Book Review -- 5: Transmission
The Review:
Hari Kunzru writes in his this second book – “The real world possesses the paradoxical quality of not feeling real enough”. Maybe that is why he makes a super-writer effort (and does not fail in it) to tell a story that is based on an entity that is entirely virtual – a computer virus. But then, computer viruses don’t drop out of heaven. They are carefully crafted by minds so intelligent that they should not be allowed to sit idle. So, here enters the protagonist – an engineer...and throw in an actress, a business tycoon and of course all the America that Silicon Valley is, and you have an interesting read. The novel is fast paced and entertaining...esp. if you are or have been a management student or an engineer, like to watch Bollywood flicks, read trivia about Bollywood celebrities( yeah! Delhi Times stuff) and enjoy the power that comes with technology. Just be patient enough to read through the book because at times, the language becomes clinically precise (oh! well...let me say it...boring).
I don’t know about the real world, but this novel possesses the oxymoronic quality of seeming freshly familiar.
Rating:
7/10
Why I read this book?
A couple of years back, I had read rave reviews about Hari Kunzru. Since then, I very much wanted to read his work. He hasn’t disappointed me, to say the least. In fact, I think it will be a good idea to read his first book – The Impressionist.
Next read:
The Inheritance of Loss
Hari Kunzru writes in his this second book – “The real world possesses the paradoxical quality of not feeling real enough”. Maybe that is why he makes a super-writer effort (and does not fail in it) to tell a story that is based on an entity that is entirely virtual – a computer virus. But then, computer viruses don’t drop out of heaven. They are carefully crafted by minds so intelligent that they should not be allowed to sit idle. So, here enters the protagonist – an engineer...and throw in an actress, a business tycoon and of course all the America that Silicon Valley is, and you have an interesting read. The novel is fast paced and entertaining...esp. if you are or have been a management student or an engineer, like to watch Bollywood flicks, read trivia about Bollywood celebrities( yeah! Delhi Times stuff) and enjoy the power that comes with technology. Just be patient enough to read through the book because at times, the language becomes clinically precise (oh! well...let me say it...boring).
I don’t know about the real world, but this novel possesses the oxymoronic quality of seeming freshly familiar.
Rating:
7/10
Why I read this book?
A couple of years back, I had read rave reviews about Hari Kunzru. Since then, I very much wanted to read his work. He hasn’t disappointed me, to say the least. In fact, I think it will be a good idea to read his first book – The Impressionist.
Next read:
The Inheritance of Loss
Labels: Reading
