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135 pages of a shallow man giving his deepest thoughts as he prepares to go up to the mezzanine level of his office building via the escalator. Topics include extended treatises on shoelaces, paper towels in the bathroom versus air dryers, and plastic straw technology. A reverse-American Psycho satire of Reagan-era business that finds its disturbing moments in the narrator's most anodyne observations.
Jun 6, 2024
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It‘s a silly book that takes place over the course of a single escalator ride. Baker does a great job of stretching the brief moment out with random reflections and long footnotes
Dec 3, 2024
One of my favourite books… 200 pages about a bloke riding the escalator up to his office. so many musings about everyday life, great vocabulary, detours, etc. just lovely and life affirming in its mundanity
Apr 3, 2025
Lower east side, 2006. written long enough ago now that it feels nostalgic… like the cell phones are still being snapped shut. Apparently audiobook is narrated by bobby cannavale. keith mcnally included in acknowledgements. 8/10
Mar 10, 2024
Top Recs from @mlieber123
You get stoned in Ankara and wander the streets, only to find this band playing in a 1950s style diner with decor from Turkish scifi, Ed Wood ripoffs. Anatolian fuzz that makes Mustafa Kemal Ataturk roll over in his grave.
Jan 25, 2024
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With a level of self-loathing that would make the Coen brothers blush, Snow is an atmospheric, Turkish novel coated in wintry noir, suffused with the political absurdity, humor of The Idiot.
May 19, 2024
My 3 yo daughter wanted to know what the flute player looked like that makes the sounds like a bird; was cool to show her this video since any B&W tends to be less exciting for her. For the non-toddlers, the music is also very good.
Jan 29, 2024