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Memoirs of a Vending Machine
Memoirs of a Vending Machine introduces the characters that appear in the follow up story, Kujira. Read together and in sequence, the two stories show a breadth of character development over a period of about ten years. Josh, from Keitai Friends, does not re-appear until Kujira. Memoirs of a vending machine is told from Mike's perspective as he finds his feet in his adopted home and meets Jon, Mark and Jeff. The relationship they build in this first crazy encounter carries through to the next story and is essential reading if one wishes to truly understand the characters and the interplay between them in Kujira. It is offered free as an extension to Kujira but is a 'stand alone' story that is both entertaining and insightful in its own right. Please enjoy Memoirs of a Vending Machine.
27 pages, Nook
First published January 3, 2011
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52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 28, 2012
I don't normally take the time to review books on here but I'll share with you my Amazon review...
Plot (if you want to call it that): Guy lands at airport in Japan and gets lost. He makes some embarrassing mistakes. He meets other people that speak English. They go to a bar. They sing karaoke. They all go back to the hotel and the guy goes to sleep.
I understand what it is like to work really hard creating a good short story but I don't think Pollard does. I found myself distracted by the grammatical errors and the fact that the author interchanges the name of two characters, Mike and Mark, numerous times. It seems like Pollard is overly proud of his few "darlings" and they do not do much to help his story.
I have many friends who teach English overseas and, judging by their experiences, I think this could be a very interesting story, he just needs to try a little harder.
Also, if you're reading this Pollard, asking your readers not to give you bad reviews at the end of the book is tacky.
Quote: "You will see that others have judged me harshly and given a low rating so if you did not enjoy 'Memoirs', please, I really don't need any more negative criticism. I get it and so do other readers."
Really? Tacky.
P.s. The comma should go before the second quotation mark around the word Memoir.
Plot (if you want to call it that): Guy lands at airport in Japan and gets lost. He makes some embarrassing mistakes. He meets other people that speak English. They go to a bar. They sing karaoke. They all go back to the hotel and the guy goes to sleep.
I understand what it is like to work really hard creating a good short story but I don't think Pollard does. I found myself distracted by the grammatical errors and the fact that the author interchanges the name of two characters, Mike and Mark, numerous times. It seems like Pollard is overly proud of his few "darlings" and they do not do much to help his story.
I have many friends who teach English overseas and, judging by their experiences, I think this could be a very interesting story, he just needs to try a little harder.
Also, if you're reading this Pollard, asking your readers not to give you bad reviews at the end of the book is tacky.
Quote: "You will see that others have judged me harshly and given a low rating so if you did not enjoy 'Memoirs', please, I really don't need any more negative criticism. I get it and so do other readers."
Really? Tacky.
P.s. The comma should go before the second quotation mark around the word Memoir.
June 2, 2011
I chose to read this book based on the catchy title. Unfortunately, I couldn't make myself even finish the first chapter. The grammar usage in this book is atrocious, and I am just not a reader that can look beyond this flaw. The storytelling was also akward and unappealing. There was no catch to make me want to keep reading at all!
November 9, 2020
Just OK. I learned quite a few things about Japan and Japanese.
July 18, 2011
I don't know why everyone gave such low ratings to this ebook. It wasn't a bad read - kinda funny actually. I see some reviewers complained about the typos. I must have a later edition because they weren't any worse than many ebooks. There were a few but not enough to mention.
It is the story of an Australian guy, in Japan to teach English, who gets lost his first day there. He thinks he knows the way back to his apartment, via the street lined with vending machines but, damn, every street has vending machines.
He begins to despair. Stops into a fast food joint, gets a burger and remembers the card in his pocket the super had given him. It's in Japanese but he thinks it may be his new address. He shows it to the girl behind the counter who promptly bursts into tears. Not knowing what he has done he runs from the restaurant.
His adventures continue until he finally hears someone speaking English. They are employed by the same company and he is saved. The guys have a few more adventurous hours before finally heading back to the apartment building.
It is the story of an Australian guy, in Japan to teach English, who gets lost his first day there. He thinks he knows the way back to his apartment, via the street lined with vending machines but, damn, every street has vending machines.
He begins to despair. Stops into a fast food joint, gets a burger and remembers the card in his pocket the super had given him. It's in Japanese but he thinks it may be his new address. He shows it to the girl behind the counter who promptly bursts into tears. Not knowing what he has done he runs from the restaurant.
His adventures continue until he finally hears someone speaking English. They are employed by the same company and he is saved. The guys have a few more adventurous hours before finally heading back to the apartment building.
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May 24, 2011Interesting, yet kind of strange short story. Mike has just arrived in Japan to teach English and almost immediately gets lost. The story follows Mike as he wanders around, unable to speak Japanese and simply utterly lost. The cast of characters he encounters are varied. From the little I know of Japan, the people are represented accurately.
January 8, 2014
This was alright. It's clearly had some editing and considerable rewriting since the first release, judging by previous reviews. It's very superficial though. A bunch of characters with no description, basic motivation and interchangeable names. Alright for a free, quick read.
FYI, Greenseas is a company that sells processed fish. The anti-whaling campaigner is called Greenpeace.
FYI, Greenseas is a company that sells processed fish. The anti-whaling campaigner is called Greenpeace.
September 19, 2014
I like the sense of humor, loved the first part where Mike is lost, but then it felt a little scattered after. I appreciated the authentic expat feel without the annoying over explaining cultural stuff.
June 19, 2011
Spelling errors, grammar errors, and passages that just don't make sense. Don't waste your time.
July 29, 2011
What was the big hype about this book?? Spelling errors grammar errors and a total waste. The only thing these pages are hood for is lining the cat litter box!!!
July 26, 2016
A short, interesting fish out of water tale of an English teacher who arrives in Tokyo and becomes lost, connecting (and disconnecting) with locals and fellow ex-pats.
February 27, 2015
Interesting. Didn't follow why there is 10 year jump between part 1 & 2.
July 15, 2016
short story I guess I would have been more interested if I was learning Japanese
January 27, 2013
Had a strong beginning and it let it all collapse mid-book, wasn't the worst
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews