Popco

This is a love it or hate it book. Because of the significant social issues contained in this story, such as the mistreatment of animals, corporate misdeeds, and guerilla marketing, this will appeal more to socially conscious individuals and those whose principles stand in opposition to the current CEO-type establishment. But, even then, counterculture types may still not like it if they don't want to see these issues advanced in a novel. That said, I applaud Scarlett Thomas for weaving these controversies in without sermonizing and laying on dull exposition. Thomas is clearly brainy and imaginative. She is subversive without being cynical, intellectual without condescending.Two storylines alternate throughout the novel, and eventually merge into a complex whole. As a child, Alice Butler was raised primarily by her grandparents, as her mother died when she was very young and her father took off to find a buried treasure. Alice's grandfather is a formidable cryptanalyst, cracking codes and ciphers and teaching Alice the essentials of prime numbers, poly-alphabetic ciphers, Vigenere enciphering, and other forms of codes and ciphers. The reader is exposed to some fundamental lessons that are thrilling and mind-boggling. The author infuses this in the story so naturally that it feels organically part of the storyline.Alice's grandmother has been working on the Riemann Hypothesis for many years but has not solved it. Alice's upbringing has made her hyperaware of the layers of complexity that exist in her surroundings, and she is a lover of paradoxes. She is often alienated from her peers, and develops a tough shell due to the immaturity and abuse she endures from her classmates (as well as some teachers). I have never read a book that illuminates adolescent behaviors so well--such as taunting, striving for popularity, the desire to fit in. Not even Margaret Atwood, known for her stark portrayals of teenage predatory behaviors, has illustrated the harrowing anxieties, shame and adversity so baldly and authentically.As an adult, Alice works for the corporate toy company, PopCo, the third largest toy company in the world. The story opens as Alice is on her way to a "thought camp" retreat. Her job is coming up with marketing strategies aimed at teenage girls. Her team is designated to design a new product, with specific potential to become a craze. Essentially, create a desire where none exists and persuade teenage girls that they have to have it. The ideation seminars at the thought camp instruct PopCo employees to create identity manias, a veritable fever that infects girls and coaxes them to covet a trend and crave a product.In lesser hands, this could easily become an elongated slogan or a sententious rant. However, Thomas is a gifted writer with a blazing, generous spirit. She is out-of the box and brimming with provocative, piercing ideas that are fleshed out and powerful. This imaginative novel is unclassifiable and yet compelling. The author has a keen sense of adventure, keeping the reader in suspense. Alice's narrative voice has a vital, dynamic sensibility that is suffused with compassion and wisdom beyond her years. The prose is eloquent and her characters fully developed. Thomas is an enormous, brilliant think tank of a writer.

So sometimes I find the most amazing books by searching for a book to fit a challenge I am doing on Goodreads. This is such a book... And something about the description was appealing to me; the stuff about the ciphers and codes. Then once I started reading it got even better! The main character, Alice Butler, is an introvert like me. So I could relate to her even though she lives in the UK. Plus how the book is written, the first person writing style, just pulled me right in. I was hooked! And no matter what the book was talking about I was never bored at all - even when it was going on about all of this prime number stuff (I am bad at math) or about very complex codes that I really didn't understand. And that alone is very amazing!! because normally I should get bored or frustrated. But I didn't! Alice had my full attention.And this book is way more than just about a woman (who is 29 years old) going down on a special retreat for the toy company she works for. Its about ideas. Idea generating and lateral thinking. And its also about lies and propaganda; about how ads convince you that yes you really need that new thing when in reality you don't need that thing at all. And mixed into these themes is a historical story about a man who went off to sea; a treasure. And a treasure map! Plus its about Alice when she was a girl and a teenager too. We learn so much about her.And I basically loved all parts of this book - except for one thing. And that is why I am rating this 4 stars and not 5 stars. I got really annoyed at the constant vegan - vegetarian stuff in here. I mean it was practically shoved down my throat. Now I have friends who are vegetarian. It doesn't bother me. But when a book is saying that one should go out and commit crimes (knock over egg displays at store to break the eggs, etc) then it is going way too far. And it was near the end of the book where these "friends" of hers was telling her how to do these things. They also thought it was ok to tear open toy packages in the store so the store could not sell the products. That just really bothered me. And I was think about that last night when I was trying to fall asleep. Its just very disturbing. Do these "friends" want Alice to go to jail? That whole part of the book soured for me and it made me feel that she had not learned anything.Otherwise I would have rated this 5 stars.But this is a very deep book. And I absolutely loved reading all of the adventures Alice had when she was a teenager and even later when she was in college. The historical parts with Francis Stevenson were excellent too!In many ways this book is about peer pressure and standing up for what you believe in. But you need courage to do that.Many of the codes and ciphers were way above my head but that did not stop me from reading this. You don't need to understand it. But this is a very creative character driven story that is very complex and it has very detailed backgrounds too. Even way back to the 1600s.But be aware its more drama than thriller. Its not exciting. But it did totally grip my attention. I even found myself doing lateral thinking! But what the book says in here about ads is correct. Ads often lie. They try to influence you. And if you can understand that then maybe you will enjoy this book.

I thought I'd like it, but I lost interest quickly. I finished reading it because I can't stand not finishing a book. It's a decent story. Many people will like it. It just seemed kind of bland and blah to me.

What a fascinating story. I absolutely loved this book. This book has a little bit of everything: humor, love, math, codes, interesting people & places, and I wish Alice Butler was a real person! I can't wait to start in on another Scarlett Thomas book.

Bellwether is not the book Willis is best known for, but it’s quietly brilliant (and distressingly familiar if you work in corporate America). Same here, especially if you work in the kind of company that likes to think of itself as cool. The other book Popco calls to mind is maybe a little more obvious - The Westing Game. Though this is definitely an adult book, not for sex and violence but for the deadpan humor based on company cultures.I’ve taken off one star because, after the great beginning, it became a bit clear that this is a debut novel - the author is simply trying to cram too much in. Perhaps it will clarify what I mean when I say that other books I was reminded of include Jo Walton’s Among Others; Godel, Escher, Bach; The Gollywhopper Games, and a few others. Also, it’s not clear how many of the book’s themes are “quirky characterization” vs “author really trying to preach” e.g. veganism and homeopathy. But overall, there’s lots to think about and it’s worth a read. I’m curious to see what Thomas does next!