Shoplifting from American Apparel

Has anyone read Shoplifting from American Apparel by Tao Lin?

It's a novella (which I tend to like reading because by the time I get bored they're over) and it received great reviews but I found it to be boring, boring, boring. It's very dry.

Just wondering if I missed something.

Comments

[meatmagick]

I read it twice. I thought it was entertaining. Sometimes the book felt so-bad-it's-good, like The Room. Except Tao Lin is a good writer and Tommy Wiseau is kind of a shoddy director/actor/writer. All in all, I think it's good...not the best I've read by Lin and not the worst. I recommend his novel, Bed.

[carla]

it's an awesome book. i liked it.

[Jerry Cook]

Tao Lin is great but perhaps you have to live a lonely existence surrounded by twats to properly appreciate his work.

[brendan]

I would agree that Tao Lin is great, but I think you kind of need to read this book as a progression from his earlier works. Read his collection of short stories, "Bed", and then come back to this book again.

Also, check out a writing style called K-Mart Realism, and you'll realize Lin is kind of writing in a genre that tries to minimize ambiguity (which in turn still creates other kind of ambiguities)

[Karyn]

Jerry Cook for the win solely for using the word "twats" in her comment. (Love that word.)

Kidding.

Thank you, everyone. I didn't hate it, I just found it dull at times. And I know he's (it's) critically acclaimed, so I was just wondering what I missed. Sounds like I need to get used to his style. I will check out Bed.

[meatmagick]

Sorry, I wasn't paying attention and said "Bed" was his novel. I meant collection. Definitely check it out.