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Exposure
Los Angeles, a few years from now. Technology has changed the rules of the movie business with old, long-dead stars brought digitally back to life. Billboards cover every available surface of the city, beaming out a constant flood of commercials starring the likes of John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe, and--the great exception, the last "real" movie star--Colt Reston.
But something is going wrong: A group of anti-tech rebels are attacking the billboards, inspired by a mysterious manifesto known as "The Black Book." A burnt out screenwriter addicted to the latest hot drug finds his world wobbling. Colt takes ill with an unexplained disease--perhaps literally dying of overexposure. A guru who might know why has vanished. And then Montgomery Clift suddenly walks off his virtual set and goes AWOL....
A blistering mash-up of William Gibson, The Ring, and Chuck Palahniuk, EXPOSURE is a great step forward for Kurt Wenzel. Convulsive and thrilling, EXPOSURE is a
devastating tour de force by one of the best novelists working today.
But something is going wrong: A group of anti-tech rebels are attacking the billboards, inspired by a mysterious manifesto known as "The Black Book." A burnt out screenwriter addicted to the latest hot drug finds his world wobbling. Colt takes ill with an unexplained disease--perhaps literally dying of overexposure. A guru who might know why has vanished. And then Montgomery Clift suddenly walks off his virtual set and goes AWOL....
A blistering mash-up of William Gibson, The Ring, and Chuck Palahniuk, EXPOSURE is a great step forward for Kurt Wenzel. Convulsive and thrilling, EXPOSURE is a
devastating tour de force by one of the best novelists working today.
- GenresFiction
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2007
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 2, 2010
When will I learn. Karen has told me to stop reading things for the sole purpose of being able to get rid of the book once I'm done, but I don't listen.
I gave this three stars, but now I think it only deserves two.
I picked this up yesterday while heading out to the post office. It looked innocent enough, well, it looked short. So I brought it. It wasn't until I was standing on line and was up next to be helped that I decided to read the back of the book....Chuck Palanhuick meets Nathaniel West, meets Philip K. Dick. Oh shit. I've really enjoyed two of Mr. Fight Club's novels, and generally I really like Philip K. Dick; and I didn't hate Day of the Locusts but these three people being mentioned together means trouble. In blurb speak this means that the book is most likely going to be episodic and slightly immature while having critiques of consumerist culture (Chuck P.), critiquing Hollywood (Nathaniel W.), and probably make no fucking sense and deal with multiple personalities, schizo shit and other things that can make a story either really awesome or more than likely a piece of shit (Philip K. D.).
I also noticed that it was written by the same guy who wrote Lit Life, a roman a clef (is that right?), about the publishing world that was just on the bearable side of terrible.
Actually this novel is pretty much the same story, as far as I can remember, of Lit Life, but instead of lampooning on New York literati, the target is superficial Hollywood and out of control technology.
For some reason this book wasn't as annoying as his earlier one. It wasn't a great book, but it was bearable. The critiques of Hollywood were kind of obvious and a little condescending. Maybe I'm just not in a very revolutionary mood today, but who gives a shit if Hollywood produces crap? Ignore it. It's really easy to do, Hollywood just isn't that important. Maybe the bubble I live in isn't the healthiest, but there is little that happens in the world of entertainment that I have any awareness of (unless it makes the cover of the tabloids, then I'm aware of it, but I can't say it does much for me), that it all just seems hugely trivial to me. And besides Hollywood has always produced tons of crap. Crap crap crap crap crap: the history of American movies. Yes there are good movies that have been made, and there still are, but there is also so much crap. Crap crap crap crap crap.
I don't know where I was going with this.
The book was bearable. Hollywood has historically created soooo much crap (at maybe a ratio of 15:1, as in fifteen crappy movies for everyone one good movie, but realistically the number is probably closer to 100 to 1, but do we include straight to video releases? I don't know, lots of crap though and a few gems mixed in). This 'review' is crap too. As am I, who refuse to learn my lesson and go back to reading books I might enjoy instead of books I'm pretty sure I won't enjoy and be willing to part with when I finish them.
crap.
I gave this three stars, but now I think it only deserves two.
I picked this up yesterday while heading out to the post office. It looked innocent enough, well, it looked short. So I brought it. It wasn't until I was standing on line and was up next to be helped that I decided to read the back of the book....Chuck Palanhuick meets Nathaniel West, meets Philip K. Dick. Oh shit. I've really enjoyed two of Mr. Fight Club's novels, and generally I really like Philip K. Dick; and I didn't hate Day of the Locusts but these three people being mentioned together means trouble. In blurb speak this means that the book is most likely going to be episodic and slightly immature while having critiques of consumerist culture (Chuck P.), critiquing Hollywood (Nathaniel W.), and probably make no fucking sense and deal with multiple personalities, schizo shit and other things that can make a story either really awesome or more than likely a piece of shit (Philip K. D.).
I also noticed that it was written by the same guy who wrote Lit Life, a roman a clef (is that right?), about the publishing world that was just on the bearable side of terrible.
Actually this novel is pretty much the same story, as far as I can remember, of Lit Life, but instead of lampooning on New York literati, the target is superficial Hollywood and out of control technology.
For some reason this book wasn't as annoying as his earlier one. It wasn't a great book, but it was bearable. The critiques of Hollywood were kind of obvious and a little condescending. Maybe I'm just not in a very revolutionary mood today, but who gives a shit if Hollywood produces crap? Ignore it. It's really easy to do, Hollywood just isn't that important. Maybe the bubble I live in isn't the healthiest, but there is little that happens in the world of entertainment that I have any awareness of (unless it makes the cover of the tabloids, then I'm aware of it, but I can't say it does much for me), that it all just seems hugely trivial to me. And besides Hollywood has always produced tons of crap. Crap crap crap crap crap: the history of American movies. Yes there are good movies that have been made, and there still are, but there is also so much crap. Crap crap crap crap crap.
I don't know where I was going with this.
The book was bearable. Hollywood has historically created soooo much crap (at maybe a ratio of 15:1, as in fifteen crappy movies for everyone one good movie, but realistically the number is probably closer to 100 to 1, but do we include straight to video releases? I don't know, lots of crap though and a few gems mixed in). This 'review' is crap too. As am I, who refuse to learn my lesson and go back to reading books I might enjoy instead of books I'm pretty sure I won't enjoy and be willing to part with when I finish them.
crap.
December 2, 2012
So my school was having it's annual book sale where you can get books for super cheap, so I saw this one and it was one of the only hardcover books there, and I have a real weakness for hardcover books for some odd reason. I read the blurb and I wasn't so sold but again I really like hardcover books so I showed it to one of my friends, who is a book junkie like me and she told me it seemed interesting and she had one of her book junkie friends with her who in turn told me she had actually read it and it was good. So I got it.
It started off a bit weird for me but after the first chapter or two, I really got into it.
The overall plot was interesting and it actually evoked a bit of thought from me on the possibility of technology, media and hollywood taking over. But not in the way of machines and technology turning on us but more like us becoming so obssessed with and surrounded by this stuff that it makes us go crazy.
It sort of felt like a suspense, mystery novel sometimes and in certain parts it lagged a bit but I finished this in two days [you can finish it in less than a day if you have free time].
The overall plot was interesting but some points didn't exactly hit a high note with me which is why this book lost a star:
-Marshall Reed's POV was a bit hard to read sometimes and slightly annoying
-The ending felt a little rushed and concluded weirdly
If you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer or not an avid reader, I highly doubt you'll enjoy the book. Not because it's some powerful, life-altering read but it's slightly confusing towards the end (with lots of big words thrown in).
The book was slightly predictable however, and I figured out the author of The Black Book 1/4 of the way through but there were a few little surprises.
Overall I liked:
-The writing was easy to read despite the big words the author dropped in there like every 3 lines. Seriously, have a dictionary on hand, people. I personally don't mind this because I like to expand my vocabulary but some might find this annoying and it slightly was for me in the beginning because the author really pushes it with all the big words, but I got used to it.
-The plot
-The chracters: they were intriguing and it was interesting to see them unravel and pull the story together. They were each involved significantly to the plot in some way and I liked how there wasn't a billion characters. Just enough to keep up and add to the plot without being confusing.
If you're into super easy, romantic reads, especially young adult novels don't read this. I like those kind of books sometimes because hey, I'm 15 years old. But, I like to read something stimulating too. Which this book delivered on. It was easy to imagine the Los Angeles the author described and there was a lot of detail but the main reason I liked this book was the thought put into the plot: Can a person actually die from media exposure? And the air of mystery was a nice touch because it kept me wanting to read more to find out who wrote The Black Book.
Again, this isn't a life-altering read and I probably won't re-read this book for a very long time but for the price I paid it was a decent read. If you're looking for a filler book with an interesting plot, and you don't mind grabbing your dictionary then this book would be okay for you.
It started off a bit weird for me but after the first chapter or two, I really got into it.
The overall plot was interesting and it actually evoked a bit of thought from me on the possibility of technology, media and hollywood taking over. But not in the way of machines and technology turning on us but more like us becoming so obssessed with and surrounded by this stuff that it makes us go crazy.
It sort of felt like a suspense, mystery novel sometimes and in certain parts it lagged a bit but I finished this in two days [you can finish it in less than a day if you have free time].
The overall plot was interesting but some points didn't exactly hit a high note with me which is why this book lost a star:
-Marshall Reed's POV was a bit hard to read sometimes and slightly annoying
-The ending felt a little rushed and concluded weirdly
If you're not the sharpest knife in the drawer or not an avid reader, I highly doubt you'll enjoy the book. Not because it's some powerful, life-altering read but it's slightly confusing towards the end (with lots of big words thrown in).
The book was slightly predictable however, and I figured out the author of The Black Book 1/4 of the way through but there were a few little surprises.
Overall I liked:
-The writing was easy to read despite the big words the author dropped in there like every 3 lines. Seriously, have a dictionary on hand, people. I personally don't mind this because I like to expand my vocabulary but some might find this annoying and it slightly was for me in the beginning because the author really pushes it with all the big words, but I got used to it.
-The plot
-The chracters: they were intriguing and it was interesting to see them unravel and pull the story together. They were each involved significantly to the plot in some way and I liked how there wasn't a billion characters. Just enough to keep up and add to the plot without being confusing.
If you're into super easy, romantic reads, especially young adult novels don't read this. I like those kind of books sometimes because hey, I'm 15 years old. But, I like to read something stimulating too. Which this book delivered on. It was easy to imagine the Los Angeles the author described and there was a lot of detail but the main reason I liked this book was the thought put into the plot: Can a person actually die from media exposure? And the air of mystery was a nice touch because it kept me wanting to read more to find out who wrote The Black Book.
Again, this isn't a life-altering read and I probably won't re-read this book for a very long time but for the price I paid it was a decent read. If you're looking for a filler book with an interesting plot, and you don't mind grabbing your dictionary then this book would be okay for you.
July 31, 2007
The first time I read a book for Armchair Interviews that I didn't think too highly of. It takes place in L.A. in the not too distant future, where electronic billboards have sprung up everywhere, dead stars are digitally manipulated to act in new commercials - and if you are anybody at all, you have a name in the media... But is over-exposure dangerous? According to Kurt Wenzel it is, but I don't think the plot works too well, and there are a lot of loose threads left hanging. Not a book I'd recommend without a bit of a disclaimer.
June 3, 2008
So far this is super interesting. Set in L.A. in the near future and filled with excellent observations on our crazy culture.
In the end I would have appreciated more of his observations on media, fame, advertising and less of the murder mystery stuff. The last part had far fewer ideas and lots of tedious tying up of loose ends. Overall though, one of more interesting books I've read in a while.
In the end I would have appreciated more of his observations on media, fame, advertising and less of the murder mystery stuff. The last part had far fewer ideas and lots of tedious tying up of loose ends. Overall though, one of more interesting books I've read in a while.
May 12, 2015
This was an odd one: On one hand, I enjoyed it from beginning to end. On the other hand, I can totally understand why so many people didn't like this book. The plot is, well, strange and extremely unrealistic. The theme is a bit too glaring and obvious. The writing style is snobbish. And so on. However, the book was enjoyable! I think people take stuff too seriously. Just read the book for what it is and have a little fun. I'd give it 3.5 to 4 stars out of 5.
August 7, 2008
picked up just on chance at library, funky description intrigued me. I like the basis idea, that advertising and technology can once again make people obsolete. A new twist on the concept, and one that is so very close to real life.
August 24, 2009
interesting concept, but not very well developed
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews