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1916: The Blog
A lively and humorous novel of alternate history, "1916: The Blog" tells the story of Sebastian, a low-level newspaper typist who in 1916 comes into possession of a futuristic connectivity machine. When he discovers this new "internet," Sebastian runs into early 20th-Century scams, snake oil salesmen, medical quacks, dating websites, and trolls, all with hilarious consequences.
271 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2018
20 people are currently reading
2105 people want to read
About the author
Christian Schneider
2 books51 followersChristian Schneider has spent time as a political columnist at USA Today, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and National Review Online. His op-eds have been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, City Journal magazine, Weekly Standard magazine, and National Review magazine. He has been a frequent guest on political television and radio shows, having appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and Headline News. He holds a Master's degree in political science from Marquette University and lives in Madison, Wisconsin.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
February 27, 2019
Totally silly and lots of fun, especially if you know anything about the early 20th Century history of the internet. And are from Milwaukee, where our great-grandparents were all early adopters.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads.
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review on Goodreads.
January 8, 2019
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A man acquires a steampunk computer back in 1916 and begins to communicate with some people with it. He also has various adventures, including courting a couple of comely women.
A bit too reliant on modern references and knowledge, but occasionally very funny, if ahistorical.
A man acquires a steampunk computer back in 1916 and begins to communicate with some people with it. He also has various adventures, including courting a couple of comely women.
A bit too reliant on modern references and knowledge, but occasionally very funny, if ahistorical.
February 10, 2019
Not worth the paper it’s printed on. Since it’s a Kindle book, that’s not much. Supposedly written humorously but just plain not funny. I admit that I only read 25% but it’s inconceivable that it gets any better in the remainder of the book.
February 6, 2019
*I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway* I was delighted when I heard the interesting and unique premise of the book and was very excited to read. As I started to read, I very much enjoyed the book. It was funny, lighthearted, and overall a pretty good escape from the problems of real life. The one fault I would give this book is that some of the jokes are somewhat redundant throughout what is quite a long book. However I enjoyed the book overall and it is wonderful as a nice lighthearted read and for a good laugh.
January 1, 2019
1916 is a blend of social, political and cultural humor — plus it weaves in real quirky news from the pages of Milwaukee newspapers in 1916. And the underlying story has a sweetness to it, which you wouldn’t expect when you first meet Sebastian Schneider.
January 14, 2019
This was really funny, especially considering a Republican wrote it.
December 13, 2018
1916: The Blog is a witty, clever exploration into a really cool premise: if someone had a blog (or was able to communicate via the internet) back in 1916, what topics would they be discussing? I imagine history buffs will appreciate the author's meticulous research and subsequent speculation as to what topics might have gone viral back in the early 20th century. But regardless of one's interest in history, this book is downright hilarious and should appeal to anyone with a sense of humor.
What was most unexpected to me was how engaging I found the overall storyline, including the plight of the main character. The main character's online entries do more than provide a (super funny) summary of historical events during that time. We also get to know this young man, his career aspirations, his friends, and there was an unexpected romantic interest that made it hard to put the book down. Definitely check this one out.
What was most unexpected to me was how engaging I found the overall storyline, including the plight of the main character. The main character's online entries do more than provide a (super funny) summary of historical events during that time. We also get to know this young man, his career aspirations, his friends, and there was an unexpected romantic interest that made it hard to put the book down. Definitely check this one out.
October 2, 2019
A very silly book! I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. This is a book that's easy to pick up and put down as there's not much continuity and it's full of jokes.
February 3, 2019
Wow, what a stinker. The only reason I finished it was because I had two 13+ hour flights in the past month and had already exhausted my movie options.
Satire, when done well, is a pitch black comedic commentary on politics and culture. "1916" attempted to do this, but the premise is stale after the third chapter and the jokes are sophomoric and just plain dumb.
It takes dedication to write a book, and I admire those that try, but I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about Schneider's effort.
Satire, when done well, is a pitch black comedic commentary on politics and culture. "1916" attempted to do this, but the premise is stale after the third chapter and the jokes are sophomoric and just plain dumb.
It takes dedication to write a book, and I admire those that try, but I'm struggling to find anything positive to say about Schneider's effort.
October 20, 2020
In full disclosure I know the author and appreciate his sense of humor and writing style. I also live in Wisconsin, specifically close to Milwaukee, and the book's setting is in my backyard. I've never read a book like this one before, it's an entirely new genre for me, and believe it would be a unique experience for most readers. Combination humor/historical-fiction/sci-fi.
Christian is a talented writer and it was fun to see someone I know personally have fun with the pen and let his imagination run wild.
He's generously made the book available to the public and you can download it here:
http://christianschneiderblog.com/191...
Christian is a talented writer and it was fun to see someone I know personally have fun with the pen and let his imagination run wild.
He's generously made the book available to the public and you can download it here:
http://christianschneiderblog.com/191...
October 2, 2021
A man discovers a device that belonged to a family member, and discovers that the machine allowed his relative to access 119 other like machines and discuss things in a 1916 closed internet. The book reads like the narrator's blog circa 1916.
At time the book is confusing, as the narrator has 21st century experiences in 1916. Overall it is a fun escape, although many modern issues/stories/people are thinly veiled into the plot.
Sebastian (narrator) is a naive simple minded dolt who occasionally has glimpses of awareness. He falls for every gag and punchline. Everyone around him takes advantage of his naivete.
Other reviewers have noted that there are historical accuracies woven into the book. I did not attempt to corroborate anything; for me it was simply a good ride.
At time the book is confusing, as the narrator has 21st century experiences in 1916. Overall it is a fun escape, although many modern issues/stories/people are thinly veiled into the plot.
Sebastian (narrator) is a naive simple minded dolt who occasionally has glimpses of awareness. He falls for every gag and punchline. Everyone around him takes advantage of his naivete.
Other reviewers have noted that there are historical accuracies woven into the book. I did not attempt to corroborate anything; for me it was simply a good ride.
April 14, 2019
I received this book compliments of Pelham Press through the Goodreads giveaway program.
For the first several pages the humor seemed forced and the satire less than original, but the story began to grow on me. Sebastian, the narrator, is naive beyond belief. He reminds me of some guys from back in the days of bulletin boards. The idiotic situations he stumbles into are fairly clever. This is not a Great Meaningful Commentary on modern life, but it gets in a few good licks and even provokes some thought. I suspect that my enjoyment was partially due to the history included. Schneider uses it to point to absurdities both then and now. It's enough to make you roll your eyes.
For the first several pages the humor seemed forced and the satire less than original, but the story began to grow on me. Sebastian, the narrator, is naive beyond belief. He reminds me of some guys from back in the days of bulletin boards. The idiotic situations he stumbles into are fairly clever. This is not a Great Meaningful Commentary on modern life, but it gets in a few good licks and even provokes some thought. I suspect that my enjoyment was partially due to the history included. Schneider uses it to point to absurdities both then and now. It's enough to make you roll your eyes.
September 19, 2019
I thought the summary of the book sounded very interesting and I would enjoy it. That was not the case. I tried a few times to get into the book and read it. I failed. I read only about 1/4 of the book and then gave up. The humor is just not my style. The plot was dragging and not getting to anything that held my interest.
I won this book from Goodreads. I am sorry I entered and took the book from someone that might have enjoyed it. I gave the book two stars since I know the author put a lot of work into it. I did not want to rate it lower, just since I should not have picked it up to read.
I won this book from Goodreads. I am sorry I entered and took the book from someone that might have enjoyed it. I gave the book two stars since I know the author put a lot of work into it. I did not want to rate it lower, just since I should not have picked it up to read.
April 10, 2019
I received this book in a Goodreads contest. I was not particularly impressed with this book. In fact, it was a challenge to read. I thought it seemed as if it were written by a junior high kid who just took today’s news and turned it around. I know it’s written tongue in cheek, but the humor is sophomoric.
September 1, 2019
Received a Kindle copy as a GoodReads giveaway. From the description, it sounded like a creative and humorous mix of both modern culture and history, and to some extent, it was. It just wasn't really my taste in humor. The book was too long and redundant, too.
September 7, 2019
I really liked the premise of this book. What would a blog look like if it was written in 1916? There were a lot of references to modern events and ideas. Some parts of the story were funny, but some of them just came across as incredibly stupid.
September 15, 2019
I received an e-copy through Goodreads.The idea of this book was great,however it wasn't the least bit funny(unless you're a 14-year old boy?).I tried to read it but gave up after being about 35% through it.
September 28, 2019
Fluffy Fun
This is a clever, fun escape (or is it?) as the author explores the possibility of the internet in 1916. The main character is a lovable, quirky kind of guy and the situations he takes the reader through are a ridiculous (yet funny) mix of past and present. Enjoy!
This is a clever, fun escape (or is it?) as the author explores the possibility of the internet in 1916. The main character is a lovable, quirky kind of guy and the situations he takes the reader through are a ridiculous (yet funny) mix of past and present. Enjoy!
May 21, 2021
This was a very fun book to read. Surprised to see several bad reviews. There should be some way to highlight these inaccurate reviews. Maybe call them “Reviews Deserving No Stars”. Or something like that.
June 10, 2021
Although Schneider is humorous the slapstick style is not for me. After the first score of pages I found myself wondering if there was a chance of improvement. Sadly no. I stuck it out but the bathroom humor is likely more attractive to folks with more testosterone than I possess.
July 5, 2021
A clever book that defies genre boundaries. Read it for a bit of history of Milwaukee and for the story of the delightfully earnest but inept Sebastian. The perfect book to read at the end of days that are too long, too serious, or both.
February 3, 2019
This book is imaginative and unique- unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s witty, funny, and an interesting combination of historical and modern.
January 7, 2021
Arguably one of the worst books I have ever read.
February 13, 2025
🖊 Amusing at first; flat after the first chapter. 🗑 Conversely, other readers may find this fantasy their cup of sarsaparilla.
જ⁀🟣 Kindle.
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જ⁀🟣 Kindle.
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November 23, 2019
(I received this as a goodreads giveaway...)
It's chock-full of marvelously odd little jokes that connect today's social media with the events of 1916. This makes it a bit of a niche item, delightful for the kind of reader who's picked up a heap of historical minutiae over years of wide-ranging reading. As a single example, if you haven't heard about the lecture notes that protected Teddy Roosevelt from a wouldbe assassin's bullet, you probably won't giggle as much as I did.
For the right kind of reader, it's uniquely charming to be present at a party at which any favorite little factoid is likely to pop up at a moment's notice.
I would have giggled my way through the whole thing by now except for it being an e-book. Books that I can't read on paper are a bit of a challenge for me. Late adapter.
The chock-full-ness onslaught of its goofy yet smart jokes reminds me of the marvelous Schlock Homes series by Robert L Fish. Recommend both, if they are your kinds of niche.
It's chock-full of marvelously odd little jokes that connect today's social media with the events of 1916. This makes it a bit of a niche item, delightful for the kind of reader who's picked up a heap of historical minutiae over years of wide-ranging reading. As a single example, if you haven't heard about the lecture notes that protected Teddy Roosevelt from a wouldbe assassin's bullet, you probably won't giggle as much as I did.
For the right kind of reader, it's uniquely charming to be present at a party at which any favorite little factoid is likely to pop up at a moment's notice.
I would have giggled my way through the whole thing by now except for it being an e-book. Books that I can't read on paper are a bit of a challenge for me. Late adapter.
The chock-full-ness onslaught of its goofy yet smart jokes reminds me of the marvelous Schlock Homes series by Robert L Fish. Recommend both, if they are your kinds of niche.
January 4, 2020
Oops. I see that "I have also reviewed" the paperback version of this book. If I'd known there was a paperback, I would have been able to read it more attentively. Kindle version just not as user-friendly for me, as I remarked before:
(I received this as a goodreads giveaway...)
It's chock-full of marvelously odd little jokes that connect today's social media with the events of 1916. This makes it a bit of a niche item, delightful for the kind of reader who's picked up a heap of historical minutiae over years of wide-ranging reading. As a single example, if you haven't heard about the lecture notes that protected Teddy Roosevelt from a wouldbe assassin's bullet, you probably won't giggle as much as I did.
For the right kind of reader, it's uniquely charming to be present at a party at which any favorite little factoid is likely to pop up at a moment's notice.
I would have giggled my way through the whole thing by now except for it being an e-book. Books that I can't read on paper are a bit of a challenge for me. Late adapter.
The chock-full-ness onslaught of its goofy yet smart jokes reminds me of the marvelous Schlock Homes series by Robert L Fish. Recommend both, if they are your kinds of niche. (less)
(I received this as a goodreads giveaway...)
It's chock-full of marvelously odd little jokes that connect today's social media with the events of 1916. This makes it a bit of a niche item, delightful for the kind of reader who's picked up a heap of historical minutiae over years of wide-ranging reading. As a single example, if you haven't heard about the lecture notes that protected Teddy Roosevelt from a wouldbe assassin's bullet, you probably won't giggle as much as I did.
For the right kind of reader, it's uniquely charming to be present at a party at which any favorite little factoid is likely to pop up at a moment's notice.
I would have giggled my way through the whole thing by now except for it being an e-book. Books that I can't read on paper are a bit of a challenge for me. Late adapter.
The chock-full-ness onslaught of its goofy yet smart jokes reminds me of the marvelous Schlock Homes series by Robert L Fish. Recommend both, if they are your kinds of niche. (less)
May 18, 2019
As far as humor goes this book got bumped up from two to three stars because of the amount of humor. Overall I would not have read this book had it not been a Goodreads Goveaway, but having won it I felt compelled/obligated to read it. Most of the book is a display of all the things that annoy us about social media but that most of us engage in nonetheless. I did enjoy the historical comments and inside jokes. It would be wise to look up the names mentioned in the book. It will add to the humor.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews