Light-hearted comedy
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Blurb:
Andy Bellows is in a right state. Plagued with insomnia, anxiety and neckache, he’s convinced there’s something seriously wrong with him. And the worst thing is that his doctor agrees. The diagnosis: Andy is in the grip of a self-destructive addiction to technology—he just cannot put that bloody mobile phone down.
Texting, tweeting, gaming and online dating—technology rules Andy’s life. His phone even monitors his bowel movements. So how will he cope when he’s forced to follow doctor’s orders and step away from all of his beloved screens?
From having to leave the flat in search of food like some kind of Neanderthal to engaging in conversations with actual people, Andy’s about to discover just how bewildering—and scary—the analogue world can be.
And when his sixty-day detox hits the headlines—making him a hero to suffering technophiles everywhere—Andy is sorely tempted to pack it all in and escape in the nearest Uber.
Can he get himself out of this mess, and work out how to live a better, technologically balanced life…without consulting Google even once?
The Review:
Right now what we all need is a little bit of light relief, and this book is certainly that. It's not the subtlest type of humour I've ever read - this relies on quite a few ludicrous situations and escapades, some of which are very far-fetched. However, if you suspend disbelief (it really is a bit farcical sometimes) it does have its funny moments. It's playful and entertaining, if a little predictable.
The internet and in particular, social media, are now so ingrained in our lives, that it's hard to imagine how we would survive without them. And yet for many of us, we yearn to find a better balance. The phrase 'Comparison is the thief of joy' is so true for the feelings that can be created by the lure of social media channels.
But, also, there is a lot of positivity out there, it's just knowing which to tune in to and when to tune out if things start to become unhealthy. The combination of light-hearted comedy and a serious topic are a good mixture in this book.
"Public service websites are invariably terrible in the UK. It's just the way things are."
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this preview copy in return for an honest review.