*spoiler-free*
Introducing the weirdest book I have ever read! Several People Are Typing is centred around Gerald who somehow has his consciousness uploaded to his company’s Slack channel. As expected, his colleagues think it’s an elaborate joke to have the excuse to work from home. The story delves into other work gossip and crises that the company deal with, all told to the reader in the format of Slack messages.
This was not a book I had heard of before, but the cover intrigued me when I was recently browsing in Waterstones. The blurb made me smile as it sounded like corporate culture gone mad. When flicking through, the structure of the book is what makes it the most unique. Having everything written as Slack messages was odd but made it very easy to read as I ended up going through the pages quickly. It was a refreshing style to read, and as I have had to use Slack at work before the style of messages was very accurate.
However, at times I did find the pacing to be a little off, but largely due to the format of the book as it takes some time to get used to. I missed the traditional use of chapters but I understand for this book, it wouldn’t have made the most sense. It is also weird to think that one of my favourite characters in this book was the slack bot but that proves how bizarre the story is. There are some serious WTF moments throughout Several People Are Typing as well as quite a few things which I was not expecting but this added to the addictiveness of the book. With the intriguing plot and easy-to-read format, I flew through the book.
Unfortunately, I did find the resolution to the main issue in the book a bit underwhelming but nonetheless, the book was an enjoyable read. Several People Are Typing definitely captures corporate relationships and interactions well, making it a fun read when imagining this in a real-life work setting. I liked the sci-fi elements of the book, but I do wish this was explored more to improve the world-building aspect.
3/5 stars
Soph's Library 
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