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Set in Los Angeles, the novel follows Jake Reed, a world-weary recent college graduate struggling to find use for his liberal arts degree amidst a waning workforce. He eventually lands a job in real estates as a "Social Media Manager," a role that requires the mindless pursuit of likes, tweets, and hits.
After a death in the family and a surprise inheritance, Jake quits his job and meanders through lonely hotel rooms, quiet beach towns, and then, in a dramatic shift, stations himself in West Hollywood where disillusioned twenty-somethings lose themselves in the madness of drugs and sex. It is here that the only proof of memories is found in filtered photographs posted online from the night before.
Miller captures the angst, restlessness, and spirit of the Millennial Generation — a group mindlessly charging through the recession during a time when the line between existence in the physical and digital world is blurred. The novel provides a fascinating, grim, and often times humorous portrayal of the lifestyle that represents our contemporary youth.
Anonymous
Posted June 28, 2012
This is a story of a twenty-three year old aspiring writer, Jake Reed, who is dwindling away on isolated beaches and in lonely hotel rooms in Southern California, while he wonders what's wrong with his life, why he feels so disconnnected, and why he can't sleep or seem to find happiness. At the start of the novel, Jake is presently living with an immigrant Ukranian girl, Tatiana (a victim of being illegally trafficked into the US for the purposes of prostitution).
Miller weaves a melodic tale full of introspection, thoughts and reveries as Jake, after a dealth in the family, decides to quit his meanliness job and takes a year off to travel. Jake heads to the heart LA where he meets a crazy, interesting cast of characters, and, in the process, tries to learn something, anything, about himself.
I taste Murakami. I get a hint of Salinger. I detect a wiff of Eugenides. But it all comes together in a style that becomes uniquely Miller's as he carries you on a journey of loss, tragedy, love, music, heartbreak, social media, sex, drugs, literature, meaning and relationships. A novel that makes you think about modern life today. I couldn't put it down.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 20, 2012
That review on June 28 was spot on.
2 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 4, 2013
Perhaps it's the fact that I am so busy that I barely have any time to read a book all the way through these days, but I find Miller's novel astoundingly interesting
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 5, 2013
This was a nice not-so-little clever read about some kid that has no life, but a bit of cash and tries unsuccessfully to find a life. Nick Miller is not the next coming of anyone and really needs to lighten up a bit.
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Posted December 25, 2012
I kept waiting for this book to have a point - slogged through all the way to the end (yes, I know - if it was so bad, why did I keep reading?). Don't waste your time on this drivel.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kinch
Posted December 5, 2012
This is an egregiously pretentious and sophomoric attempt at a novel.
If you really are a fan of Hemingway (or Salinger, or any other of the famous names dropped throughout this book), you will be infuriated
by the woeful immaturity of this book, both in style and substance.
A waste of $.99 and a couple of hours.
Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2012
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0 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
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Posted June 24, 2012
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Posted May 11, 2013
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Posted April 3, 2013
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Posted October 29, 2012
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Posted April 21, 2013
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Posted October 30, 2012
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Overview
Set in Los Angeles, the novel follows Jake Reed, a world-weary recent college graduate struggling to find use for his liberal arts degree amidst a waning workforce. He eventually lands a job in real estates as a "Social Media Manager," a role that requires the mindless pursuit of likes, tweets, and hits.
After a death in the family and a surprise inheritance, Jake quits his ...