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Do Not Resuscitate
Jim Frost thinks that when you’re dead, you’re dead. Gone. Finished. Kaput. But on the eve of his 73rd birthday, his daughter suggests he have his brain downloaded to a microchip for safekeeping, and Jim is forced to consider what it really means to die - and what it might mean to live forever.
Winner in the 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award and semifinalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Award, Do Not Resuscitate is the firsthand account of Jim Frost, an aging misanthropist who witnessed the rise and fall of the United States as a world power, the digitalization of the planet, the advent of the water wars, and the near collapse of the global economy. Yet, he remains impervious to it all. Concerned more with his plasma TV, high-speed internet, and continual supply of hash, 20-something Jim takes an under-the-table job off Craigslist delivering mysterious red coolers to strangers in cafés in an effort to pay the bills. But when Jim’s enigmatic employer asks him to fly to North Korea for a delivery, Jim starts to wonder what he’s gotten himself into.
Do Not Resuscitate received honorable mention at the 2015 Green Book Festival, which spotlights "books that contribute to greater understanding, respect for and positive action on the changing worldwide environment".
Winner in the 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award and semifinalist in the 2015 Kindle Book Award, Do Not Resuscitate is the firsthand account of Jim Frost, an aging misanthropist who witnessed the rise and fall of the United States as a world power, the digitalization of the planet, the advent of the water wars, and the near collapse of the global economy. Yet, he remains impervious to it all. Concerned more with his plasma TV, high-speed internet, and continual supply of hash, 20-something Jim takes an under-the-table job off Craigslist delivering mysterious red coolers to strangers in cafés in an effort to pay the bills. But when Jim’s enigmatic employer asks him to fly to North Korea for a delivery, Jim starts to wonder what he’s gotten himself into.
Do Not Resuscitate received honorable mention at the 2015 Green Book Festival, which spotlights "books that contribute to greater understanding, respect for and positive action on the changing worldwide environment".
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First published April 1, 2015
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About the author
Nicholas Ponticello
10 books40 followersNicholas Ponticello is an educator and writer in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from University of California, Berkeley with degrees in mathematics and astrophysics and later earned his masters in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ponticello is interested in exploring the intersection of science, sustainability, mental health, and education, and hopes to encourage more systems thinking and sustainability-themed curricula at the secondary school level.
Mr. Ponticello is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. In 2020, he was awarded the Sue Alexander Grant for his work on a YA novel provisionally titled WHAT IF I DID? What If I Did? is based on his experience coping with debilitating OCD and his struggle to overcome it through years of cognitive behavioral therapy. Mr. Ponticello completed the six-week intensive outpatient clinic at UCLA and went on to become an advocate for the International OCD Foundation. He has written for the IOCDF blog and has spoken on a panel about relationships and OCD at the annual IOCDF Conference.
Mr. Ponticello grew up in Northern California and began his career as the operations manager at KOMENAR Publishing in Oakland, CA. He is a longtime runner, and has coached champion cross-country and track & field teams at the high school level. Mr. Ponticello is also the author of Do Not Resuscitate, a fictional biography that considers transhumanism and the intersection of technology and sustainability. He has studied writing under Kim Krizan (Before Sunrise, Zombie Tales 2061) and Bruce Miller (Handmaid's Tale, ER). Do Not Resuscitate won a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award, an INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award, and a CIPA EVVY Award. His second novel, The Maiden Voyage of the Destiny Unknown, also won a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and was listed as one of 100 Notable Books from the Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition.
Mr. Ponticello is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. In 2020, he was awarded the Sue Alexander Grant for his work on a YA novel provisionally titled WHAT IF I DID? What If I Did? is based on his experience coping with debilitating OCD and his struggle to overcome it through years of cognitive behavioral therapy. Mr. Ponticello completed the six-week intensive outpatient clinic at UCLA and went on to become an advocate for the International OCD Foundation. He has written for the IOCDF blog and has spoken on a panel about relationships and OCD at the annual IOCDF Conference.
Mr. Ponticello grew up in Northern California and began his career as the operations manager at KOMENAR Publishing in Oakland, CA. He is a longtime runner, and has coached champion cross-country and track & field teams at the high school level. Mr. Ponticello is also the author of Do Not Resuscitate, a fictional biography that considers transhumanism and the intersection of technology and sustainability. He has studied writing under Kim Krizan (Before Sunrise, Zombie Tales 2061) and Bruce Miller (Handmaid's Tale, ER). Do Not Resuscitate won a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award, an INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award, and a CIPA EVVY Award. His second novel, The Maiden Voyage of the Destiny Unknown, also won a Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award and was listed as one of 100 Notable Books from the Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 16, 2015
Do Not Resuscitate is Nicholas Ponticello’s debut novel.
Do Not Resuscitate is a novel following the life of Jim Frost, a 73-year-old man attempting to write a memoir of his life while also trying to doge his daughter’s attempt to download his brain onto a microchip, because when he dies, he kind of just wants to be dead.
The novel gives off a Kurt Vonnegut-like feel with its jumping around on a timeline and repetition of quotes (i.e. “Magnum Opus.” or “done, finished, kaput.” similar to Vonnegut’s well known “So it goes”) And Old Men MC’s are always fun to listen to.
Jim Frost is 73 and he has seen and done a lot in those 73 years. He was raised among his sisters by his Italian mother and antique selling father, attended Berkeley, got married, and had children of his own. Some may call it an average life but details are everything.
Jim is living the high life, or as high as one can get after a world water crisis and the political splitting of California. His economic stance is of course all thanks to his father’s deals as a con-artist and Jim’s own job transporting red coolers filled with sandwiches.
He is trying to write a memoir as he remembers his life and recounts numerous events that ring both funny and true.
Meanwhile his oldest daughter is pushing him to download his brain onto a chip so that his memories will be preserved for his family and in the event that scientists discover a way to bring back and reboot a person. Scientists, however, have achieved an even greater feat: the creation of a GrapeMelon.
Do Not Resuscitate is a web of events all mashed into one book exploring what the world would be like after we destroyed it with our existence. Providing a breath of fresh air into the reality of the world we are living in now.
Do Not Resuscitate is a novel I truly wish I had written, a mix of science, humanity, and every foreseen downside to life. It is a novel that makes you think about where you have been and where you are heading, a novel that seems to comfort in its blunt truth because for once someone is writing about the absolute crap normal people have to deal with in their life. (i.e. stuffed crows and international sandwich delivery)
Do Not Resuscitate is a novel following the life of Jim Frost, a 73-year-old man attempting to write a memoir of his life while also trying to doge his daughter’s attempt to download his brain onto a microchip, because when he dies, he kind of just wants to be dead.
The novel gives off a Kurt Vonnegut-like feel with its jumping around on a timeline and repetition of quotes (i.e. “Magnum Opus.” or “done, finished, kaput.” similar to Vonnegut’s well known “So it goes”) And Old Men MC’s are always fun to listen to.
“The audience, privy to the full story, waits expectantly for shit to hit the fan.”
Jim Frost is 73 and he has seen and done a lot in those 73 years. He was raised among his sisters by his Italian mother and antique selling father, attended Berkeley, got married, and had children of his own. Some may call it an average life but details are everything.
Jim is living the high life, or as high as one can get after a world water crisis and the political splitting of California. His economic stance is of course all thanks to his father’s deals as a con-artist and Jim’s own job transporting red coolers filled with sandwiches.
“My mother told the press that our father could not make the trip to San Francisco due to heart troubles. She didn’t feel like she was lying to anybody, she told me confidentially, because our father did have heart troubles; the trouble was he had no heart.”
He is trying to write a memoir as he remembers his life and recounts numerous events that ring both funny and true.
Meanwhile his oldest daughter is pushing him to download his brain onto a chip so that his memories will be preserved for his family and in the event that scientists discover a way to bring back and reboot a person. Scientists, however, have achieved an even greater feat: the creation of a GrapeMelon.
“God didn’t create the grapemelon, some religious activists will say. He didn’t create the poodle either. Or the common house cat. Where did they come from? From thousands of years of meddling, that’s where.”
Do Not Resuscitate is a web of events all mashed into one book exploring what the world would be like after we destroyed it with our existence. Providing a breath of fresh air into the reality of the world we are living in now.
“Charlie had a bit of a complex. It was called treating women like shit. Kate shrugged it off, since she had a complex of her own. It was called not feeling worth anything.”
Do Not Resuscitate is a novel I truly wish I had written, a mix of science, humanity, and every foreseen downside to life. It is a novel that makes you think about where you have been and where you are heading, a novel that seems to comfort in its blunt truth because for once someone is writing about the absolute crap normal people have to deal with in their life. (i.e. stuffed crows and international sandwich delivery)
“And for the first ten years of her marriage, she was always either pregnant or nursing. And then she was either tying shoes or making sack lunches or picking someone up from school and taking someone to swim practice and someone to dance rehearsal and someone to tennis and someone to debate club. It wasn’t until thirty years later that she finally had some room to breathe. And she looked around, and she saw that she hated her life.”
February 18, 2019
I can't explain..
I'm not really sure what it was about this book that I found so enjoyable, but enjoy it I did.
It's the memoirs of Jim Frost, a rather cantankerous old gent who, through no real effort of his own, became a wealthy and well-known celebrity. The book is in no particular order, going back and forth through events as they happen to occur to Jim. There's not much really going on; catastrophic events are mentioned in an offhand, casual way. Nothing really happens. And that's why I can't explain what made this so compelling to me.
Oh, and the ending is just too abrupt. It didn't suit the ebb and flow of Jim's story, it was too jarring.
Results: I thought it strange and oddly compelling, and I'm still unsure what it was actually about.
I'm not really sure what it was about this book that I found so enjoyable, but enjoy it I did.
It's the memoirs of Jim Frost, a rather cantankerous old gent who, through no real effort of his own, became a wealthy and well-known celebrity. The book is in no particular order, going back and forth through events as they happen to occur to Jim. There's not much really going on; catastrophic events are mentioned in an offhand, casual way. Nothing really happens. And that's why I can't explain what made this so compelling to me.
Oh, and the ending is just too abrupt. It didn't suit the ebb and flow of Jim's story, it was too jarring.
Results: I thought it strange and oddly compelling, and I'm still unsure what it was actually about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2016
"Jim Lorenzo Frost's daughter is pressuring him to have his mind downloaded onto a chip, something that can be done in the mid-twenty-first century world of the book. No one knows what to do with the download, but she's hopeful that will change some time in the future. Seventy-something Jim isn't enthusiastic about leaving anything of himself after he is done, kaput. This whole thing does inspire him to write his story, however.
His story, as he tells it, makes it clear that something big and dire has happened, something environmental. It's also clear that he had a part in bringing the world back from it. But how that happened is a bit of a mystery. He's not a scientist. He's not some kind of Bruce Willis character saving the day. He's kind of a slacker who falls into a messenger job after college, being sent here and there to pick up red coolers, an activity for which he receives a disturbing amount of money.
What Makes Do Not Resuscitate So Good
First, this isn't a book with an obvious, unsubtle environmental lesson. The environmental aspects involve the setting and the book's world in which the main character functions.
Second, voice. Jim has a great one.
Third, there is a story here, one about an everyman kind of guy who stumbles into the right place at the right time.
There's a little mystery here about what is exactly going on, and that provides some nice narrative drive."
Excerpt originally appeared at Original Content.
His story, as he tells it, makes it clear that something big and dire has happened, something environmental. It's also clear that he had a part in bringing the world back from it. But how that happened is a bit of a mystery. He's not a scientist. He's not some kind of Bruce Willis character saving the day. He's kind of a slacker who falls into a messenger job after college, being sent here and there to pick up red coolers, an activity for which he receives a disturbing amount of money.
What Makes Do Not Resuscitate So Good
First, this isn't a book with an obvious, unsubtle environmental lesson. The environmental aspects involve the setting and the book's world in which the main character functions.
Second, voice. Jim has a great one.
Third, there is a story here, one about an everyman kind of guy who stumbles into the right place at the right time.
There's a little mystery here about what is exactly going on, and that provides some nice narrative drive."
Excerpt originally appeared at Original Content.
October 24, 2015
Once I started reading, this book was something to look forward to (I'd call it a page turner but I read electronically). Jim Frost, the main character, at 73, looks back at his life which has been unorthodox due to his mysterious job as a young man of picking up and making deliveries involving small red coolers. He's thinking back because his daughter wants him to get his memories (essence) downloaded to a microchip for prosperity although Jim himself is not too into the idea. This is a story where Jim, at 73, is in the year 2035 (or thereabouts) and things have changed although not for the better. Jim has fared well despite the environmental and economic changes depicted. It may just his make up, but Jim's insight and humor makes sense of his past as the mystery of what's in the coolers plays out. This is quite simply a wonderful book.
May 20, 2015
I'm a suckered for books with unusual titles and this one certainly fits the bill. It's humorous, but not slap stick humorous and it does raise some ethical questions along the way. It also has that ever present edge of science fiction thrower in. It was a pretty good read.
May 24, 2020
This book is an engaging journey through the mind and memory of Jim Frost, a man whose quirky and mysterious path to financial success is slowly revealed to the reader through a series of flashbacks. His modern day takes place in an environmentally blighted near-future.
I appreciated how close and highly plausible the dystopia of Frost's present day is. The nature of the environmental changes that led to the bleak setting are not at all far-fetched (drought leading to famine leading to economic collapse, etc). In fact, we may even get there sooner.
Two things stand out in the author's response to that dystopia:
1. Everyday life in such a time will still enjoy all the mundane trappings of our current lives: nagging children, coming to terms with one's mortality. We can normalize anything, and the underpinnings of the human condition will remain relatively untouched.
2. (Not to reveal too much of the ending-) Thanks to human ingenuity and scientific progress, there is hope. We will ultimately find our way out or around whatever comes to pass.
The journey through this book deals with concepts of faith and skepticism without heavy-handedness. If you enjoy black comedy and a clever, whimsical story line, you will enjoy this book. I know I did.
I appreciated how close and highly plausible the dystopia of Frost's present day is. The nature of the environmental changes that led to the bleak setting are not at all far-fetched (drought leading to famine leading to economic collapse, etc). In fact, we may even get there sooner.
Two things stand out in the author's response to that dystopia:
1. Everyday life in such a time will still enjoy all the mundane trappings of our current lives: nagging children, coming to terms with one's mortality. We can normalize anything, and the underpinnings of the human condition will remain relatively untouched.
2. (Not to reveal too much of the ending-) Thanks to human ingenuity and scientific progress, there is hope. We will ultimately find our way out or around whatever comes to pass.
The journey through this book deals with concepts of faith and skepticism without heavy-handedness. If you enjoy black comedy and a clever, whimsical story line, you will enjoy this book. I know I did.
December 15, 2024
Having read Cuckoo Cuckoo by the author, I was excited to finally pick this up. It has the same creative charm that I was so desperately looking forward to. Do Not Resuscitate is set well into the future where technology has reached new incredible heights. Jim Frost, the protagonist of the story, is advised by his daughter to have his brain downloaded onto a microchip. While the tech doesn't exist yet to download that microchip into a new body, the research is well underway. This story follows Jim throughout the process, exploring everything from his relationships to work opportunities. Ultimately a fun, enjoyable story. And now that I'm "Finished. Kaput!" with it, I'd give it a strong 4/5.
December 30, 2023
I found ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ to be a charming, rambling, hilarious and quite possibly prophetic read.
Jim Frost is 73 and his daughter Eliza is constantly pestering him to have his brain uploaded into a microchip for posterity and maybe (in time) a whole new life. Jim think’s its bull-malarky and once you die, you’re gone, finished, KAPUT but, whatever to get Eliza off his back.
This story is Jim reminiscing about his life, family, his sister the Saint, his Father & Mother, wife Greta, kids, grandkids and how he accidentally tax-evaded his way into saving the world.
Really good voice and a hoot of a ride!
Jim Frost is 73 and his daughter Eliza is constantly pestering him to have his brain uploaded into a microchip for posterity and maybe (in time) a whole new life. Jim think’s its bull-malarky and once you die, you’re gone, finished, KAPUT but, whatever to get Eliza off his back.
This story is Jim reminiscing about his life, family, his sister the Saint, his Father & Mother, wife Greta, kids, grandkids and how he accidentally tax-evaded his way into saving the world.
Really good voice and a hoot of a ride!
December 19, 2023
A fun, easy read that sucks you in with a mysterious red cooler. The mystery is solved by the end, but rather abruptly. I wanted 100 more pages. But also maybe with fewer sitcom one-liners? Still, a very enjoyable novel.
December 2, 2020
Read it for the red cooler on the title page. Was sorely dissapointed with my serendipitous decision.
August 27, 2021
This book is a treat. I was hooked early on by the humor and window-into-real-life feel of this novel. I've seen a few folks compare this book to Vonnegut, but that's an iffy comparison in my mind. If "Do Not Resuscitate" is Vonnegut, then it's much more "Cat's Cradle" in it's very small amount of actual science fiction content and much more "Siren's of Titan" in its levity.
But forget comparisons, "Do Not Resuscitate" stands on its own as what great fiction always is, a view into another person's life, a person who defies simple labels of good or bad. Do I like the protagonist? No. Do I enjoy reading about him and his family, very much yes.
And the book is wonderfully written with cherry picked details that make it feel real (or better yet, true) and delightful use of humor and creative repetition.
My only criticism (and I do consider this a minor spoiler, so stop now if in doubt) is that I felt let down by the ending. I was expecting a stronger conclusion from such a strong book, but overall, highly worthwhile and recommended.
But forget comparisons, "Do Not Resuscitate" stands on its own as what great fiction always is, a view into another person's life, a person who defies simple labels of good or bad. Do I like the protagonist? No. Do I enjoy reading about him and his family, very much yes.
And the book is wonderfully written with cherry picked details that make it feel real (or better yet, true) and delightful use of humor and creative repetition.
My only criticism (and I do consider this a minor spoiler, so stop now if in doubt) is that I felt let down by the ending. I was expecting a stronger conclusion from such a strong book, but overall, highly worthwhile and recommended.
May 10, 2015
Very entertaining read - easy and fast - full of action. A nice view of the future - interesting and well done. What if... all these things did happen in the near future? Jim Frost is telling his life story a bit crisscross and I understand that that keeps the reader's mind puzzling and engaged, but it may not be really necessary to create a compelling, entertaining story. I think the characters could use a bit more depth and dilemmas but, on the other hand, why not enjoy this ride and see this action movie with a sustainability theme with your mind's eye - and ponder the philosophical questions later, when you sit by the fire with a glass of wine? Do no resuscitate? What's worth to last after our mortal bodies are gone...? Well done and impressive for a debut novel! Grab this book and discuss it with friends, family and others!
Thank you, Nicholas, I found you by coincidence and I'll keep an eye on your work.
Thank you, Nicholas, I found you by coincidence and I'll keep an eye on your work.
July 21, 2020
This is the first novel that the author has written and that doesn't surprise me. The book as a whole was very underwhelming. There wasn't any plot, no conflict, climax, or resolution. Reading this book was like watching a sitcom but without the cheap humor. It was like reading the thoughts of an old man in a predicted future.
Which reminds me that this book was 100% written by an environmentalist. Half the book is about how natural disasters caused by climate change, the world going into a greater depression, everyone going hungry, basically all these problems that happened "in the past" i.e between 2020 and 2056 because of humans destroying the planet.
I want to clear the air that I am all about reuse, reduce, recycle, but it was something that I didn't expect to see in the book, especially since there's no indication of it on the cover, or in the summary.
Overall, it was okay. Not something I'd recommend or read again. But it was a quick read at least.
Which reminds me that this book was 100% written by an environmentalist. Half the book is about how natural disasters caused by climate change, the world going into a greater depression, everyone going hungry, basically all these problems that happened "in the past" i.e between 2020 and 2056 because of humans destroying the planet.
I want to clear the air that I am all about reuse, reduce, recycle, but it was something that I didn't expect to see in the book, especially since there's no indication of it on the cover, or in the summary.
Overall, it was okay. Not something I'd recommend or read again. But it was a quick read at least.
September 2, 2015
I always enjoy reading something a little different to my usual type of reads. This book was certainly different and whilst it was very well written and quite enjoyable, it is the kind of book that I could only read once in a while. I hope to read more books by this author in time to come.
I received this electronic copy via Librarything in exchange for an honest review.
I received this electronic copy via Librarything in exchange for an honest review.
June 19, 2019
Nice easy fun book. I really enjoyed the story and the lighthearted feel throughout the book. The only complaint is the ending. It ended so abruptly and felt like a large chunk was missing. Overall still a really good book
May 13, 2015
Not my favorite
Ended too abruptly without resolution of characters. It would not get a recommendation from me. I kept waiting for something to happen at the end, but it wasn't much.
Ended too abruptly without resolution of characters. It would not get a recommendation from me. I kept waiting for something to happen at the end, but it wasn't much.
May 13, 2015
I found myself smiling on my recent cross country plane trip as I was entertained by Nick Ponticello's creative and quirky novel. Using present day topical issues and speculations, this book takes us on an interesting journey in time and space. Loved it! Thanks Nick!
Sent from my iPad
Sent from my iPad
June 11, 2018
I read this in one sitting and utterly loved it. Arguably not much happens, but I felt touched. Somehow it felt that I was really in someone's life, and that's a precious thing. Very pleased that something offering so much enjoyment could be my 1,500th book on Goodreads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2015
Do Not Resuscitate is inspired by all the terrifying realities you read about in the headlines today, and it attempts to imagine the near future in the context of those realities.
May 16, 2015
Do Not Resuscitate is inspired by all the terrifying realities you read about in the headlines today, and it attempts to imagine the near future in the context of those realities.
May 21, 2015
Love it!
While reading this book, I could see this as being a possible future. The character had a great sense of humor you could fall in love with.
While reading this book, I could see this as being a possible future. The character had a great sense of humor you could fall in love with.
June 24, 2015
Reminds me of How I Met Your Mother with dark undertones of the future.
January 6, 2016
Vonnegut for the modern age, written with charm and wit.
July 15, 2016
Very entertaining read. More than that, though, an interesting and prophetic view of the future!
October 26, 2022
“Do Not Resuscitate” by Nicholas Ponticello is a fun and fantastic novel structured as the journal, or possibly the autobiography of Jim Frost. Jim is writing the journal for his family in case his daughter’s plan to download his brain onto a microchip fails. The book deals with multiple issues such as technology, the failing American dream, family, life, death, and the possibility of immortality, the latter being the main focus of the book. Jim begins his journal by recalling his time as a carrier working for the very sketchy Happy Happy Happy Message Runners, Inc. Jim’s experiences with the company help to move the story forward while giving Jim time to ramble on about his family’s successes and failures, as well as current cultural and social issues. Technology also plays a part in the telling of the story but it is unnecessarily overbearing. Ponticello uses Jim and the setting to explore life and death as we know it, how technology is changing our perspective of both, and also the world around us.
Ponticello creates a fun, fast read that is set in a slightly futuristic world where America is no longer a super power and where technology may soon allow for some form of immortality. Ponticello does not spend a lot of time exploring the setting of his book as there is not much needed since it is relatively similar to the world we currently live in. He does do a good job of leveraging historical events, issues, and technologies that currently exist in ways that help make the setting more real. Jim, on the other hand, is a fully developed character and, as the narrator, his stream of consciousness first-person perspective makes the book. The other characters are not as flushed out. This seems to be a conscious decision on Ponticello’s part which allows him to write an awesome first-person narrative that moves quickly and is believable enough.
I really enjoyed Ponticello’s writing style and found the book to be a very impressive first book. “Do Not Resuscitate” is a fun, fast read that I devoured cover-to-cover in about three sittings. Instead of taking a “hippy-dippy”, deeply philosophical approach to life, death, or immortality, it takes a witty and fun approach that does not bore or annoy the reader. Too often authors, especially first-timers, try to tackle such large issues in self-indulging ways that leave the reader wondering what the heck they just read. Ponticello instead focuses on just writing a good story that happens to involve deep issues. Ponticello’s style is like a wholesome Palahniuk or less trippy Vonnegut.
Overall I found “Do Not Resuscitate” to be an excellent read and cannot wait for Nicholas Ponticello’s next book. In the meantime I will have to check out his online comic “Simply Nick.”
Ponticello creates a fun, fast read that is set in a slightly futuristic world where America is no longer a super power and where technology may soon allow for some form of immortality. Ponticello does not spend a lot of time exploring the setting of his book as there is not much needed since it is relatively similar to the world we currently live in. He does do a good job of leveraging historical events, issues, and technologies that currently exist in ways that help make the setting more real. Jim, on the other hand, is a fully developed character and, as the narrator, his stream of consciousness first-person perspective makes the book. The other characters are not as flushed out. This seems to be a conscious decision on Ponticello’s part which allows him to write an awesome first-person narrative that moves quickly and is believable enough.
I really enjoyed Ponticello’s writing style and found the book to be a very impressive first book. “Do Not Resuscitate” is a fun, fast read that I devoured cover-to-cover in about three sittings. Instead of taking a “hippy-dippy”, deeply philosophical approach to life, death, or immortality, it takes a witty and fun approach that does not bore or annoy the reader. Too often authors, especially first-timers, try to tackle such large issues in self-indulging ways that leave the reader wondering what the heck they just read. Ponticello instead focuses on just writing a good story that happens to involve deep issues. Ponticello’s style is like a wholesome Palahniuk or less trippy Vonnegut.
Overall I found “Do Not Resuscitate” to be an excellent read and cannot wait for Nicholas Ponticello’s next book. In the meantime I will have to check out his online comic “Simply Nick.”
June 22, 2022
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2021
Category 8 (Audiobooks)
This audiobook was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our listeners thought:
Title: Do Not Resuscitate
Author: Nicholas Ponticello
Narrator: Miles Meili
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Number of Listeners: 8
Stats
Narrator Performance: 7/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content/Plot: 4/10
Cover: 3/5
Sound Quality / Music / Sound Effects: 2/5
Of the 8 listeners:
4 would listen to another book by this author.
6 would listen to another book narrated by this performer.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
7 felt it was easy to follow.
4 would recommend this audiobook to another listener to try.
Of all the listeners, 0 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
4 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
4 thought the author understood the listeners and what they wanted.
6 thought the narrator understood the listeners and what they wanted.
Listeners’ Comments
“I enjoyed this book, and I loved the mystery of what´s in the coolers. That was fun!” Male listener, aged 26
“Cool story in many ways. It´s sort of messy with lots of coming and going, but I liked that. Messy plot, but strong, interesting characters. Jim is a bit of an enigma, but I liked him, and I enjoyed his story. However, the ending lacks the pow factor and was way too sudden. Other than that, a charming read.” Female listener, aged 42
“In many ways, not a lot happens in this story. It´s sort of uninteresting, and didn´t grab me. The writing style is excellent, but I never felt surprised. I like to be shocked by a sudden turn of events. This was way too predictable for me. The narrator has excellent pacing but he couldn´t save this novel for me.” Male listener, aged 65
“Excellent writer, but there´s no plot as such. You´ll get to know the protagonist BIG TIME! But its simply not very exciting. The narrator works hard to put across the story in an interesting way. He´s easy to follow, although he talks a little too fast in parts. A little music might have added to the atmosphere!” Male listener, aged 55
To Sum It Up:
‘A charming story with strong characterisation.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Category 8 (Audiobooks)
This audiobook was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our listeners thought:
Title: Do Not Resuscitate
Author: Nicholas Ponticello
Narrator: Miles Meili
Star Rating: 3 Stars
Number of Listeners: 8
Stats
Narrator Performance: 7/10
Writing Style: 8/10
Content/Plot: 4/10
Cover: 3/5
Sound Quality / Music / Sound Effects: 2/5
Of the 8 listeners:
4 would listen to another book by this author.
6 would listen to another book narrated by this performer.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
7 felt it was easy to follow.
4 would recommend this audiobook to another listener to try.
Of all the listeners, 0 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
4 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
4 thought the author understood the listeners and what they wanted.
6 thought the narrator understood the listeners and what they wanted.
Listeners’ Comments
“I enjoyed this book, and I loved the mystery of what´s in the coolers. That was fun!” Male listener, aged 26
“Cool story in many ways. It´s sort of messy with lots of coming and going, but I liked that. Messy plot, but strong, interesting characters. Jim is a bit of an enigma, but I liked him, and I enjoyed his story. However, the ending lacks the pow factor and was way too sudden. Other than that, a charming read.” Female listener, aged 42
“In many ways, not a lot happens in this story. It´s sort of uninteresting, and didn´t grab me. The writing style is excellent, but I never felt surprised. I like to be shocked by a sudden turn of events. This was way too predictable for me. The narrator has excellent pacing but he couldn´t save this novel for me.” Male listener, aged 65
“Excellent writer, but there´s no plot as such. You´ll get to know the protagonist BIG TIME! But its simply not very exciting. The narrator works hard to put across the story in an interesting way. He´s easy to follow, although he talks a little too fast in parts. A little music might have added to the atmosphere!” Male listener, aged 55
To Sum It Up:
‘A charming story with strong characterisation.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
November 28, 2021
Written in a sort of memoir/confessional style, but a rough draft thereof, so kinda messy. Even though it's intentional, I'm a bit frustrated. Jim Frost did think to give us a family tree, so keeping track of characters isn't too hard, but the dates are throwing me off entirely. Otoh, some things are told to us several times... but again, that's what a person tends to do while reminiscing.
Chose for the What If and for the older person, as I agree with Jim that when I die I want to be Done Kaput... but What If daughter wants you on the chip, and What If it's become the norm?
I'm also frustrated by the incomplete picture of how hard life is in this post Age-of-Innocence world. I mean, that Age of Innocence, that era of cheap water and other plentitudes, is defined as ending in 2034... but even after that people seem to be at least as comfortable as we are now....
I'll keep reading as it's not a real high word-count and I do kinda like Jim, but we'll see....
---
Ok done. Ok. Well. Not bad. But, yeah, dissatisfying, and, ultimately, kinda pointless. Or something. Never did get the world-building sorted out; not intended to be SF enough to pay attention to those details I guess.
Chose for the What If and for the older person, as I agree with Jim that when I die I want to be Done Kaput... but What If daughter wants you on the chip, and What If it's become the norm?
I'm also frustrated by the incomplete picture of how hard life is in this post Age-of-Innocence world. I mean, that Age of Innocence, that era of cheap water and other plentitudes, is defined as ending in 2034... but even after that people seem to be at least as comfortable as we are now....
I'll keep reading as it's not a real high word-count and I do kinda like Jim, but we'll see....
---
Ok done. Ok. Well. Not bad. But, yeah, dissatisfying, and, ultimately, kinda pointless. Or something. Never did get the world-building sorted out; not intended to be SF enough to pay attention to those details I guess.
August 15, 2018
Not bad, but really not all that great. I think it's a great novel, but just "not my taste."
November 4, 2015
This intriguing premise drew me in from the start: Jim Frost is 73 and is dying. The book takes place 20+ years from now, after the water wars (only the very wealthy can afford it), when California splits north from south, when the United States has lost much of its power, and technology has evolved so that people can download their brains on microchips, to be used in the future. Jim is writing his memoir, so we follow his life from his college days, back to the present, back again to his mysterious job, consisting of flying to various locations and picking up a red cooler at the airport and delivering it and its contents in exchange for a bundle of cash. This mix of the story of one man's life (including a wife, children, grandchildren and siblings), the water crisis happening in California right now, and a world in the not-too-distant future where the environment and global economy are turned upside-down make a compelling read. The ending was, for me, abrupt. The mystery of the contents of the red cooler was revealed, but I still had lingering questions about Jim Frost, his daughter Eliza, and the final scenes in the book. Overall, a well written debut novel!
December 4, 2015
Standard disclaimer - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a novel I find this one to be singular in how it is written and the topics that it takes on. All of the planetary problems that are used to set the story against have their genesis in what is occurring today.
What makes this novel stand out to me is that the science is used as the background of the story and not the main reason for the story.
The story is not my normal fare in science fiction - but nonetheless manages to capture ones attention. The protagonist's life moves the story with the science in the background as a back drop allowing the reader to see how the simple fact of living can affect decisions a person makes.
As a novel I find this one to be singular in how it is written and the topics that it takes on. All of the planetary problems that are used to set the story against have their genesis in what is occurring today.
What makes this novel stand out to me is that the science is used as the background of the story and not the main reason for the story.
The story is not my normal fare in science fiction - but nonetheless manages to capture ones attention. The protagonist's life moves the story with the science in the background as a back drop allowing the reader to see how the simple fact of living can affect decisions a person makes.
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