Review: From "Red Adept Reviews"
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 12, 2010
Plot/Storyline: 4 3/4 StarsThe premise of the novel was a modern adaptation of the theory of "Six Degrees of Separation." If you are unfamiliar with this concept, not to worry; the author spells it out by working an explanation seamlessly into the storyline.Using "My Face," a fictional website similar to "My Space" and "Facebook", the story lead me into the lives of six unrelated people across the globe. I was concerned when the first part of the novel had a lot of texting in it simply because I am not up on all of the abbreviations used these days. I think all of the messages were made pretty clear within the context, though. It helped that Jeremy, one of the persons doing the texting, was probably operating on the same level as I would were I to be a "texter."Each of the six main story threads were intriguing and anomalous, even in their normality.  I was drawn into each story as it unfolded. Most importantly, there were no `cliff-hangers' at the end of every chapter to get me irritated when the storylines changed.On a deeper, almost subliminal level, the novel spoke about society today.  It portrayed how dependant we have become on technology, for some even to the point of letting it not only control their lives, but define their very existence. It also made statements about commercialism and its effect on the individual. No character pontificated on these subjects; these ideas were woven into the story like a hidden current in a swiftly flowing river.I did have a few doubts about the technical issues regarding the internet site usage, but I'm no expert, so I gave it the benefit of the doubt.My only complaint was that, in the shifting of storylines, quite often a new chapter would join a character prior to events that had already happened to a different character. I enjoyed that I was able to find out the reasons behind certain behaviors, but I think it would have been easier to follow had there been time/date stamps at the beginning of each chapter.Characters: 5 StarsEach character was wonderfully distinct.  In the beginning, I really did not like Rachel. She was the epitome of a product of the "Me Generation." Over the course of the novel, she grew slowly into one of my favorite characters. Reading about her, I ran the gamut of emotions from dislike to pity to empathy.  I think her growth was best shown through her choices of means of communication throughout the novel. (Hint: She was an avid `texter' in the beginning.)I also really enjoyed the unemployed engineer who goes to work in a fish market and the collections agent. I felt their frustrations, hopes, and resignations.Writing Style: 5 StarsThe straightforward writing style made for an effortless read. While the descriptions were sparse, the spirited dialogue and absorbing narrative kept me reading when I should have been doing other things.