e

Rating:
Summary: e-mazing read!
Review: If you are in the mood for something quick, light, fun and funny, look no further than "e." I didn't really know what to expect from a book written entirely in inter-office e-mails, but it works! Matt Beaumont has done a superb job with this novel. I eagerly await the sequel.

"e" is the story of a group of employees at one of London's top advertising agencies, Miller Shanks, and the two weeks of preparation before the big Coca-Cola pitch. Landing Coke is quite a deal, but left in the...ahem...capable hands of the creative department, it is as good as done. Meanwhile, there are disasters on the horizon with other clients, and, of course, an office isn't an office without co-worker rivalry. "e" provides readers with all the juicy details!

Despite knowing any background information or characteristics of the characters, Matt Beaumont has managed, through the e-mails, to give them all distinct voices. It took several pages to finally put it all together, but their personalities eventually shined through. I loved this novel and all it's two-faced bigwigs, [weak] employees, backstabbing, love triangles, and corportate politics. Hilariously written and one I will definitely read again. I also suggest Syrup by Maxx Barry, another great novel based in the corporate world, this time in behind-the-scenes Coca-Cola itself.

Rating:
Summary: The Liaisons Dangereuses for the online generation
Review: Hand on my heart, it's been a long time since I have read anything quite as amusing as this splendid début novel by Matt Beaumont. As a wannabe novelist myself, still awaiting my first break, and as a fan of the epistolary genre, I could kick myself that I did not think first of this splendid idea for a novel myself. Namely: a book written entirely in e-mails amongst the staff of an advertising agency in London, weaving a tale of intrigue, sexuality, back-stabbing, hypocrisy and office politics.

Without giving too much away, "E" is about three weeks inside an advertising agency trying to land a lucrative deal with *Coca-Cola*. But there is much more to it than this. Beaumont gives each secretary, each copywriter, each creative and each manager a really lifelike personality, with their own ways of writing, making each character immediately recognisable both within the novel and in the real life that we live in. We've all met a Simon Horne or a Pinki Fallon in our lives. The medium in which Beaumont has chosen to write his novel admirably and successfully emphasises the constant back-stabbing and twofacedness that takes place on an hourly basis. The speed at which e-mail travels makes the whole experience seem more real and dynamic.

Of course, we are not talking about brilliant writing here... in order to make the novel seem more lifelike, the e-mail writers are given their own idiosyncrasies, and occasionally there are intentional misspellings. It makes the novel seem more authentic. What is brilliant is the story itself as it unravels before us, the snowballing lies, the outrageous behaviour.

"E" has put the E back in e-pistolary. When we consider other novels of this ancient genre, we can appreciate that because of the speed of which e-mails and the gossip hidden within travels, Matt Beaumont's tale is more dynamic than those often sluggish letter-filled works of times past. Anyone who works in an online office environment, particularly if the office has a new-media slant, will love this book. But, to be honest, there is not a single person on this planet to whom I could not wholeheartedly recommend it. Bravo Matt Beaumont. You will go far! Roll on novel number two!

TRISTÁN WHITE, London

Rating:
Summary: really well-done !
Review: i was truly surprised that it would be this well-written when i began reading it (saturday aft, and kept through until after 3am)... then i began reading it again from the beginning, and lots more fell into place in my understanding....
it's an easy read, but a worthwhile one. i am impressed with the logic and the organisation involved in keeping track of the threads and the plot lines, as well as the care involved in the timestamps of the messages, and the true-to-life differences between emailing someone on your own server vs. external (ie. you'll see the full addy spelled out vs. just the person's name, etc).

besides the craft involved in making this hilarous tale work, i also enjoyed:
- the two-facedness of almost every character who lacks integrity, subtlely shown to the reader in contrasts
- DC's characterisation was very believable-- quite a rounded part--> he was acrid, devious, etc. but he could also cut through the smarmy BS he was being handed with sarcastic wit... what a treat-- IRL, a CEO would prolly only fall for it
- despite the limited "camera eye", a lot was revealed-- appropriately, too-- about people's personality and defects.

the things which might have been better IMHO are:
- the ending.... "it is hard to put my finger on why" but it could have been more-- could it be that i simply didn't want it to end?
- some of the emails i could not readily find a pairing for... partially why i felt driven to re-read the novel imediately

ALSO:
- not all the britishisms i got... perhaps a native could draw up a handy reference guide(ie. explain the significance of "cards in phone boxes all over W1", and is "taking the piss" a good thing or a bad thing, wot?)

all in all, a truly great piece of comedy and very carefully written!

Rating:
Summary: The Liaisons Dangereuses for the online generation
Review: Hand on my heart, it's been a long time since I have read anything quite as amusing as this splendid début novel by Matt Beaumont. As a wannabe novelist myself, still awaiting my first break, and as a fan of the epistolary genre, I could kick myself that I did not think first of this splendid idea for a novel myself. Namely: a book written entirely in e-mails amongst the staff of an advertising agency in London, weaving a tale of intrigue, sexuality, back-stabbing, hypocrisy and office politics.

Without giving too much away, "E" is about three weeks inside an advertising agency trying to land a lucrative deal with *Coca-Cola*. But there is much more to it than this. Beaumont gives each secretary, each copywriter, each creative and each manager a really lifelike personality, with their own ways of writing, making each character immediately recognisable both within the novel and in the real life that we live in. We've all met a Simon Horne or a Pinki Fallon in our lives. The medium in which Beaumont has chosen to write his novel admirably and successfully emphasises the constant back-stabbing and twofacedness that takes place on an hourly basis. The speed at which e-mail travels makes the whole experience seem more real and dynamic.

Of course, we are not talking about brilliant writing here... in order to make the novel seem more lifelike, the e-mail writers are given their own idiosyncrasies, and occasionally there are intentional misspellings. It makes the novel seem more authentic. What is brilliant is the story itself as it unravels before us, the snowballing lies, the outrageous behaviour.

"E" has put the E back in e-pistolary. When we consider other novels of this ancient genre, we can appreciate that because of the speed of which e-mails and the gossip hidden within travels, Matt Beaumont's tale is more dynamic than those often sluggish letter-filled works of times past. Anyone who works in an online office environment, particularly if the office has a new-media slant, will love this book. But, to be honest, there is not a single person on this planet to whom I could not wholeheartedly recommend it. Bravo Matt Beaumont. You will go far! Roll on novel number two!

TRISTÁN WHITE, London

Rating:
Summary: Just what the doctor ordered...
Review: Having worked in an office full of gossip and passive-aggressive agendas, every single character in "e" was easy for me to picture. The idea of writing the book as a collection of emails is brilliant, as is the huge dose of sarcasm that the British are known for. I read this book in 2 days, since once the story got rolling, it was hard for me to stop. Good fun.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious !
Review: A refreshing story told totally in e-mail format, unlike the usual tiresome prose.......n funny as hell too. it's almost impossible to stiffle my laughter n giggling sounds whilst travelling in a crowded public transport. the characters n the office politics depicted are so true n realistic......even reminded me of some colleagues that i've encountered......
the e-mails r a good format where we r only given an account of a story in pieces n to hv a complete picture, we hv to continue reading the book.
a great read to those who has to endure the long journeys to work or travels.

Rating:
Summary: interesting way to arrange a book
Review: Hello, i hardly ever read books, i try to but i just end up taking 2 years to read a 180 page book(tortilla flat). I for some reason though can read endless amounts of pages on the internet, and e-mail. This book caught and kept my interest, i really like the format in which he made the conversations. I got thru this book in 3 days, and i kept going back to read it again, after i read it the first time. Its a good fun book. I definately reccommend this to anyone who has a similar reading "problem." ;)

Rating:
Summary: "e"
Review: In this hilarious romp through the butt-kissing, back-stabbing, sucking-up London advertising agency bent on capturing the golden nugget Coca-Cola account, the reader will be knee-deep in a fascinating flurry of emails. A true masterpiece of writing, created from an email-only format, sans dialogue or narrative, it is a mind-blowing cyber fest. Slimy execs jibe and jab at each other to hold onto to their vacuous corporate titles; while outside their plush overly-decorated offices, the "PA"s and other creative minions plot their downfall. A must read for workstation inhabitants worldwide. You'll be prairie-dogging out of your cubes to pass the word on this wonderfully scribed novel. Warning - this is a non-stop page-turner. Take a day off from your cubby-hole to read this tour de' farce.

Rating:
Summary: what goes around comes around...
Review: I didn't mean to read this whole book. I get books to sell on Amazon & often just read a few pages, like a gourmand sneaking a bite of one eclair and then another -- looking for the well-filled book I just HAVE to read. But I was drawn in immediately & then I couldn't put it down.

While I've never had any interest in working in advertising and really stink at playing corporate power games, this book was a great giggle! No matter where you've worked, you know these people -- the temperamental ones, the backstabbing ones, the just-trying- to-get-laid ones. And the fun part is that there is justice in this book. (In real life, you hope there will be, but you're often not around to see it.)

Are you bewildered in a workplace where backbiting and treachery seem to have taken the place of an actual day's work for most people? This book won't change your situation, but it will give you the chuckles you need to make it through another week.

Rating:
Summary: e- mmaculate! Ab Fab on steroids for those who read
Review: Common sense tells us that it isn't advisable to do it's laughing out loud to yourself on the NY City public transportation system. While reading this book, I found myself unable to do anything during my commute to my job in advertising - and I couldn't put "e" down.

If you've ever worked for an ad agency, or media, PR or fashion oriented company, or known anyone who has, you'll immediately recognize the cast of ultra trendy, self-aggrandizing, self-centered and ultimately appalling characters in this most delightful and hysterical book. From the temp secretaries to the CEOs and everyone in between, you'll get a rollicking e-mail exchange between computer challenged, overpaid and under worked leeches who live on booze, drugs, cigarettes and beer and live to party at company (or supplier) expense - except for the token hippie.

Though based in a London ad agency during its pitch for the european arm of a US account, readers from all over the world are guaranteed to be laughing a host of stereotypes, including many outrageous, politically incorrect international jabs.

Don't miss this book - you'll find yourself returning to it when you're really in need of a laugh.