Joshua Ferris: "Then We Came To The End"

Then We Came To The End, by Joshua Ferris, was not what I expected. I knew it had been nominated for the National Book Award. I knew that it was about a Chicago ad agency during the dotcom bust of 2001. I expected a wry, cynical view of white-collar office life and the folly and self-importance of the high-flying late 90s. I thought it would be funny and dark and satiric and a relatively light read.

Nope.

First of all, I didn't really like it.

I seem to be in the tiniest of minorities here - every time I turn around, I see it on someone's top 5 or top 10 books of 2007 list - The New York Times, EW, Slate.  Critics have called it "hilarious," "totally off-the-wall", "acidly funny", and "entertaining." I will grant that the book is original. It is divided into roughly three sections, two of which are told in the first person plural in a Greek-chorus, Everyman-esque format.  The narrators are the collective employees of a continuously downsizing ad agency. Ferris' book is unique - his storytelling is almost frustratingly methodical, while also omniscient and universal. His doomed copwriters and art directors experience the challenges of the workplace that many of us have shared: office gossip, petty arguments, romances, unrequited crushes, paranoia and backstabbing. The art of wasting time. The satisfaction of being busy and meeting deadlines. The book even explores the pall that cancer casts on the co-workers when one of their supervisors is rumored to be afflicted.

However, I just couldn't get into it. I found that I didn't really care about any of the characters - perhaps this is a casualty of the faceless narration. The book became a chore to read. There were moments of brilliance, and I laughed out loud at times in recognition of one observation or another, but I just didn't love the book. I can't quite figure out what all the hoopla is about. Again, Ferris' approach was very creative, and a writer I met recently commented that this seems to be the first book about the contemporary workplace that has broken through. Both may be true, but that didn't make it a great read, in my opinion.

I know I am an army of one here, but I just can't recommend the book.

Ok, bring it on - tell me why you liked it.

Comments

[Andrew]

Without ruining the book for others, I will simply say that I was struck by the author's ability to demonstrate how contemporary society can obscure the difference between the trivial and the vital.

While I strongly disagree with Gayle on this one, I admire her ability to present her analysis with with clarity and precision. Please keep up the good work in 2008 and beyond.

[Nancy West]

Well, just for the record, you are not actually an army of ONE -- please go back and look at my comment on your Oct 10 post!

[Gayle]

Nancy - I stand corrected. I am sorry for not remembering your comment. I didn't mind the style as much as you did; my issue was more with the characters. But I am glad to know we're a small army of two!

[Jeane]

I am glad to read another opinion of this book; I've seen a few favorable reviews and was curious about it. You gave more details than the others.