PTSA REVIEW

Okay, let’s get a couple quick issues taken care of.

I know at least two of you tried to buy the dead-tree version of the book today and found yourselves unable. I know this because you emailed to tell me.

This is because I had to re-upload the files, in order to fix a crucial typo, which was discovered by the person who wrote the review you’re about to read.

There are a number of exciting typos in the book – this particular one was one of the non-intentional ones, and it was at an important part, so it couldn’t sit there.

In this section, Bruce Willis is watching The Exploders for the first time, not Brice Willis. This was a big moment in the narrative, and thus I didn’t want it tarnished. (Even though I could’ve passed it off as one of the intentional typos.)

These are the things that happen when you’re your own editor. Anyway, the dead tree version should be back up by the weekend. Those of you who have already bought it, you have the only known “1st editions” in existence. Good news is the eBook is still there for $7.99 and you can go get it right now.

Now, reviews. I sent the book out to 15 people I trusted a couple weeks ago, so that they could give me their objective opinions. It’s also out (as of this week) to several people I only know through Twitter, so those should be super-objective.

First up is Caitlin. I’ve known Caitlin since high school, but we only recently reconnected via Facebook. One thing I’ve always liked about Caitlin is she doesn’t mess around – I knew she’d give me her true and honest thoughts.

(I’m really interested in female opinions on this thing. I’m not even worried about guys. Guys will love it – it’s got a 47-story airplane, explosions, holograms, and 200 airplane waitresses in pigtails and cheerleader outfits. What do you mean you haven’t bought it yet?)

You can read Caitlin’s opinions after the break here.

I read the book on several of my flights over the last 2 weeks. I think I probably would have done a better job of keeping up with all the characters relationships had I done it in one or two sittings that were less broken up though. I really liked it! I actually laughed out loud many times while reading it. It was a riot!!

My father picked it up and skimmed through it and just read bits and pieces while I was home and he was laughing as well and asked me if I could send him a copy of it or else the link. I haven’t done so, and figured I should ask you first. He just loves to read, but would not share it with anyone else.

I am amazed that you were able to put this thing together at all, much less [redacted, as it's a plot point]! It’s crazy how all the characters tie together and how many subtle references to other things are being made all the time (it reminds me of the show Arrested Development in a way – they were always making reference to a million different things at once, but unless you were familiar with all the episodes and characters you wouldn’t catch half of the humor – which I loved)

I definitely want to go back and read it again – because I know alot of it was still lost on me the first time though. But it was tons of fun to read, so congrats!!

That being said – I noted a few random edits which you can take a look at or else tell me to go f*ck myself for making any suggestions in the first place. :) Nothing was about style or anything like that – just a few random things like where you called Bruce Willis “Brice Willis” once, etc. I have attached a spreadsheet with these items.

Also, you may want to run a FIND on the word “fiancee”. It is “fiancee” when referring to the girl, and it is “fiance” when referring to the boy – but I think you used the female version exclusively.

And one other thing that I noted a few instances of, but it may just be your style, is that you used “they” and “their” several times when you were actually only referring to one person. But I understand that maybe you didn’t want to specify whether the person was a “he or she”.

That’s it, and you should see my spreadsheet I sent back, explaining why I did all those things I did.

I highly encourage you to send your thoughts once you’ve tagged your copy. At some point an exclusive spoiler-filled section of this blog will be essential.

You see, your personal purchase of this novel is inevitable.