Bite-sized book reviews
Bite-sized book reviews
One More Thing – B.J. Novak
Yes, that B.J. Novak. The same one who played Ryan on The Office and wrote for the show.
This is a collection of short stories that are thoughtful, clever, and often very funny. The stories range from absurd to quietly reflective, and Novak has a knack for taking a simple premise and pushing it somewhere unexpected.
Before reading this book I never cared much about the Ryan character on The Office. But after reading Novak’s writing, I felt like I understood his particular sense of humor and perspective a lot better, which somehow made the character funnier in retrospect.
It’s also a great book to read in small pieces. Each story stands on its own, so you can pick it up for a few minutes at a time or read several in one sitting.
It’s been years since I read it and I still remember several of the stories and ideas. That’s always a good sign.
Best for: Readers who enjoy clever short fiction and offbeat humor
Vibe: Witty, playful, slightly absurd