Rating: 
Summary: Feed: Interesting, yet depressing
Review: Throughout my reading of the book Feed, by M.T. Anderson, I was constantly stuck in between two conflicting opinions. One of them was a mixture of awe, fear, and deep thought inspired by the amazingly horrific world of Titus, a teenage boy in a futuristic world where those favoring self indulgence and instant gratification would find a paradise, but those concerned with the welfare of the Earth, people, and decline of society would find an apocalypse. My other opinion on this novel was something else entirely. Though the book does present an interesting insight into the decline of modern society, pollution, and conversion of a democratic government in America to a monopoly of vying corporations, I must question the plot.
While the story is entertaining at some parts with the occasional suspense moment, I feel that the plot progressed too slowly. I believe that the author was attempting to create more quantity than quantity and could have abridged the book a good fifty to one-hundred pages by simply deleting some of the more frivolous explanations and descriptions. In most books I read, I feel a connection with at least one character, but this wasn't the case with Feed. I found the main character to be a complete negligent jerk, and while this does offer an amusing twist from your typical modern first-person fictional stories, it was somewhat depressing. Also, Titus' girlfriend, Violet, was an inspiring character, though I don't agree with some of her ideas. In the end, the story is very ominous and bleak.
I feel that the best part of this story was the unique perspective of what the world is rapidly becoming. The dialogue used by teens of the future was too forced and appeared to be just an extreme exaggeration of what many adults of today's culture perceive teen slang to be now. I found that this language focuses mainly on the stereotypical usage of words as seen mainly in pathetically insulting teen TV shows that portray not the intellect of many modern teens, but instead, summarize that all youth is comprised solely of over clichéd posers whose main vocabulary revolves around the word "dude" (or in this case, "unit") and phrases such as "ohmygawd!" Also, I found it somewhat insulting that the author assumes that all teens do is curse, get drunk, get high (obvious references from "going in mal"), etc. In today's world, the average teen's activities are not only limited to these.
Overall, I think this book deserves 3 out of 5 stars for an interestingly horrific portrayal of a future that could possibly evolve out of the culture of modern America. I would give it a `1 out of 5' except for the fact that I believe he was subtly just trying to show his view of modern society and was at the same time, experimenting with plots. I love subliminal messages, and this novel is full of them.
-Robert Leisinger, Bak Middle School of the Arts
Rating: 
Summary: Brave New Book
Review: "Feed" has such potential - being a fan of Huxley and Orwell's distopian fantasies, I hoped this teen version sparked by life at the turn of the millenium would be just as smart... perhaps my expectations were too high.I thoroughly enjoyed the concept of the "feed" - it's what will become of the web in the not-too-distant future- and the American reliance on consumer goods and unwitting dependence on big business are well-handled. Nonetheless, the relationships are poorly developed and the message is a little too strongly broadcasted. Not a bad read for the younger set, who may otherwise be disinclined to reading (the use of slang and vulgarity is a real draw), but adults may want to pick up the old standards instead; "A Brave New World" and "1984" show how this genre can be handled in the best of ways.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise not quite fulfilled.
Review: "Feed" is full of fascinating ideas, but it's hampered by a less-than-compelling story and an arbitrary, unsatisfying ending. The key relationship -- a love story between two teenagers -- is unsupported. The story is set in a foreign time, but its characters are cliches. We've seen them in a hundred After School Specials. There's the beautiful, troubled outsider and her father, a quirky, suffering genius. There's also a set of self-absorbed, ineffectual parents straight out of Rebel Without A Cause. The points Anderson makes about consumerism are heavy-handed and too sparse for a work of this length. If the author had distilled "Feed" into a short story, it might well be a classic of both science fiction and the coming-of-age genre characterized by Catcher in the Rye.
Rating: 
Summary: wasn't null to me
Review: A book that stretches the mind, and increases your individuality. From love to the last fish in the world, this book tells the story of teenagers in the far future. They drive in upcars, and live in stacked suburbia. Not just a book, but a life and a lesson. Read it and be changed. Swearing? yes, but people today are just as bad. feed is a true portrayal of teenagers and how their experiences are far closer to them than we could ever imagine. My internet had disconnected before...big deal...however, if i had a feed......
Rating:
Summary: Not Fed Enough
Review: After reading such fabulous works such as Orwell's 1984, disappointment was large in M.T. Anderson's Feed. Anderson's book is told through a teenage boy who lives in a futuristic society controlled by a device called the feed. The feed is a computer chip that is implanted in the majority of the population's brains. It allows one to shop, chat, and have access to any bit of information he or she so desires. The narrator, who has been equipped with the feed since he was a small child, is obviously uneducated due to the fact that everything he needs to know can be simply looked up on the feed. The reader soon realizes that the book jumps between narrator and several italicized passages that represent what is happening on the feed. The book had an overall poor storyline that left the reader questioning its worth.
As Orwell captured my attention throughout his book, my concentration was hard to keep after the first fifty pages of Feed. Anderson tries to keep the reader's interest through a love story between the author and a girl named Violet. However, after the two become boyfriend and girlfriend, the story turns boring and drab. The story's setting did keep me reading the book though. Anderson sets the story during futuristic times that include travels to other planets and upcars, which are vehicles that fly around rather than stay on the ground. Moreover, people live in bubbles and are not allowed to go certain places, such as the ocean, without certain protective gear. Unfortunately, Anderson did not create this society enough leave me impressed.
All in all, Feed may capture the minds of young readers, but as for the more experienced reader, it is a disappointment. With a little more thought and drama, this book could have been comparable to 1984 as well as Fahrenheit 451. However, a word to the young reader: this is a good start to mind provoking books that leave you with the question of what will happen to society in the future.
Rating:
Summary: feed review
Review: AN incredible novel, Feed is an exiting new twist on distopian literature infused with incredible satire. This book draws inspiration from classical works such as brave new world and nueromancer and adds a vivid storyline that avoids the standard "concept only" downfall that plaugues much of distopian literature. A must read for all ages.
Rating:
Summary: not crazy about the book
Review: eh. it was alright... however the problem with this book is that the main character doesn't begin to feel real or show emotions untill the last few pages of the book. when its tough to care for a character or at least find somehting to identify with its tough to enjoy a book.
Rating:
Summary: Feed
Review: Every once in a while you read a book that you do not think you will enjoy, but you immediately become a diehard fan of the author or even just that one book. Feed written by M. T. Anderson is just that type of book. It is an acquired taste and as you continue to read it you begin to love it more and more, but as with everything in life this book still has a few flaws.
To start off, this book just says that it is a science-fiction novel and has nothing to hide. You meet the main character Titus and his group of friends who live life based on trends. They are spending spring vacation on the Moon. You immediately think you know what ride you are in for, but then you switch gears and meet a quiet girl named Violet, whom you learn is truly a rebel at heart. She basically is what makes this book.
M.T. Anderson I feel wrote the quintessential novel. The main reason for this is that the roots of the book are not imbedded in the fact that it is a science-fiction novel, but are really talking about human nature and the rise of commercialism.
Beyond the unreal aspects of this book there is the ever present relationship between Titus and Violet with blossoms into romance, but meets quite a few pitfalls. The author gives light to the relationships of teenagers which is obviously full of attraction and "love", but also is comprised of fights and unrest. The book truly shows what a struggle it is to not go along with the crowd and to be unique, while all around you are surrounded by trends and styles. Ultimately, this book is mainly trying to teach a person to live life to the fullest and to savor every moment of it, because life can be cut short. For such an amazing story there were a few aspects of the book that unnerved me. M.T. Anderson attempted to also show the unrest in the world in the future, but in the end he basically did not sum up this separate story and continued Titus' story leaving you hanging. Also, he utilized many curse words and slang to the point where I almost stopped reading because of its overuse, but then saw the main reason for this and continued.
All in all, this book in due course proves that even science-fiction stories can go against the grain and show a truly magnificent story while they stay true to their genre. Feed not only talks about the future, it talks about the basic life of a teenager which can be tough, and as M. T. Anderson shows, will always get tougher. This book will touch a soft spot in your heart and will change your outlook on life, but also gives you the chance to see what a good science-fiction novel truly is.
Rating:
Summary: feed
Review: Feed by M.T. Anderson is a very strange book. The book is set far into the future, some place on earth. The main character of the book is a teenage boy named Titus. Titus and most of the people in the solar system are controlled by a device called a feed. The feed controls most of Titus's actions and he can barely think for himself with the feed. But that all changes when Titus meets a girl named Violet, who opens his eyes to the true purpose of the feed. Together Titus and Violet try to free themselves from the feed.
I must say that Feed is not one of my favorite books but there were aspects of the book that were done well. M.T. Anderson created a very original plot with the concept of the feed. That was a very imaginative idea for a book and because of that, it was not a typical book. Anderson also created very interesting characters, who changed as the story unfolded. I also like how Anderson dealt with the prospect of humans destroying themselves by destroying the earth and destroying their ability to think. Destroying the earth is a real threat. It could be a reality if we don't do something about it now. These are some of the concepts that Anderson did well.
In Feed there are definitely some things that I didn't like, such as Anderson's writing style. It was a nontraditional style of writing. I found it chunky and a little strange. I also thought this book was hard to read. It wasn't very exiting and it did not keep me interested. I think that Anderson could have written this book so that it captured the reader more. The story was easy to follow but there were small parts that needed to be explained. For example, the characters said "unit" repeatedly through the story and I never determined what it meant. Overall I didn't like Feed very much, but if it sounds interesting to you, then go ahead and read it because it is a very "different" book.
Rating:
Summary: Feed me more!
Review: Feed is an amazing roller coaster of laughter, tears, pain, joy, love and friendship. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion and fighting back tears when it got rough. The writing style is nothing like I've ever seen and the slang used by the characters is witty and original. My friends and I find ourselves quoting the book almost unknowingly. (Coincidence? I think not...) Feed displays the effect media has on us in a get-to-the-point style. It's scary how close to the truth this book is. Once you start reading this book, it's impossible to put down. Anderson's unique plot and awesome writing are sure to suck you in. It was book love at first sight. Even the jacket is sending you a subtle message..."Pick me up, read me..." Feed became one of my favorite books immediatley, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
|
