Whether the author's idea was to cram as many shocking and/or disgusting images into two hundred brief pages as possible, or something more high-minded (probably both), he made a decent job of it either way. Here, what we get is a cockroach's-eye-view of humanity, warts and all.
    Through the eyes of Numbers, just one member of a whole colony of Blattella germanica inhabiting a New York apartment, we see the grim aftermath of a disaster: one human has moved out and another moved in; the Gypsy, Ira's former girlfriend, was sloppy and tempestuous, spilling (occasionally throwing) food; Ruth, Ira's current girlfriend, is tidy and clean, particularly in the kitchen. Result: no more pools of soup or globs of goulash lying around—and for the roaches that means famine. The story follows Numbers as he schemes to save the colony by, somehow, getting rid of Ruth and manoeuvring the hapless Ira into the arms of a neighbour's wife. It's not an easy road, either for him or us, and readers likely to suffer an attack of the vapours or start fluttering their fans at any of the following, should think twice before tackling it: there's indiscriminate mass-slaughter, insecticide sprays, boric acid, cannibalism, lavatories (seen from inside the bowl), excrement itself, cockroaches and even (ugh!) humans.
    It's yukky, yes, funny and some of the writing brilliant. Recommended for: anyone who always suspected that our own species are no better (or worse) than cockroaches, but thought no one else had noticed. ( )

It is humourous and quite dark at the same time. This book is not for the faint-hearted. ;) The graphic description of humans going at their daily and little observed bussiness is almost revolting but also funny and quite accurate. The view of the world (or appartment 3B) through a cockroach's eye(s) is strange. The way in which Numbers tries to influence the lives of the humans around him is heroic and suicidal at the same time. I even liked the end, although it took me completely by surprise. (But come to think of it, it was bound to happen some day!) ( )

this was one of the best books i have read. told entirely from the perspective of a roach, this tale is an observation of the human condition (indeed, it is the story of all living things told with humor and the acceptance of the inevitable). If you are looking for an entertaining and unique book to read all through the night, let this be the one. it's so intelligent, you'll understand why humans don't stand a chance. ( )

This book gets a star on title alone, that's before you even turn the first page and meet our little hero Numbers. I've given serious thought to naming my first born Numbers, afterall people name their kids after characters in books all the time -- my only problem is explaining that I named my kid after a roach. hmmm, yeah that would be a problem. Honestly, Numbers is a roach and just by definition, you come to understand that he is seriously flawed and therein is the analogy -- man is like a roach. The journey is thoroughly enjoyable, with a lot of questionable sex scenes that you really have to read to believe. The only exception is the character Rufus, a black pimp/drug dealer type -- that comes off stiff and unrealistic... in the end, he always ends up sounding like some Jewish guy doing a parody of some mid-west white guy, doing a parody of scenes that were cut from Boyz in the Hood. In the end, little Numbers goes all around the world it seems looking for a solution to his problem, to only end up right back where he started -- a day late and a dollar short, he discovers that he had lost track of the simplicity of life -- and had over complicated the matter... and what happens when screw stuff up? We get the shits and try to find someone to blame. Happens to us all...

Anyway, Weiss wrote a pretty oddly entertaining book, I never knew I could connect with a roach on such a personal level... ( )

"I had reinherited the earth." Our protagonist, Numbers, named himself after a chapter in the book that sheltered and nourished him for two of his molts--he is a Bible baby and he is a cockroach. From innumerable perches, positions and perspectives, this one cunning Blattella germanica roach manipulates and manages the unknowing, bumbling, self-absorbed Homo sapiens who live in and around his apartment and who conceitedly think they "have their bug problem under control." Numbers' survey of the inferiority of the human species is not only truthful but extremely graphic and laugh-out-loud funny. When Ira commits mass slaughter on the colony, revenge is sweet and deserved. You will never doubt the power of pheromones and you may never again touch a canister of poison.
Recommended by Laura, June 2007
href="http://www.carnegielibrary.org/locations/firstfloor/staffpicks/">Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Staff Picks