Feed (original 2002; edition 2012)

The Good: 10 years ago, Feed probably felt a lot more futuristic than it does today. With cell phones getting smaller and the promise of Google glasses, a permanent brain feed seems like the next logical step. The premise is possible, even somewhat likely, creating a tension in the book that will immediately speak to readers.

The Bad: The satire had a bite, but it definitely felt heavy-handed. Especially since the dystopian aspects of the novel were being pointed out by Violet, a girl whose feed wasn't exactly implanted under optimal conditions, making her downfall seem more her father's fault then that of the corporations or feed itself. Titus seems to float around with whatever the easiest way of thinking is and his change in thinking doesn't seem as if it would be all that long-lasting. None of the characters are likeable and the world itself is confusing for the first half of the book or so. Never mind that the realism drastically decreases as Feed's vision of hovercars and interplanetary travel as recreation comes into play. ( )

My VOYA Ratings: 4Q, 4P
M.T. Anderson writes a disturbing piece that is based in the future, yet smacks of the present. Manufactured technology, driven by a consumer mentality, becomes embedded and eventually inseparable from the natural body. Putting Big Brother to shame, Anderson presents a reality where you are not simply being watched, you are being embedded. Friendships and compassion take a back seat to consumerism and a virtual existence. This should be a must for a YA who cannot be without their current "feed"!
Quote:
"'I have this dream that I'll be able to learn to live without the feed. I wish they could just switch it off.' 'Can't they?' 'Not dormant. Off. I mean. completely. They can't right now. It replaces too many basic functions. Its tied in to everything.'" (262)

3Q, 4P (My VOYA ratings)
I enjoyed reading Feed and its alternate-future take on what social media and the Internet might eventually do to the world! I was surprised to find out the book was written before the advent of smartphones and the “always plugged in” mentality, because it’s such an apt depiction of where that might eventually lead. However, while I enjoyed the story, I had to dock it one VOYA point for the heavyhandedness of the delivery of its “message”—something that several starred reviews also point out. Furthermore, while the prose was fun to read I don’t think it delivered the story as well as it might have—some judicious editing might have helped with that.
Nonetheless, I rated it a 4P because while it may not be the “greatest book ever written,” it’s a fun read that I think many teens would find enjoyable. The slang was especially fun, and I know I loved to read about those kind of worldbuilding elements when I was a teenager. The teenage characters also felt relatable and believable even though they weren’t “perfect,” an element I feel like teen readers would appreciate. While the book may have been heavyhanded, the book is so enjoyable that it didn’t feel like pandering. ( )

This book is eerily fascinating, particularly when one considers that the themes in this book (in regards to technological impact) become increasingly relevant with the passage of time. M.T. Anderson's use of slang and style make this book high impact-when Titus sees the not-so-advantageous effects of the Feed on Violet, even he can no longer ignore that something with the current way of life is wrong. I do not particularly feel that Titus redeemed himself in the end and I struggled to sympathize with his character more so then Violets. Nevertheless, I gave this book a 5Q because it is well-written with distinct style, and a 5P because I think the themes in this book have a broad appeal.

This was hard to get into at first due to the teenage jargon. It might be easier to "read" by audio-book. This is imaginative and does not offer any easy answers, which is good. Set in the future, it is a book about consumerism, "hippness", trends, and how easily we are manipulated by media, by "the feed". ( )