Member Reviews
Any book that can make me laugh while being totally relatable will have my attention. With today's world being so digital, we all too often forget to "log off". This book was a great reminder that we need to log off, unplug, and reconnect with the world to find ourselves.
I received a copy for an honest review. But then I did see the book was in Audio and I heard it.
I really enjoyed my first time reading from this author, and knowing that it had to do in the life we live today all digital. How can I disconnect myself? Made me realize a lot how we now cannot live without the internet, when we were growing up, I didn't have all this. Internet addiction. Something we all should read and separate ourselves.
I really enjoyed the book.
I wanted something lighthearted after reading too many psychological thrillers on the bounce. So, enter Logging Off by Nick Spalding. It is so light and funny to read. I don't think my partner appreciated me chuckling in bed at 11.30pm!! Its the second book I have read of his, and the humour and style of writing is second to none!!
A fun, laugh out loud read that doesn't lose it's spark. Funny from beginning to end and a genuine joy to read.
I loved Dry Hard! I liked this one also, but not as much.
The writing style was spot on. The comedy was there - over the top, cringeworthy and laugh out loud. It was just the main character that I found a bit lacking. I think I would have liked this a bit more if Andy had been 26, not 36. He just seemed to naive and immature to be almost 40.
I did warm up to him more as the story progressed and he started to mature a bit. It was a great premise that had many humorous moments and a few touching ones as well.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy in exchange for a review.
This was a fun read and made me think about whether I could really ‘log off’. It’s not my usual kind of read but was enjoyable and made me laugh
I wanted to enjoy this book. It looked like it was going to be something different, and the premise was interesting. However, the tone was off for me. I didn't like the point of view character, and I found the writing irritating. This was not for me.
I absolutely loved this book. It had me laughing out loud from beginning to end and without giving too much away had me thinking I should do a "digital detox" myself. Brilliant, witty read!!
An entertaining look at how dependent we can become on the Internet and live our lives virtualy, rather than in the real world. Our hero suffers from all sorts of Health issues and his doctor prescribes a digital detox. He has some amusing challenges along the way and made discoveries such as who knew Google Maps was such an essential item that we can no longer get anywhere without it! He starts Living in the real world and instead of following People, makes real Friends. He learns that our lives are improved by some of the apps and sites, but it is only an enhancement, not the complete deal. Makes you consider your own amount of screen time!
I enjoyed this book however it wasn’t my favourite out of all of this authors books. That being said it still made me laugh out loud in parts and I loved the characterisation. A 3.5 from me.
Andy Bellows is a techie maniac if such term even exist. Grocery shopping, traveling, sleeping and even his bowel movements is monitored by his phone. Plagued with insomnia, neckache and severe jaw twitching he thinks something is extremely wrong with it maybe cancer as suggested by Google again. His doctor agrees that something is wrong with him but it is not cancer. It is his addiction to technology which is self destructive.
Prescription: Stay away from online world for sixty days. But then is it possible? How do you order grocery? How do you travel somewhere without Uber or GMaps? How do you communicate with people? And what happens when online detox become the headline of a local newspaper and people starts follow and idolize Andy and seeks him for advice? Because if you don't know yet Andy Bellows doesn't like to talk people.
Review-
This book talks about a serious problem which is very much real but in a hilarious way. I could connect with Andy on so many levels. The way he was addicted to twitter, read news online, checking Instagram lives, idolizing someone on social media. Aren't we all the same?
Just thinking about not using my mobile for sixty days gave me goosebumps and anxiety! It just shows how real and true the plot of the story is.
I love the way how author has describe simple incidents which we don't even think about doing without internet and turning them into hilarious accidents. Even you feel it can happen with you anytime but Andy Bellows just take the crown for being funniest because of his inner monologue.
Andy Bellows is a very ordinary character a 30 year old man addicted to social media, can't talk to people in real life, lying to get out of confrontation. It can be you, me or anyone right? But what makes him stand out in the book is his clumsiness, his misfortune and his ability to accept his mistake and the will to overcome his fears.
Author even shows us the reality of social media. How we perceive things on internet and how much they are real in real life. How we give importance to certain inessential things.
We all are becoming way too dependent on internet and on our phones and if you want to know how deep troubling it is you have to read this book. But don't worry you will be laughing throughout the book. This book will make you aware about your usage of internet while you shed laughing tears.
Gah! What a fantastic take on our obsession with social mediums and being "connected:..I felt seen! Witty and painful truth with a heaping dose of humor.
Nick Spalding did it again! If you want the book that will make you laugh so much you pour juice through your nose. I recommend this book to anyone who needs a little happiness in their life.
I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
If you are searching for a book that will give a good and proper laugh, then look no further! After having read many sad and emotionally tense books this past month, this was a breath of fresh air and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it that I finished it in only two sittings. A big five star from me!
Logging Off by Nick Spalding
3.75/5
This was a wonderful read that had a commentary on social media, and technology as a whole. It was funny, adorable, and interesting all in one!
Andy Bellows is extremely connected to technology, and suffers from a few chronic diseases. Upon a visit to his doctor, he is diagnosed with technology addiction and recommended to go on a technology cleanse. There is hilarity that ensures, as well as some profound understanding of what living with technology is like.
I enjoyed the way that Spalding uses Andy’s inner thoughts and we get to see his blunt thought process throughout the novel. All in all, this was a great read commenting on finding the right balance of living life in the technological world.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this e-book.
This was definitely not the store for me. I couldn't find anything about this story that captured my attention besides the feeling of being anxious from reading it or having to go back to it. Took me way longer to get to 56% of this book and so I didn't finish.
In this story we meet Andy, who literally lives his entire life online, he is a man obsessed with everything to do with the internet, he monitors his health and self diagnoses his minor ailments. When his doctor orders him to step away from his online life and to start engaging in real life, Andy takes the plunge but can be really step away from this current Self-destructive lifestyle.
A funny and heartwarming read, which really makes you think about how much you are spending online. A great read
This is the story of Andy Bellows who is online for everything … Literally. There is nothing he does without checking online, from the weather to trains to what to eat. He follows influencers like they are the queen. But what Andy doesnt realise is that his whole world is about to change when he has to visit the doctor. Andy suffered with IBS and Neck pain and the doctor advised him it could be due to the amount of time spent on an electronic device.
What follows is an hilarious account of Andy's life as he tries to live with no electronic devices - no maps on his phone… in fact no phone.. No technology at all. This book had me laughing out loud and wondering how we would all cope, especially when Andy has to go on a journey and gets lost! Andy has to use a paper map and this is totally alien to most people today, Andy does not fare well.
The writing style is brilliant and not once did I know what was coming next. Nick portrays the characters so well and each one is loveable even when they are not what they should be. Bloody brilliant and I highly recommend this.
A brilliant novel that makes the modern reader think seriously about whether life would be better joining the off net cult or not... but it all feels too scary and analogue to so do.
I treated the book as it was intended, as a satire rather than a life guide and ended up happy and entertained by it.
Well worth your time reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy for review. I have been trying for several months to get through this book. I've picked it up and put it back down and tried to return to it, and it just does not resonate with me. After about 1/2 of the book, I can see that the writing style instills the same sort of feeling of anxiety in the reader as the main character is experience, hence the reason for his digital detox. While I can definitely see the benefit of that in my own life, and appreciate the sentiment, the writing was just a little too much for me. Too much time spent on describing the bodily functions of the main character, and lingering in scenes a little too long, that I found myself longing for it to end and never found the humor. Despite the fact that we've all probably (and are) an Andy, or know one, I didn't get any sense of why I should care about him. He wasn't a very likable character and I could not find myself wanting to root for him enough to finish.