This
book is entertaining, not so much for its plot as for its style. There are truckloads of books telling tales
of young progressives working to enlighten the masses about corrupt systems, but few told in such a fresh and
economical way.
The whole story unfolds in the form of a diary kept by the unnamed best friend of a late-teens/early-twenties
college dropout named Corky. Both guys are unhappy with the way large corporations seem to break the rules
and expect the population to buy their twisted rationalizations as expressed by the corporate-owned mainstream
media. There is much mention of a recent "financial fiasco," which everyone is dealing with, and which is being
spun as usual to make the corporations look blameless. Corky and his friend run a progressive blog called
ZombieStop, which they founded when twelve years of age. It includes a forum and, as the book progresses, a
satirical comic strip. Corky is also a DJ at an invitation-only club. The two guys are very good at what they
do, and very careful about letting things go to their heads. They just want people to stop being zombies.
The plot has a few twists and turns, but what held me from beginning to end was the spare and elegant prose
style. This is the diary of a young man with a close friend whom he admires. They share a common goal, and
are willing to put in hours, years, really, in front of computer screens to achieve it. His trust of Corky
is tested from time to time by others; he doesn't go crazy or confront Corky at knife-point or anything; he
just reflects upon his feelings in the diary. It is a real treat to read someone's thoughts about friendship,
loyalty, truth, and doubt when they are presented so honestly, and in a very clever deadpan style.
The book reads like a Jane Austen novel; any really intense action occurs offstage (in this case, a house
and a yacht are blown up after some embarrassing personal finance information is uploaded to the blog by
someone calling himself the Jackal; this brings the blog under suspicion but also boosts its following).
What the reader is treated to is the inner thoughts of the number two guy as he handles the blog's newfound
fame, the rekindling of a relationship he has had with a lover who criticizes him constantly, and the
intrusive and leading questions of an FBI agent assigned to sniff out conspiracies. The friend discusses
at length Corky's common-sense progressive ideology and his quietly subversive style without ever sounding
didactic or fawning; he is able to show doubt, modesty, and humor in a way that is rare in literature of
this type.
Downside? The prose, while very good, could do with a comma-ectomy. Buzzell also needs to decide upon
English (“neighbourhood”) vs American (“labor”) spelling. But these are easily fixed, and do not detract
from this little gem of a novel.
Author's Blog
No comments:
Post a Comment