Rate this book

22.04 (2014)

by Ben Lerner(Favorite Author)

3.87 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

9025442757 (ISBN13: 9789025442750)

languge

English

genre

Science Fiction

publisher

Atlas Contact

review 1: This was a strange little book. It is told from the point of view of the author of the text. So it is as if the main character/narrator is actually writing the book that the reader is experiencing. It is a clever, though not totally original, technique and, overall, the author handles it very well. At times witty, at times moving, at times pretentious and arrogant, Lerner is intelligent and capable enough to know how to pull it all together into a cohesive whole. It is about facing the challenges of life, making meaningful connections, and dealing with possible impending mortality. However, if reading a book that may require looking up many words in the dictionary or that drifts a bit narratively, then this book is definitely not for you. If however, you want a smar... moret, sometimes funny, and satisfyingly introspective view of our times, than 10:04 should fit the bill. One last thing, where does the title come from? I don't think I've read a book where I had no idea what the title has to do with the story.
review 2: 10:04 is an experimental novel that pushes the boundaries of the form. It is adapted from a short story the author wrote from the New Yorker, and extrapolates on that concept to show the limitations of both language and description. Unfortunately, the science fiction element that attracted me to it is secondary to the privileged inner dialogue of the protagonist. In that way it feels realistic in the sense that your personal struggle often subverts larger issues. It’s jarring to read, but there’s pleasure in his twists of form. I would love for one of my friends to read this because I'm still thinking about it, and yet I wouldn't recommend it to anyone - Catch 22!! less

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