivor, check this out – not because they’re very similar novels, but because you can obviously overlook plotting problems in any otherwise clever book. Personally, I can’t. However, I will happily read Greenwald’s second novel, if he ever writes one. After all, Palahniuk’s plotting improved with time, too.
It’s far too easy to compare anything with elements of postmodernism and zeitgeist to Chuck Palahniuk. Nonetheless, I think here the comparison is well-taken. Not because Miss Misery bears more than a passing resemblance to Fight Club, but because Greenwald suffers similar plotting problems to early Palahniuk. The set-up of Miss Misery is a good one – the ‘shadow self’ of embellishment and wish-fulfilment that bloggers leave on the internet comes to life here as a Machiavellian double of the protagonist, who runs around Manhattan wreaking havoc – but like Survivor or Choke, the author clearly doesn’t know where to take this high concept. This result is an entertaining beginning, a saggy middle and an underwhelming conclusion.
It’s a shame that poor plotting drags down an otherwise charming novel. Greenwald writes well and, even though I’m not crazy about the ‘writer writing about writing’ trope, he carries off this ironical solipsism with ease. The other two main characters, crazy-sexy-mundane Cath/Miss Misery and misunderstood Mormon Ashleigh, are thoughtfully-observed and a pleasure to read about. (Actually, if there were more Miss Misery in this book titled Miss Misery, I probably would have liked it more.) There are some genuinely funny moments in the novel, and Greenwald evokes the absurdity of the emo hipster set (with their Sidekick addictions and buttons that read, ‘I made out with Ultragrrrl’) without unfairly skewering them.
I should note that the novel may be terribly boring to people who don’t know who Ultragrrrl is, or have never been transported out of the everyday world by a Jimmy Eat World song. It’s also a little worrying that I – a longtime Livejournal’er whose favourite band is Brand New, i.e. the novel’s prime demographic – was not completely taken with Miss Misery. If I didn’t love it, who would?
If you liked Palahniuk’s Survivor, check this out – not because they’re very similar novels, but because you can obviously overlook plotting problems in any otherwise clever book. Personally, I can’t. However, I will happily read Greenwald’s second novel, if he ever writes one. After all, Palahniuk’s plotting improved with time, too.
October 30, 2015
I really enjoyed this book as a sort of a not-so-recent-past time capsule of the'05-08 era (Sidekick phones, CD-R mixtapes, Online Journals, Studded Belts, Drive Thru recrodish bands-fun right?) Andy Greenwald's narrator (who for all intents and purposes appears to be mostly Greenwald mugging under the name David Gould) has the unique perspective of telling the sort of rote Bright Lights, Big City story as a guy who's a little past his coke-in-bathroom-stalls days, but still is an acute observer of it through a series of online journals he follows, ostensibly, as research for a novel he is writing.
With Gould's "IRL" life falling apart he begins to seek out, and be sought out by, some of his online paramours in the real world. While portions of these encounters are cringingly after school special-ly, more often than not Greenwald takes the opportunity to opine on the complexity of online relationships, music, the chasm between one's early and late 20's in a very, yaknow, heartfelt and good way.
The only huge problem I had with the book which, is also, arguably its central plot point is that David Gould's antagonist is...David Gould. But not like an internal struggle kinda deal (at least not initially I think) but like a physical doppelganger traversing New York raising all the kinds of hell that, heretofore, the real David has only been reading about. So there's that, which is a tough to road to hoe especially in a Post Fight Club world. In the end, evil-David's inclusion isn't a huge distraction as he is handled with a sort tongue in cheek disregard. But still, an evil twin?
But I highly recommend for fellow reformed mixtape burning, music pirating, aol away message artists
With Gould's "IRL" life falling apart he begins to seek out, and be sought out by, some of his online paramours in the real world. While portions of these encounters are cringingly after school special-ly, more often than not Greenwald takes the opportunity to opine on the complexity of online relationships, music, the chasm between one's early and late 20's in a very, yaknow, heartfelt and good way.
The only huge problem I had with the book which, is also, arguably its central plot point is that David Gould's antagonist is...David Gould. But not like an internal struggle kinda deal (at least not initially I think) but like a physical doppelganger traversing New York raising all the kinds of hell that, heretofore, the real David has only been reading about. So there's that, which is a tough to road to hoe especially in a Post Fight Club world. In the end, evil-David's inclusion isn't a huge distraction as he is handled with a sort tongue in cheek disregard. But still, an evil twin?
But I highly recommend for fellow reformed mixtape burning, music pirating, aol away message artists
April 19, 2007
This is legit one of the strangest books I've ever read. The quote on the front is that Chuck Klosterman thinks that this book is the "emo fight club." Well, I think Chuck Klosterman is a douchebag, and I've never seen Fight Club, but I did like this book.
Since I've abandoned the childish Livejournal for the more adult blog (I'm soooo mature now), just the word "livejournal" aroses an eyeroll. However, Greenwald's book touches on a market that has never been taken so seriously before. Basically, we follow David, a lazy, self-loathing, self-righteous journalist in his mid-twenties who was recently left by his girlfriend because he sucks and he's not doing anything with his life. He becomes obsessed with the livejournal of a girl who's online alias is "Miss Misery" and as he observes her party girl exploits via the web, he creates his own journal and fills it with fictional accounts of his own grandiose lifestyle. But wait! Someone's been out living his livejournal posts! (this is not funny in the book, by the way) Is this doppelganger real? What is real? You never really find out, but this book is both trippy and intruiging.
Since I've abandoned the childish Livejournal for the more adult blog (I'm soooo mature now), just the word "livejournal" aroses an eyeroll. However, Greenwald's book touches on a market that has never been taken so seriously before. Basically, we follow David, a lazy, self-loathing, self-righteous journalist in his mid-twenties who was recently left by his girlfriend because he sucks and he's not doing anything with his life. He becomes obsessed with the livejournal of a girl who's online alias is "Miss Misery" and as he observes her party girl exploits via the web, he creates his own journal and fills it with fictional accounts of his own grandiose lifestyle. But wait! Someone's been out living his livejournal posts! (this is not funny in the book, by the way) Is this doppelganger real? What is real? You never really find out, but this book is both trippy and intruiging.
December 1, 2007
At first it was hard for me to get into this book, especially the initial sections, but after pg. 71, I was hooked and the information presented during the slow start all came to make sense.
Has a little bit of a meta-twist, which was just enough. I really dislike metafiction as I feel it's a little too coy and plays with the reader. But, anyway, this book only has a wee bit of that.
There are a few parts, especially in the last third of the book that are straight-up laugh-out-loud funny. There are whole sections that are like book crack - when the book is so engaging and good and you want to find out what happens next so badly that you can't make yourself out it down.
It's a fun read and captures a certain NYC lifestyle.
good times.
Has a little bit of a meta-twist, which was just enough. I really dislike metafiction as I feel it's a little too coy and plays with the reader. But, anyway, this book only has a wee bit of that.
There are a few parts, especially in the last third of the book that are straight-up laugh-out-loud funny. There are whole sections that are like book crack - when the book is so engaging and good and you want to find out what happens next so badly that you can't make yourself out it down.
It's a fun read and captures a certain NYC lifestyle.
good times.
December 13, 2007
This is a case where the half-star would have helped, as this is a 3.5-star book, in my opinion. I originally purchased because of the Elliott Smith-referenced title, as I'm sure many did. While the musical (and sometimes geographical) references are fun in a 'Hey!-I-know-that' sort of way, it feels like the pop-culture references (LiveJournal, etc.) were a bit packed in. Personally, fictional reading is best used to get AWAY from modern annoyances/guilty pleasures. Finally, despite being able to sympathize with the new-'self'-in New-York theme, Greenwald simply lost me with his interpretation.
November 4, 2007
On the cover of the novel, there's a quotation from Chuck Klosterman saying "This is the emo Fight Club" so of course I was thrilled to read it. But as I got further and further into the novel I was wondering when David, the main character, would come to realize his schizophrenia...and he never did. His doppleganger existed and wasn't a figment of his imagination. Talk about a let down. But it read very well and had great descriptions and langauge. I'll cut Andy Greenwald some slack since it's his first novel.
August 17, 2008
An interesting concept: When at a point of indecision, the protagonist's personality splits, becoming two separate people, one dull and boring, but normal; the other outrageous a total hedonist, devoted to pursuit of pleasure in the extreme.
The author peppers the story with music references (emo, punk, alternative) that leave the novice or unfamiliar reader (including me, for the most part) a little out of the loop.
Interesting story, satisfying conclusion.
The author peppers the story with music references (emo, punk, alternative) that leave the novice or unfamiliar reader (including me, for the most part) a little out of the loop.
Interesting story, satisfying conclusion.
December 1, 2013
I thought this was a really enjoyable read, especially for someone in their teens or twenties who's computer-savvy. It kept my interest, and at some points I could hardly put it down. If there were half-stars, I'd give it 3 and a half, honestly. The only disappointing part to me was the ending....but I'd definitely read another book by Greenwald!
February 23, 2009
this book seems to be getting sort of a mixed bag of reviews on goodreads, but i bought it purely based on the cover. love it. and Chuck Klosterman calls it the "emo fight club" in the blurbs. we'll see, we'll see.
July 9, 2010
A veryquotable this book was earlier, I think. Either way, the book still hasn't really left my frame of mind since I read it. Not a great piece of literature, again, but something I think a lot of my friends would enjoy.
December 21, 2010
Definitely thought it was going to be like Fight Club, but turns out it wasn't. I really enjoyed reading this book. I could definitely relate myself to David (the real one). Great book, and it took me all of 4 hours to read the 384 pages... It was that addicting. Couldn't put it down.
November 8, 2012
- was a beautiful book to read.
-had fun reading this one, this became one of my favorite book.
-the online thing was bizarre, amazing, and did catch my interest.. real cool!!!!
*i just forgot the date i read this book. been a long time i've read this. hahahaha! but i'm reading it again. lol!
-had fun reading this one, this became one of my favorite book.
-the online thing was bizarre, amazing, and did catch my interest.. real cool!!!!
*i just forgot the date i read this book. been a long time i've read this. hahahaha! but i'm reading it again. lol!
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