Do You like book Apathy And Other Small Victories (2006)?
I started reading this book when a 16 year-old student gave it to me. I didn’t get past page 2 until summer, though I liked it a lot. Once summer hit, I read 50 pages in one sitting and laughed convulsively the whole way through. After another 50, I decided to set it aside for my trip to the beach next week because I wanted something really good to read. It’s the hysterical 1st person narrative of a really messed up apathetic twenty something whose bizarre sense of humor and way of looking at things more closely resembles mine than anyone (real or fictional) I’ve ever known. It’s very offensive to just about everyone, and I do not recommend it unless you really want to howl spasmodically at the insane human experience. Lots of obscure pop culture references from the 80’s onward, and the strong message that it’s okay to laugh at how worthless and counterproductive some of us were or are at a certain age. But be warned, even the author hopes his parents never read it, as he dedicates it to them. I’d be embarrassed if you told anyone I recommended it. Don’t read it, even if it’s the best thing I’ve read in a very long time.
—Charles
Incredibly funny, there were times that my wife would stop and roll her eyes at my laughing at this stupid book. I think I should probably add that I have had a few too many beers while writing this review, so I might make it sound like it's the the best novel I have ever read. The main character, Shane, is very likable, the interaction with him, and every character seem so real, and natural. True dialogue, and thought behind the dialogue. If you're a visual reader like myself, expect about 5 one hour sessions, if you're a text reader, expect an afternoon. The paperback is only 231 pages. Call me a slow reader if you like, I get my moneys worth. I've now decided to keep this review short and sweet. There were times that I thought I wrote the novel only to entertain myself. If you aren't into some 80's pop culture tossed in with sarcastic comedy (which is next to impossible in a text form) then this is not the book for you, if so, strap on the seat belt for a well written comedy with a feel good ending.This is my first review. Good day.
—Tim
Before starting the review, I'd like to say Paul Neilan cannot really write. At least he cannot in the traditional sense that we are all used to. He can make characters, stories, dialogue, etc., but his structure/style/certain moments of syntax are essentially anomalous when compared to most other books.Despite this, this book is hilarious and somewhat brilliant. Following the apathetic slacker Shane in his hectic and shenanigans-filled life, this novel manages to be painfully, gut-wrenchingly humorous in the driest and most offensive and weird ways while also making a surprisingly engrossing tale of a "happily" derailed life getting dragged onto many other dangerous sets of tracks. The humor and comments both in dialogue and mostly in Shane's head are constantly witty, and almost always dry, bleak, or weird in some endearing humorous way. The humor is by far the highlight of the book, as far as what is advertised and what is given. The surprise gift is Shane himself, jokes, perceptions, look, etc. Shane is one of the most life-like characters constructed and you almost never, until the end of the novel perhaps, feel like you are outside his head. You can feel his genuine back-ground distress, his want for ease, his apathy, his confusion with certain people, like Gwen, as clearly as you can feel a friend's mood in him/her confiding in you or feel Holden's desires from his narration and actions. It's not the same; Shane is not confiding or acting the same way Holden does in tCitR. But Neilan, either through genius, the outpouring of himself into Shane, or both makes Shane very real and very likable as the apathetic snark he is. The plot is good too and the minor twists, connections, and the subtle outcry toward office life's subjugation and deferred dreaming and corporate feeling being taken as life in this world will hook you in as much as the character and humor does at certain points. The book is somewhat short short though, and this can be most felt when another detractor from the book's loveliness to me, (view spoiler),rears it's head. I loved this book though seeing as it is, as previously stated in perhaps too many repeating words, constantly and refreshingly funny and has one of the best written characters of recent times. Recommended to fans of dry humor, weird off-color jokes, humor books, and to those who want a refreshingly weird and good literature experience.
—Jacob