Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31759 in Books
• Published on: 2000-07
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

Wants to be so hip that it hurts
Syrup is a book that wants to have its cake and eat it. On the one hand it wants to be a razor sharp satire on advertising, the media, consumerism and modern aspiration & celebrity obsessed society. On the other hand it wants so badly to be hip, down with the zeitgeist and ultra-modern (the very things it is seeking to satirise) that you can almost feel it.

Unfortunately what Syrup is is neither of these things. Its a soft satire that takes broad swipes at easy targets (Coca Cola, movies, consumerism, the vapidity of branding and advertising) that have been hit before and better. Nor is it as hip as it would like to be. Yes, the pace is relentless and the tone flippant and humourous, but this isn't a dangerous book preaching to the Gen-Y, anti-globalisation culture. Its a mildly diverting comedic tale of a young man trying to survive and make his fortune in the big wide world; a story that has been told in one form or another, and often better, a million times before.

So ignore the blurb about Syrup being an ultra-contemporary satire on our consumerist society. This is pure wish fulfilment. What it is in reality is a slight, entertaining but ultimately forgetable take on an age old story that will date very quickly.

This has to be my favourite book ever!
I don't expect everyone to enjoy this book. I personally love it. It's funny, serious, depressing, uplifting and, most of all, compelling. The "hook" is definitely there, but it is so subtle anyone would have trouble trying to actually find the specific sentence or paragraph that does it. It's hard to find faults with this book, especially as the story is so engrossing that you miss the occasionaly typo.

In conclusion, then: BUY THIS BOOK!

awesome
This is probably the funniest book i have ever read, loved it, i even ordered it from the USA after reading it as i had borrowed a copy from a friend there who recomended it and it wasnt out here in the uk. Just by it and see how good it is for yourself!!! i strongly recommend it, and his other book jennifer government! i have a signed copy of both!