The book "Contacts" by Mark Watson, author of the award-winning book "Slightly Okey", offers a unique and emotional insight into how the fragmented and isolated digital world influences our relationships with friends, family, and near strangers.
As a young man desperately searching for meaning in life, James boards a sleeper train station bound for Edinburgh to ensure he completes his lifetime mission; he commits to himself on day 27 that evening to perform this monumental act, without any form of contact or message to follow up once reaching his destination. This decision strikes a series of ripples through those in his contact history, giving each an instant reminder or apprehension depending upon their stance on interpersonal relationships at such an opportune moment. At the outset, his mother forces him to stay by convincing him that this is the start of a vacation and that there's still plenty of time to prepare his actual "mission statement" and completion. The next few minutes have him confronting friends, telling a select few of his "friends" about his intentions and leaving messages for others, all according to the complex criteria set forth by himself. His apathy sears through each dynamic relationship left an exposed and exposed, as each attempts to either rally and collaborate or deflect at what will occur. James decides to give each friend an opportunity to change his mind; he causes each to feel compelled or compelled to overtake what was called a "temporary" detachment. Instead, they each read James' ultimatum, their own selves being caught in perpetual cycles and inevitable dissonances.
Throughout his solitary trip, James reiterates and refines his isolation through an internal dialogue. He acknowledges and moves past each familiarity, every shaming condition. Thoroughly depressing, yet moving story, this novel delves into loneliness' futility, whether it be romantic desires, familial connections, or even those of work collegiality. Mankind's dedication to maintain our virtual horizons prevails against the individualizing characteristics within many connective ideals. Together, these texts highlight our hyper-dependence on tech and media, highlighting the need for a more grounded and healthy approach to friendship while also advocating for understanding the imperfections and imperfect representations built in each social media platform. Even in our most isolated of days, Watson ensures we hold on to the relevance and usefulness of other people with non-digitized conversations.
Новый роман лауреата премий Марка Уотсона и автора юмористических текстов теперь можно заказать заранее! Ведь Джеймс садится в поезд, который повезет его в Эдинбург субботним вечером, и отправляет всем контакт из списка сообщений телефона сообщение о том, что он собирается покончить жизнь рано утром. Затем он выключает телефон – дело сделано. Но для друзей, родственников и едва знакомых людей по всему миру, получающих это душераздирающее послание, это только начало их пути. В романе пронизывающий до глубины души портрет одиночества среди огромного количества контактов – даже если находящееся рядом лишь текст в телефоне.
Электронная Книга «Contacts» написана автором Mark Watson в году.
Минимальный возраст читателя: 0
Язык: Английский
ISBN: 9780008346980
Описание книги от Mark Watson
The new book from award-winning writer and comedian Mark Watson – available to pre-order now!As James boards the sleeper train to Edinburgh on a Saturday evening, he sends a message to everyone in his phone contacts list, to tell them all that he plans to end his life in the morning. James then turns his phone off – job done. But for friends, family and near-strangers across the world, receiving this shocking message is only the beginning of their journeys. What follows is a heart-breaking portrayal of how lonely one can feel in a very connected world – even when those around us are just a text away.
