About:
The New Republic by Lionel Shriver is a novel about the nature of journalism. This is Shriver’s 11th novel, she is a journalist and author who currently calls England her home.
The publisher is giving away one copy of this book –to enter fill out the Rafflecoptter form at the end of the post.
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Thoughts:
I jumped on the chance to read The New Republic by Lionel Shriver (Facebook) because I tremendously enjoyed the author’s so much for that, the novel grabbed me from the same page and I felt as if Ms. Shriver wrote the book especially for me. For my friends who are avid readers, you know what a special feeling it is.
When I read the synopsis I thought it would be a book I’d like. A cynical guy like me who realizes that half the news out there are simply made up (FOX and CNBC – I’m looking at you) as well as heard from firsthand accounts when CNN reporters told public officials that unless they release a statement, they’ll simply make one up and attribute it to them. The book sounded much in the style of so much about that, a good mix of fiction and realistic misery.
As hard as I tried, I could not enjoy this book. The characters were boring, none I could relate to or likeable. I almost put the book down the first half because it simply lingered on and on without much development with few twists.
This novel does bring up many good questions about the roles journalists play in the media and how they manipulate the “news”. How journalists’ self-interests supersedes the public’s need-to-know, how stories are spun and more.
Ms. Shriver is a talented writer, however this novel was simply not for me. The jokes were clever but it didn’t work because the reader was always a step behind the characters, looking from the outside but never part of the inner circle and the ending simply left me unfulfilled.
Synopsis:
An organization called SOB from a fictional part of Portugal called Barba is trying to gain independence and stop the Muslim immigration by terrorizing parts of the world. However, the attacks seemed to stop and journalists assigned to Barba have nothing to do beside discussing a fellow journalist named Barrington Saddler.
In comes Edgar Kellogg who is Saddler’s replacement. Kellogg feels that he has to fill the shoes of a legend but somehow manages to out due Saddler’s stupid behavior with even less journalistic integrity then previously thought.
Buy this book in paper or electronic format
More books by Lionel Shriver
Congratulations: ayancey@
Zohar — Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free from TLC Book Tours.
*Amazon links point to an affiliate account
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Thank you so much for the opportunity!
Darn, I'm sorry that this one didn't quite work for you the way you'd hoped, but thanks for being a part of the tour.
Thanks for the opportunity. I am intrigued by the subject and have wanted to try this author. I don't think I've ever seen CNBC but have seen enough of Fox to concur :)