Then We Came to the EndJoshua Ferris
Once upon a time, I worked in an office. It was the most depressing, most soul-crushing, most horrible time of my life. The seconds passed like hours, the days like weeks. I often had no work to do, yet had to appear busy (which is more difficult than it sounds, trust me). Everyone was miserable. The only relief came during those ten blissful minutes during which I tramped outside for a smoke break. In fact, even writing these few short sentences is enough to bring this time back in all its depressing glory. That's why I'm surprised to find I liked Then We Came to the End as much as I did. Although it often struck too close to home, it is truly, as The New Yorker said, a "masterwork of pitch and tone."
Then We Came to the End is both comic and tragic, both uplifting and utterly depressing. If you've spent time in an office, you'll understand how this can be so, and so you'll recognize yourself in these pages. If you've never worked in an office -- you're quite lucky, aren't you? -- allow Ferris to take you on a tour of the life that could have been yours. True, such a life is filled with moments of humor (gossip, interoffice intrigue, the occasional anecdote that helps to lighten a day), but it is often filled with moments of pain, as well, as interoffice politics, layoffs, and a general malaise abound.
Then We Came to the End follows several characters who work in an ad agency, but this novel is not so much about these characters as it is about the effect office life has on the soul. To this end, Ferris employs the first-person plural, a corporate We, if you will. This technique doesn't feel old or overdone, and it's a testament to Ferris' skill as a writer that he is able to maintain this voice for the duration of the novel (except for a short divagation to the third person in the middle). I was surprised by how connected I felt to these characters both as a group and as individuals. Although I'm not counting Then We Came to the End among the best books I've ever read, I'm glad I had the experience.
(Note: Because of the monster Drood, Then We Came to the End is the first entry in April's reading resolution.)
In a nutshell: Full of humor and pathos, Then We Came to the End lives up to the hype.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
Then We Came to the End is both comic and tragic, both uplifting and utterly depressing. If you've spent time in an office, you'll understand how this can be so, and so you'll recognize yourself in these pages. If you've never worked in an office -- you're quite lucky, aren't you? -- allow Ferris to take you on a tour of the life that could have been yours. True, such a life is filled with moments of humor (gossip, interoffice intrigue, the occasional anecdote that helps to lighten a day), but it is often filled with moments of pain, as well, as interoffice politics, layoffs, and a general malaise abound.
Then We Came to the End follows several characters who work in an ad agency, but this novel is not so much about these characters as it is about the effect office life has on the soul. To this end, Ferris employs the first-person plural, a corporate We, if you will. This technique doesn't feel old or overdone, and it's a testament to Ferris' skill as a writer that he is able to maintain this voice for the duration of the novel (except for a short divagation to the third person in the middle). I was surprised by how connected I felt to these characters both as a group and as individuals. Although I'm not counting Then We Came to the End among the best books I've ever read, I'm glad I had the experience.(Note: Because of the monster Drood, Then We Came to the End is the first entry in April's reading resolution.)
In a nutshell: Full of humor and pathos, Then We Came to the End lives up to the hype.
Bibliolatry Scale: 4 out of 6 stars
8 comments:
As someone still stuck in an office, I've hesitated about reading this (I have to get up every morning after all). It sounds like i should take a deep breath and try it!
I liked this one - and I STILL work in an office. I've edited my review to add a link to yours.
That's funny. I work in retail, but I get to be the boss man, I wonder if thats why I actually hated the book?
i read this a few months back and could totally relate because i also started my after-college life as corporate veal in a cube.
i didn't think the book was stellar--it was a bit quirky for me--but i did enjoy it. good review!
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I still work in an office and can empathise so muc with your first paragraph. Only till septmber though when I'mfinally back off to uni! Sounds inteesting and worth a read though.
I liked this book a lot. It probably wasn't the best thing I read in 2007, but it was certainly one of the most interesting and different books I read. I was definitely impressed with how he maintained the "we" voice throughout.
I can't wait to read this! Thanks for the review.
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