Discourse in a Digital Age discussion

Don't we all though, even as we know we can't live without it?

Wow. I'm a few chapters into this book, but Anne's projected description of it as "So You've Been Publicly Shamed" crossed with "I'm Trying to Reach You" seems pretty spot on. I'm going to start annotating it right away. It will be the first to tell you it is not A Good Novel, but it's certainly a fascinating reflection of internet culture. Thanks for the recommendation, Kim Springer!

Also, very Kurt Vonnegut. (Thanks, reviews, I knew I had heard that voice before.)

Oooo. Vonnegut is my favorite. That's a good comparison!

I am confused! The book seems to be more about the history of marvel comics. It began interesting enough, with the tale Adelne had written some comics that cause her to receive threats, then, span off in the direction of better understanding Adelne and Jack Kirby. What am I missing? If I was sending this to a news column, I would sign it, 'fascinated but confused!'

I feel the same way. It goes off in tangents and it makes it confusing. I think the story line gets overshadowed in the text.

Will be out of town for this month's discussion. Appreciated the way the book skewered some of the hypocrisy, economic elitism and elevation of trivia of internet culture, but ranting got a little bitter for me to continue all the way thru. Was any corrective action/reaction offered?

I'm so glad to read someone else is confused by this book too! Some of the historical facts are interesting to you know.

I can confidently say that the book does not get "better" if you keep going. If you were put off early, then that would not change. I didn't hate the book or anything, but it was definitely a struggle for me to finish it. I'm also not sure if there was actually a story line - it seemed to amount to "Woman begins to use Twitter, is told to stop. Author stand-in hates San Francisco, so he leaves."

Listen to the audio of this bizarre video, where Mr. Kobek takes on a heckler: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqNxk...

Of course, they do have a twitter page:
https://twitter.com/heardulikebooks

Ugh. Kenny's comment about "it doesn't get better" might be a killer for me. I don't know that I thought it would get better but...does something happen? Does something get resolved? I'm probably halfway through but can't come tomorrow night (Cards' game with Evan's baseball team). I marked some commentary that was kind of interesting or pointed but...it does just feel like sour grapes and also I GET IT YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR WAY TO SAY WHETHER SOMEONE IS BLACK OR BROWN OR WHITE. I found the description of the construct of race interesting the first time around...the 53rd time he used it less so. Maybe that's my privilege showing. And the writing style ain't Kurt Vonnegut. KV never annoys me with his weirdness.

All great comments, and Kim and Anne, you will be sorely missed. Hope some Millennial comes to defend it, because otherwise it'll be a lot of "I Hate This Book!". I'm less than 1/3 thru, and have used up all my sticky notes writing snarky, outraged reactions to it. Good Novel, Bad Novel, pooh! -- no kind of novel at all, said the Old Fogey. Yes, hope Sylvester got to read it, and anxious to hear what David has to say.

I can't be there tonight. I didn't finish the book, although I thought there were some really funny phrases. I think I need more plot.

I was impressed with the discussion last night. It actually help me like the book better. The problem was it was so annoying I didn't want to know if there was anything in it that was worth listening. I think there was after the discussion. To bad he put it in such an annoying manor.