Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Simon & Schuster Audio (2004), Edition: Abridged
Description
Award-winning writer Kunzru takes an ultra-contemporary turn with the story of an Indian computer programmer whose luxurious fantasies about life in America are shaken when he accepts a California job offer.
User reviews
LibraryThing member jayne_charles
Quite a mind-blowing read, the sort of story that could be heading anywhere, you never know what to expect. Perhaps what I like most about Hari Kunzru's writing is the sheer ambition. Like Louis de Bernieres and David Mitchell, he is the sort of author who either doesn't give a toss about the maxim
So many highlights, too many to list, but I loved the crowd in India "participating" in the aftermath of an accident, and the lengthy description (perhaps not even meant to be funny?) of the first-person shooter game. And Guy's meltdown was priceless.
A literary road trip through the most fascinating and well constructed scenery, and highly recommended.
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"write what you know" or he literally does know everything.So many highlights, too many to list, but I loved the crowd in India "participating" in the aftermath of an accident, and the lengthy description (perhaps not even meant to be funny?) of the first-person shooter game. And Guy's meltdown was priceless.
A literary road trip through the most fascinating and well constructed scenery, and highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member bibliobibuli
Arjun Mehta, computer geek and lover of Bollywood films is offered a lucrative IT job in "Amrika", but finds himself an exploited cybercoolie instead. When a job with a global software security organization turns up, it seems like his chance for a fulfilled life has arrived at last. But when he
As the virus spreads, Arjun's actions have far-reaching implications for Marketing Exective Guy Swift with all his vacuous branding pyschobabble, and for the desperately unhappy Bollywood star shooting her next musical in a castle in Scotland.
Yes, it's a very funny, enjoyable read, but so richly detailed that you need to read carefully so as not to miss anything. Kunzru frequently delights with a clever turn of phrase (Arjun "meerkating" above his cubicle to see what's going on, a DJ "who bestrode the Uplifting Ambient Scene like a tight t-shirted colossus", are but a couple of things that made me laugh out loud). But the book also asks very important questions about globalisation, our dependency on computers, and the powerlessness of immigrants.
Oh and the ending! It's just so Bollywood!
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finds himself facing redundancy, he releases a malicious computer virus, so that he can impress his boss with his ability to create a cure for it. The whole wired world switches on their computers to see Arjun's favourite Bollywood actress, Leela Zahir, dancing on their computer while the virus embeds itself into their software, where it wrecks havoc for organisations across the globe. Arjun finds himself on the run from the FBI and declared a terrorist and hides out in the dark underbelly of America.As the virus spreads, Arjun's actions have far-reaching implications for Marketing Exective Guy Swift with all his vacuous branding pyschobabble, and for the desperately unhappy Bollywood star shooting her next musical in a castle in Scotland.
Yes, it's a very funny, enjoyable read, but so richly detailed that you need to read carefully so as not to miss anything. Kunzru frequently delights with a clever turn of phrase (Arjun "meerkating" above his cubicle to see what's going on, a DJ "who bestrode the Uplifting Ambient Scene like a tight t-shirted colossus", are but a couple of things that made me laugh out loud). But the book also asks very important questions about globalisation, our dependency on computers, and the powerlessness of immigrants.
Oh and the ending! It's just so Bollywood!
Show Less
LibraryThing member LizzySiddal
Does for IT what Coupland's Microserfs failed to do. Injects humour into the digital world while dissecting the values of contemporary America, Britain and India!
LibraryThing member msjoanna
The unabridged audio version is read by the author, who does an excellent job bringing a story that doesn't have a natural fit for an audiobook to life. The book is almost too complicated to be listened to rather than read, so it is a credit to the excellent recording that the book is enjoyable in
Overall, the book is a fun satire of the corporate world, globalization, and the life of an H1B visa worker in the technology sector just at the cusp of the crash of the dot com boom. The intertwined stories of the H1B visa holder and author of a major computer virus with the story of a branding/marketing manager worked well together.
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this format.Overall, the book is a fun satire of the corporate world, globalization, and the life of an H1B visa worker in the technology sector just at the cusp of the crash of the dot com boom. The intertwined stories of the H1B visa holder and author of a major computer virus with the story of a branding/marketing manager worked well together.
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LibraryThing member jaygheiser
Good story, good read. Asian kid gets job a programmer/slave with American body shop, then gets job with top AV company in world. They fire him and in retaliation, he releases most virulent virus ever. Apparently ends up happy in the end.
LibraryThing member Gary10
Wild postmodern tale of an Indian computer programmer stuck in Silicone Valley, who loses his job and unleashes a computer virus. Funny and fast moving.
LibraryThing member kaisemic
An entertaining read, though it felt a bit underdeveloped; many of the secondary characters' plots felt more like vignettes than proper stories. Still, Mehta's disillusionment was suitably touching, as Swift's Nathan Barley-like business venture.
LibraryThing member ruthseeley
Starting to see some themes emerging in Kunzru's opus after reading his debut novel, The Impressionist and now Transmission. Identity, belonging, and the fragility of our self constructs. This one feels a little forced, as if he's exploring worlds he doesn't really know (both branding and the
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geek/hacker cultures). Still, bits of it reminded me of early William Boyd - particularly American Stars and Bars. Show Less
LibraryThing member GJbean
Got it fromn Milford, but was not in the right mood to start it.
LibraryThing member drpeff
good read. Depressing.
LibraryThing member Steve_Walker
This book deserves a great deal more attention. It is the perfect satire
on: the Silicon Valley mindset, Conspiracy nuts, and Bollywood all rolled into a very funny novel.
on: the Silicon Valley mindset, Conspiracy nuts, and Bollywood all rolled into a very funny novel.
LibraryThing member thisisstephenbetts
Fast-paced, multi-threaded story, centering around an Indian programmer, and his experiences trying to establish himself in a harsh and competitive employment environment, and the resultant streetcar-out-of-control. Would have liked more on the actual practice of programming, and at least one of
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the plot-threads seemed a little extraneous. But still, very enjoyable, well written, etc. Show Less
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
5 inches
ISBN
074353705X / 9780743537056