Sooo I adore BJ Novak and his cleverness. Love it. His stories gave me a lot to think about, but they didn't have much of an ending. I wanted a moral, I guess. I think that was intentional, leaving that open so that you could make up your own moral of the story, your own beliefs.
My favorite stories were:
-The Rematch (yes, thank you for reading this to me, Beej. That made it even better) -Walking on Eggshells (man, this really hit me in the feels. I'm glad that girl gave up the whole thing. So great. It really impacted me. I put myself in her shoes) -I never want to walk on the moon (because the story just made me want to walk on the moon so I could see my ten little toes and be happy) -The Man Who invented the calendar (one word: genius) -MONSTER: The Roller Coaster (quite possibly my top favorite story. God, this was just beautiful. And naming the coaster maker Christo? Just beautiful. I got you, BJ. I see what you did there) -Quantum Nonlocality and the death of Elvis Presley (as an Elvis fan, this hurt me, but in the best way) -Kellogg's (because this story went way deeper than expected and I was so glad the boy chose his biological father. His real parents bugged the shit out of me) -One of these days we have to do something about Willie (again, BJ told this story beautifully. The abrupt ending gets me every time) -If You love something (yes, just yes) -Heyyyyy, Rabbits (quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever read ever. In my life. Ever. Like ever) -constructive criticism (that little Don Junior is my favorite person in the entire book. How cute was he? Smarty pants) -Rome (I. Want. That. Life)
Sooo basically every other story was really great, but not great enough to be listed, am I right? I still enjoyed reading them. Sophia was my second favorite character, but I'm not sure how I feel about her story as a whole. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
Now I shall answer his discussion questions at the end of the book:
-do you think the book was funny? Why or why not? yes, the book was funny, but it had a lot of thought provoking stories as well. It was sad sometimes too. Why? Because you're evil, BJ -did you flip through the book and read the shortest stories first? Yes and no. When I got the book I did read some of the short stories, but then I read it in order. -what is quantum nonlocality? Be concise. Who the fuck knows? Do you know? Whatever it is, it sounds awful. Actually, if I had to guess, I'd say it means being there without being there? Or existing without really existing? -do you think discussion questions can be unfairly leading sometimes? Why? Yes. Because I said so. -who are we supposed to be discussing these questions with? Nicole. Everyone go discuss this with her. She wont mind. -do you normally have discussions in response to a question that was posed by a person not participating in the discussion? Why or why not? No. Because no dammit! -do you think "why not" is ultimately a better question than "why?" Yeah I do, but still, both are annoying as fuck -why or why not? I deeply regret this
One more thing. Who was the Warlord from Julie and the Warlord? Was it Kony? Please respond.
My favorite stories were:
-The Rematch (yes, thank you for reading this to me, Beej. That made it even better)
-Walking on Eggshells (man, this really hit me in the feels. I'm glad that girl gave up the whole thing. So great. It really impacted me. I put myself in her shoes)
-I never want to walk on the moon (because the story just made me want to walk on the moon so I could see my ten little toes and be happy)
-The Man Who invented the calendar (one word: genius)
-MONSTER: The Roller Coaster (quite possibly my top favorite story. God, this was just beautiful. And naming the coaster maker Christo? Just beautiful. I got you, BJ. I see what you did there)
-Quantum Nonlocality and the death of Elvis Presley (as an Elvis fan, this hurt me, but in the best way)
-Kellogg's (because this story went way deeper than expected and I was so glad the boy chose his biological father. His real parents bugged the shit out of me)
-One of these days we have to do something about Willie (again, BJ told this story beautifully. The abrupt ending gets me every time)
-If You love something (yes, just yes)
-Heyyyyy, Rabbits (quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever read ever. In my life. Ever. Like ever)
-constructive criticism (that little Don Junior is my favorite person in the entire book. How cute was he? Smarty pants)
-Rome (I. Want. That. Life)
Sooo basically every other story was really great, but not great enough to be listed, am I right? I still enjoyed reading them. Sophia was my second favorite character, but I'm not sure how I feel about her story as a whole. I'm still trying to figure that one out.
Now I shall answer his discussion questions at the end of the book:
-do you think the book was funny? Why or why not?
yes, the book was funny, but it had a lot of thought provoking stories as well. It was sad sometimes too. Why? Because you're evil, BJ
-did you flip through the book and read the shortest stories first?
Yes and no. When I got the book I did read some of the short stories, but then I read it in order.
-what is quantum nonlocality? Be concise.
Who the fuck knows? Do you know? Whatever it is, it sounds awful. Actually, if I had to guess, I'd say it means being there without being there? Or existing without really existing?
-do you think discussion questions can be unfairly leading sometimes? Why?
Yes. Because I said so.
-who are we supposed to be discussing these questions with?
Nicole. Everyone go discuss this with her. She wont mind.
-do you normally have discussions in response to a question that was posed by a person not participating in the discussion? Why or why not?
No. Because no dammit!
-do you think "why not" is ultimately a better question than "why?"
Yeah I do, but still, both are annoying as fuck
-why or why not?
I deeply regret this
One more thing. Who was the Warlord from Julie and the Warlord? Was it Kony? Please respond.