A socially awkward tech worker grapples with his impending divorce, his relationship with his young son, and his struggle to create human connections in a tech-driven world…. Told entirely from Saul’s perspective, the novel, like its protagonist, is full of endearing quirks. With many tongue-in-cheek references to current trends in technology and social media, including emojis periodically peppering the text, the novel is witty and fun. At the same time, the emotional struggles and social ineptitude from which Saul suffers lead to many surprisingly deep moments…the novel [is] a resounding success. A refreshingly zany story about the pitfalls of modern technology and the importance of chasing dreams.” —Kirkus Reviews
“[C]omic but still tender…. I Only Cry with Emoticons masterfully captures both the anxiety and hope of our modern lives.”—Buzzfeed News
"With endless wit and quirky charm, Yuvi Zalkow examines the myriad ways we lose touch with our lives and with each other, and the ways we fumblingly inch our way back. I Only Cry with Emoticons is the perfect fun read for all of us other awkward, anxiety-ridden, dis- and misconnected messes in this mess of a world.”—Powell's City of Books
“What I love about Zalkow’s fiction is how he zips so many of our contemporary anxieties into smart prose…. I Only Cry with Emoticons is tender, searing, and consistently relatable. Zalkow takes the fragmentation of modern life—like our constantly beeping phones, our up-next streams, the very nature of the always-on internet—and transforms this digital garbage into a story that takes hold of the heart.” —Wendy Fox, Bomb Magazine
“A sly, forthright comedy about the intersection of love and technology, men and women, and the way our devices have become a loud third wheel. I couldn't put it down.” —Monica Drake, author of Clown Girl and The Stud Book
“Explores the ordinary ways our lives can go terribly wrong despite our best intentions. In their often-hilarious attempts to find common ground, Zalkow’s characters navigate self-sabotage, second chances and the complicated fluid definition of family in the twenty-first century.” —Margaret Malone, author of People Like You
“It’s a beautiful story about a man who is finding his footing in life after a divorce. It’s a bit geeky, a bit neurotic, but the book really captures all the sadness, joy, and complexity of life." —Crystal Sarakas, host of NPR's Off the Page from WSKG Radio
"Portland writer Yuvi Zalkow captures today's simultaneously awkward and endearing digital age with I Only Cry with Emoticons." —Jashayla Pettigrew, Koin
2022-03-30
A socially awkward tech worker grapples with his impending divorce, his relationship with his young son, and his struggle to create human connections in a tech-driven world.
Saul works at a sophisticated technology company, and he has the potential to be quite good at his job. Unfortunately, he’s spending more and more time hiding in the bathroom working on a novel based loosely on the life of his late grandfather. That same novel is the obstacle that came between him and his soon-to-be-ex wife. While she felt he was never present, he felt she rejected the importance of his work. Now, he’s struggling to navigate the back-and-forth residency of their 7-year-old son, who seems to greatly prefer staying with his mom. When Saul is set up with a woman named Kitty, whose marriage has also fallen apart recently, he’s equally intrigued and repulsed by the idea of dating her. When he sees how well Kitty relates to his son, though, he finds himself drawn to her. Unfortunately, Kitty is struggling, too, and Saul might be unable to meet her needs. Told entirely from Saul’s perspective, the novel, like its protagonist, is full of endearing quirks. With many tongue-in-cheek references to current trends in technology and social media, including emojis periodically peppering the text, the novel is witty and fun. At the same time, the emotional struggles and social ineptitude from which Saul suffers lead to many surprisingly deep moments. Saul’s inability to connect with other characters is echoed by the arm’s-length tone of the narrative itself. For example, he constantly refers to his son as “my boy” rather than creating a deeper connection with the reader by revealing the child’s name. In the end, it is these very idiosyncrasies that make the novel a resounding success.
A refreshingly zany story about the pitfalls of modern technology and the importance of chasing dreams.
