Re: feed

Let's think of words to describe Feed by M.T. Anderson.
1) Unsettling
2) Creepy
3) Intriguing
4) Annoying
5) Spastic

Now, before I rant, I have to say that there were parts of this story that I really enjoyed.  The joy was all in the tidbits.  My favorite quote "You're as handsome as a duck in butter!" made me smile and it will be a long time before I forget Anderson's wonderfully unsettling description of beef country. *shudders appreciatively*  I also love the use of trademarking. Genius!

Ok, then there's the not so joyful bits. Such as, the entire writing style. I get that it's a stream-of-consciousness deal with someone who has a brain that pretty much functions in ten second increments between commercial interruptions, but I CAN'T HANDLE IT!  There are other ways to get the point across than having an entire novel written in the disconnected, aggravating banter of "tweenie girls go stoner"  made me put this book down in frustration multiple times.  I enjoyed the interlude with important adults speaking this way...but having the entire novel in this voice was overwhelming and I got lost a few times because of it.

Rant item number two up to bat! Well, this is completely up to the author, but I was hoping that the main character would be a bit more of a stand-up guy.  Oy vey...I knew he was going to have to be a moron, but I held out this hope the entire time that he would come around or do something meaningful as things started going downhill.  I finished the book with a "Well, crap" kind of resignation instead of wondering what might be about to happen next. 

And finally, I hate the gratuitous use of profanities.  If we don't want young people using profanities, because, well, we say they are PROFANE, then why do we keep giving them literary characters that can't last an entire conversation without dropping a foul word or two?  The author made up some of his own "catchy" words for items that were cool or not, why couldn't all profanities have been replaced similarly with made-up words? Or, for that matter, why not have the built-in feeds have a filter that doesn't allow minors to use such language?  

Alright, alright, I'm done.  Interesting book, but not one I will read a second time.