I tried to give this an honest go but I just couldn't get into it. I'm sure it was intentional, being the plot of the book is about "words", but I was constantly having to stop and look up unfamiliar words while reading and they just seemed plopped in there randomly. The premise sounds really good but it fell flat for me.

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4 out of 5 Stars

Anna Johnson's father, and one of the last dictionary lexographers , disappears., and NYC-- in fact the whole of America-- has taken on a fearsome evil shadow. What bad guys? They're all bad guys.
Alena Graedon's Word Exchange is like a conspiracy theory meets I-Phone.
--Have you never had a conversation where you're suddenly searching for the right word? It's right on the tip of your tongue? There's an App for that.
__ And what happens when you're reading a book or a news feed and you come across a word you don't know? Now you can click on a word and it's indexed with it's meaning, pronunciation, and synonyms. E-readers already have an app for that.
Graedon imagines a world where a meme takes over. (Go ahead: Google "meme". I'll wait.) This meme is a cellphone, phablet, television in one, and it is seriously dumbing down America. So, with the lexographers gone, the meme's creators can take over the English language. They can literally invent meanings for any random string of syllables. The weird thing is that, as people rely more and m ore on the meme to supply the "right word," the more it can substitute babble for true speak and no one notices the difference.
Well, there is this one dweeb, Bartleby something-or-other, until even he starts speaking in mashups.
The book was published in 2014 and is so close to the truth of today. A bit scary, if you ask me.

"The Word Exchange" by Alena Graedon is an intriguing and inventive techno-thriller that explores the complex relationship between language, technology, and human connection. Set in a near-future world where society increasingly relies on smart devices, the novel follows the journey of Anana Johnson, a young woman who must unravel the mystery behind her father's disappearance while navigating the dangers of a digital pandemic that threatens to dismantle the very fabric of communication.

Graedon skillfully weaves an intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant tale, asking the reader to consider the potential consequences of our ever-evolving digital landscape.

The novel's strength lies in its unique premise, creative exploration of language, and its significance in human culture. Graedon's prose is rich and evocative. Her decision to intersperse the narrative with dictionary entries and other linguistic elements adds depth and texture to the story. The plot is well-paced, with moments of suspense and tension that keep the reader engaged throughout.

However, the story occasionally lacks focus, as the narrative sometimes delves into tangential subplots that can detract from the central mystery.
Characterization in "The Word Exchange" is a mixed bag. While Anana is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, some of the supporting characters lack the same depth and complexity, making it difficult to invest in their relationships and motivations fully. Despite this, the novel's thought-provoking themes and engaging plot make it a worthwhile read for those interested in speculative fiction and linguistic adventures.

This needs lots of edits.

I do think this is worth reading despite its faults and we can expect more good books from this writer.

The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon

386 Pages
Publisher: Doubleday Books, Anchor
Release Date: April 8, 2014

Fiction, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Dystopian, Alternate Realities

Anana is supposed to meet her father Doug for their weekly check-in at the diner. When he does not arrive, she goes to his office looking for him. He is on the brink of publishing the third edition of the Dictionary in a world that has drifted away from reading and printed material. Everyone now relies on their electronic devices to read to them and provide information so people do not need to remember. After searching his office and finding his entry has been removed from the digital listing, Anana sees a message for “Alice,” the code name Doug gave her. Now she is worried.

The book has a slow pace because of the complexity of words. The characters are somewhat developed, and it is written in the third person point of view from two different perspectives. When we read from Anana’s perspective, it is like reading any other novel but Bart’s view is written as journal entries. Initially, I was not sure what I thought about this book. It was wordy but that was the author’s objective. I have found myself changing my vocabulary to use more substantial language. As someone who used a thesaurus on a daily basis, this book reminded me it is important to use thought provoking terminology.

Ananas father disappears while he is writing the last print copy in an now all digital age. Technology is becoming more knowing and life as you know it more tenious. Can she find her father before word flu gets everyone and her father is lost.

It was tough for me to get into this genre since it was new to me. A slow start and some difficulty keeping up with the story, but a compelling tale with interesting characters and surprising turns. Traditional textual sources of communication such as books, periodicals, and newspapers have all but disappeared in our digital age. This could easily be made into a film.

Thank you for the opportunity to read The Word Exchange. Unfortunately, I did not finish reading the book before it was archived in April 2014. I do not plan to finish the book at this time.

The premise of this story was great and all too realistic. However I got bogged down because I felt that it rambled on and on. It could have been more to the point.
Many thanks to Doubleday and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Language seems like proof that there's such a thing as meaning. That we're all connected, now and forever.
Words don't always work. Sometimes they come up short. Conversations can lead to conflict. There are failures of diplomacy. Some differences, for all the talk in the world, remain irreconcilable. People make empty promises, go back on their word, say things they don't believe. But connection, with ourselves and others, is the only way we can live..."
" Language is the tie that binds us to the dead and unborn. But he's wrong that words are urns for holding pure thought. "
I enjoyed this interesting book.
I received a free ARC via Net Galley; I am voluntarily reviewing.

Cleaning up my NetGalley account. Unfortunately, I had a few titles I could not get to before they were published. Should I read the title in the future, I will be sure to promote a review via my Goodreads and/or my blog. Thank you for the opportunity.

I have revived an old account, and this is an archived book from them. I would have loved to review it then but I cannot now. I will keep this in my TBR and purchase it separately on my own.

Oh, I wanted to like this book. I loved this premise for the alternate history tale. Yet the execution was just clunky and didn't follow through like it promised. Maybe someone will like it, but it just didn't do it for me.

A fun sci fi experience set in the near future where digital technology has taken over. Ultimately we have to ask what are we giving up in order to live this revolution. Is it worth it. Great science fiction both entertains and explores these sorts of questions. So strap on and get ready for a ride.

While I really enjoyed the premise of this book, the reality of it was less well-done. I loved the idea of the mystery based on an alternative but also very realistic future concept. Let's face it, we are using our phones for more and more these days and many people are reported to be reading less and less in our reliance on Netflix bingeing as a way to check out after stressful days! I felt that the world building at the beginning was quite slow, but it improved after that. Some of the structure and word choice were a bit difficult, but very authentic to the world and made you feel like you were in the thick of it!

Anana Johnson lives in a world not too much removed from our own, in New York City. But books, libraries, newspapers, and even cell phones have been replaced by a handheld device called a NEME. Many people, though Anana and her Dad are not among them, have implanted microchips in their heads that allow direct communication between their brain and their NEME. NEMES are the source of information about anything, even replacing physicians and pharmacists. However, Anana and her father continue to be staunch believers in the written word, and work together on a new print-only edition of the dictionary, 40 volumes in all, soon to be released by their company.
But there is a crisis brewing, and Anana’s father seems to have disappeared, just as numerous people begin having spells of aphasia, some forgetting just a word here and there, others seeming to lose all ability to speak. This is often accompanied by feelings of confusion, headaches, and general sickness. Anana’s father, as well as another work colleague, have been speaking out, warning of the dangers of physical and psychological dependence on NEMES. But most people and authorities do not feel the NEME is the cause of this “word flu”, and various medications and theories of how to fight it are offered, just as it is reaching pandemic numbers. Bart, a lexicographer as well as a work associate of Anana’s, lends a philosophical voice to this narrative, as he discusses language, and the evolutionary changes that had to occur for language to be possible in the human species. Anana’s personal life is also part of the story, as she suffers the loss of a long term relationship, only to find a new potential love interest. And as Anana searches for her father, she begins to fear she herself may have contracted the virus, and sees many others around her showing symptoms as well.
This was an enjoyable, and at times thought provoking read. What really rang true for me was the loss of certain functions of the brain, as no one needs to learn to spell, perform routine math, or learn how to read a map or tell direction. That is something that seems to be happening at rapid speed in our current world..

Beautifully written and thought provoking about how the world would be if we quit talking and relied solely on just technology to communicate and such. I just can't even begin to fathom a world with no libraries or bookstores? I mean yes I enjoy my Kindle but I also love holding a book or newspaper in my hand!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I was excited to read it. I found the concept of a word flu yo be intriguing and a fresh take on the genre. While I enjoyed the format of the story and originality of it all, the characters were a bit rambly.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book so I grabbed it while it was available. However, I was disappointed that it didn't catch my attention at all. I wasn't even able to finish it.