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Closure of the Helpdesk — A Geek Tragedy
“That’s exactly the problem with any ‘simple truth’—in the end it always takes a gaggle of complete idiots or a team of all-knowing geniuses to miss it.”
At once hilarious and tragic, set in Silicon Valley and full of office politics, Closure of the Helpdesk has been hailed as “clearly the work of an insider to both high finance and technology.” Put simply, this business-themed novel is a mirror to life if you’re a geek — or a window to it if you aren’t.
Chapter titles include Donuts Beat People, The Slave Club and Dude, Where's My Bailout.
Pick up a copy today and prepare to be entertained!
"We suck. We are a bunch of liars. And we are going to lay off a lot of people."
At once hilarious and tragic, set in Silicon Valley and full of office politics, Closure of the Helpdesk has been hailed as “clearly the work of an insider to both high finance and technology.” Put simply, this business-themed novel is a mirror to life if you’re a geek — or a window to it if you aren’t.
Chapter titles include Donuts Beat People, The Slave Club and Dude, Where's My Bailout.
Pick up a copy today and prepare to be entertained!
"We suck. We are a bunch of liars. And we are going to lay off a lot of people."
224 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2012
14 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Ali Sheikh
15 books38 followersArmed with a BS in Engineering and an MBA, Ali Sheikh has been working in the corporate world for twenty years. It's fair to say he has more than the obligatory ring-side view of his subject—he has been living in the ring for a long time. Closure of the Helpdesk is his first book; and he has more on the way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 23, 2013
I enjoyed it.
The ideas and insights in this book made it an enjoyable read.
The idea that a company should focus on providing value is clearly stated through paragraphs like,
Successful founders, when asked how to be successful often answer, "focus on providing value". It's a simple and powerful statement. An idea that this book demonstrates well.
Where this book fell short for me was the characters.
This book focuses on a team of talented programmers living in Silicon Valley. Okay, I'm interested! I'm a developer and somewhat geeky myself, this should be a fun read.
I found the characters to be flat however. I didn't care for any of them. Geeky characters should be a joy to read (and write)! Self-identified geeks love reading about and identifying with character traits and quirks of smart people. Books like Microserfs and JPod by Douglas Coupland excel at this. I had no mental pictures of the characters and I didn't find myself thinking about them. When Vick was referred to, I'd think, "okay, Vick is the 'smart programmer' who works with Sam", there was no attachment.
Kurt Vonnegut once stated in his, 8 Basics of Creative Writing that, "every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water". In this book the geeks wanted the same thing (and only this), they all wanted to "change the world". Well, Kris the Indian one wanted a Green Card also.
At the start of the book Vick says,
I hated Barbara more than George (the villian). Level headed George was the only person to see that Bodega existed on hype and speculation, then act accordingly. I can't hate him for that. His misdeeds were not as affecting as they perhaps should have been. The rest were too busy repeating ad nueseam, "I want to change the world".
The other main idea is that companies are controlled and destroyed by George characters, "rich guys, bankers, mortgage lenders, hedge-fund managers, CFOs". These types don't value 'value' or quality. When it comes to controlling a software company, they hire average staff who ship average products. The time and effort required to hire talented staff (who breed talent and therefore quality products) delivers greater value to the man in the street, leading to success in the marketplace. Watch 'Steve Jobs - The Lost Interview' for a great explanation of this.
The author's background in finance shows and informs the 'financy' parts of the book. It made me want to learn about how companies report - and misreport - their financial health. Not knowing much about this I can only say that George and the financial operations of Bodega "felt" authentic.
That this new breed of villian is a problem, was stated, but felt unresolved. As in, here's a problem we're facing. The end.
It was a quick and enjoyable read with moments that made me smile, like when Sam is on a date and says,
The ideas and insights in this book made it an enjoyable read.
The idea that a company should focus on providing value is clearly stated through paragraphs like,
"The man on the street benefits from what Bodega does because...". He paused for effect. "Now, Barb, complete that sentence in twenty words or less. When you have a clear and simple answer to that, you'll know you have a good thing going".
Successful founders, when asked how to be successful often answer, "focus on providing value". It's a simple and powerful statement. An idea that this book demonstrates well.
Where this book fell short for me was the characters.
This book focuses on a team of talented programmers living in Silicon Valley. Okay, I'm interested! I'm a developer and somewhat geeky myself, this should be a fun read.
I found the characters to be flat however. I didn't care for any of them. Geeky characters should be a joy to read (and write)! Self-identified geeks love reading about and identifying with character traits and quirks of smart people. Books like Microserfs and JPod by Douglas Coupland excel at this. I had no mental pictures of the characters and I didn't find myself thinking about them. When Vick was referred to, I'd think, "okay, Vick is the 'smart programmer' who works with Sam", there was no attachment.
Kurt Vonnegut once stated in his, 8 Basics of Creative Writing that, "every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water". In this book the geeks wanted the same thing (and only this), they all wanted to "change the world". Well, Kris the Indian one wanted a Green Card also.
At the start of the book Vick says,
"Oh, I read math puzzles before I walk into a meeting. Then I sit there quietly and solve the puzzles in my mind. That's why I don't get worked up about these things".Yes! smiles. More of this would have helped.
I hated Barbara more than George (the villian). Level headed George was the only person to see that Bodega existed on hype and speculation, then act accordingly. I can't hate him for that. His misdeeds were not as affecting as they perhaps should have been. The rest were too busy repeating ad nueseam, "I want to change the world".
The other main idea is that companies are controlled and destroyed by George characters, "rich guys, bankers, mortgage lenders, hedge-fund managers, CFOs". These types don't value 'value' or quality. When it comes to controlling a software company, they hire average staff who ship average products. The time and effort required to hire talented staff (who breed talent and therefore quality products) delivers greater value to the man in the street, leading to success in the marketplace. Watch 'Steve Jobs - The Lost Interview' for a great explanation of this.
The author's background in finance shows and informs the 'financy' parts of the book. It made me want to learn about how companies report - and misreport - their financial health. Not knowing much about this I can only say that George and the financial operations of Bodega "felt" authentic.
That this new breed of villian is a problem, was stated, but felt unresolved. As in, here's a problem we're facing. The end.
It was a quick and enjoyable read with moments that made me smile, like when Sam is on a date and says,
"I looked up what to say on the first date. Turns out you tell a pretty girl that she's smart and a smart girl that she's pretty".
June 16, 2013
Closure of the Help Desk is a fascinating peek into the days of the Silicon Valley, from its heady days of power and innovation to its downward spiral into emptiness and loss.
For starters, the book gives the layman reader a comprehensive look into the intricacies of the working of Silicon Valley – where on the surface seemed to dwell vistas of unlimited promise, but perhaps from its very inception, the seeds of destruction began to sprout. Eventually what led to its demise were the very things that led to its conception – ambition, greed, desperate innovation. For these things in moderation lead to birth and growth but when left unchecked will inevitably ring the death knell. This tragic tale of the Valley is captured beautifully in the book.
The specifics of Silicon Valley, software, financial dealings etc aside, the book is a captivating read as it epitomizes classic power play structures and intrigue within most corporations. So we have George, the seemingly stodgy, unimaginative classic CFO type, but who was perhaps the only one who had his hand on the pulse of what was really going on and in which direction things would inevitably head. It was his manipulations that really kept Bodega alive long after it should have actually choked. So he postponed the inevitable. Some of the means he resorts to are classic depictions of much that is wrong with financial structures to day, making the story realistic. And then we have Barbara – trying to be a leader, trying to please all and trying to turn a blind eye to everything that was going wrong. And finally Sam, for whom initially the world he lives in seems to be one of golden promise, but by the end of the book, he is left fundamentally questioning everything he had believed in.
For people like me, who are hell bent on drawing some philosophical conclusions from virtually every book (whether the author even intends it or not), the book is not so much about Silicon Valley as it is about human nature. We begin our life journey with ideals, but somewhere along the way distortions creep in – desperation to ‘succeed’ at any cost, greed, the propensity to take short cuts and finally the tendency to try to ignore alarm bells as they start to ring. The mantra is to milk today and let tomorrow take care of itself. The book also raises questions about where our sense of sustenance and self worth come from, which dimensions do we choose to express our sense of identity in and finally can we ever really be at peace with a unidimensional life.
Closure of the Help Desk was a captivating read. It had a tight storyline, a realistic take on the status quo as it was and according to the individual reader’s sensibilities it raised some interesting questions about human nature and individual identity. The personal nature of the characters could perhaps have been developed a little more, but sometimes every author has to decide about whether to tell the story of a phenomenon or the story of an individual character and flesh out the story accordingly.
For starters, the book gives the layman reader a comprehensive look into the intricacies of the working of Silicon Valley – where on the surface seemed to dwell vistas of unlimited promise, but perhaps from its very inception, the seeds of destruction began to sprout. Eventually what led to its demise were the very things that led to its conception – ambition, greed, desperate innovation. For these things in moderation lead to birth and growth but when left unchecked will inevitably ring the death knell. This tragic tale of the Valley is captured beautifully in the book.
The specifics of Silicon Valley, software, financial dealings etc aside, the book is a captivating read as it epitomizes classic power play structures and intrigue within most corporations. So we have George, the seemingly stodgy, unimaginative classic CFO type, but who was perhaps the only one who had his hand on the pulse of what was really going on and in which direction things would inevitably head. It was his manipulations that really kept Bodega alive long after it should have actually choked. So he postponed the inevitable. Some of the means he resorts to are classic depictions of much that is wrong with financial structures to day, making the story realistic. And then we have Barbara – trying to be a leader, trying to please all and trying to turn a blind eye to everything that was going wrong. And finally Sam, for whom initially the world he lives in seems to be one of golden promise, but by the end of the book, he is left fundamentally questioning everything he had believed in.
For people like me, who are hell bent on drawing some philosophical conclusions from virtually every book (whether the author even intends it or not), the book is not so much about Silicon Valley as it is about human nature. We begin our life journey with ideals, but somewhere along the way distortions creep in – desperation to ‘succeed’ at any cost, greed, the propensity to take short cuts and finally the tendency to try to ignore alarm bells as they start to ring. The mantra is to milk today and let tomorrow take care of itself. The book also raises questions about where our sense of sustenance and self worth come from, which dimensions do we choose to express our sense of identity in and finally can we ever really be at peace with a unidimensional life.
Closure of the Help Desk was a captivating read. It had a tight storyline, a realistic take on the status quo as it was and according to the individual reader’s sensibilities it raised some interesting questions about human nature and individual identity. The personal nature of the characters could perhaps have been developed a little more, but sometimes every author has to decide about whether to tell the story of a phenomenon or the story of an individual character and flesh out the story accordingly.
March 9, 2013
If I had seen this book in a shop I would never have dreamed of buying it - I don't find the cover or premise particularly attractive and how wrong would I have been.
I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway and was completely absorbed from page 1. I read the book in one sitting and it took me almost a whole day (I am a fast reader) - household chores went undone and I settled down with cup after cup of coffee.
There is an awful lot of dialogue in this book, together with the main character's inner monologue. The dialogue, I found, was extremely well written in that it flowed well and was easy to read. I got immediately absorbed by the main character's dilemmas and story and could literally not stop reading as I had to know how things turned out for him. I know that there are areas which could have been written better or needed editing - badly constructed sentences and perhaps grammar that needed correcting. However, I could identify with this book and think that when you're reading you have to look at the spirit of the book and not be too critical with such technical matters unless they really inhibit the enjoyment of the book. The author could have made timelines clearer and really developed the characters more (the book could have been longer) but this did not detract from the pleasure of reading it, for me.
It is a very cleverly written book which I could really relate to - I am a bit of a geek (OK, a lot of a geek) but anyone who has worked in an office environment at some point in their life will be able to relate to and understand this.
I thought it was going to be funnier than it was but there's quite a bit of irony and it has some very poignant, touching moments. I really empathised with the characters and cared what happened to them. There's a lot of truth in it.
I'm not going to tell you any more about the book as I don't want to spoil it. I don't often reread books but I would happily do so on this occasion - although I have already passed it on to a friend of mine and urged them to read it first.
Highly recommended; intelligent, funny, witty, clever, touching and it will leave you a little sad and thoughtful. What more can one say? I eagerly look forward to reviewing more books by this author.
I was lucky enough to win this in a giveaway and was completely absorbed from page 1. I read the book in one sitting and it took me almost a whole day (I am a fast reader) - household chores went undone and I settled down with cup after cup of coffee.
There is an awful lot of dialogue in this book, together with the main character's inner monologue. The dialogue, I found, was extremely well written in that it flowed well and was easy to read. I got immediately absorbed by the main character's dilemmas and story and could literally not stop reading as I had to know how things turned out for him. I know that there are areas which could have been written better or needed editing - badly constructed sentences and perhaps grammar that needed correcting. However, I could identify with this book and think that when you're reading you have to look at the spirit of the book and not be too critical with such technical matters unless they really inhibit the enjoyment of the book. The author could have made timelines clearer and really developed the characters more (the book could have been longer) but this did not detract from the pleasure of reading it, for me.
It is a very cleverly written book which I could really relate to - I am a bit of a geek (OK, a lot of a geek) but anyone who has worked in an office environment at some point in their life will be able to relate to and understand this.
I thought it was going to be funnier than it was but there's quite a bit of irony and it has some very poignant, touching moments. I really empathised with the characters and cared what happened to them. There's a lot of truth in it.
I'm not going to tell you any more about the book as I don't want to spoil it. I don't often reread books but I would happily do so on this occasion - although I have already passed it on to a friend of mine and urged them to read it first.
Highly recommended; intelligent, funny, witty, clever, touching and it will leave you a little sad and thoughtful. What more can one say? I eagerly look forward to reviewing more books by this author.
August 24, 2013
A well thought-out plot! A writer, I believe, should have the entire plot and most of the script laid out in his mind before penning the lines; and the author definitely comes across that way.
Ali Sheikh has expertly mixed software development with financial scandals in this engaging read. His simple and direct narrative style makes this complex topic accessible to all readers – it is almost like the author is sitting next to you narrating the story.
I was also impressed by the fact that the author (perhaps consciously) kept the content clean. His lines are so clean, I could give this book to my 13-year old (whether the kid can relate to the world of business and scandals is a whole different story). I know of books with similar plots where the “tough guys” have to talk in foul language all the time to reflect their “true” character. Well, I could easily relate to the hero and I hated the villain to no end. Yet, both of them are very human and one can easily run into them in the office on a daily basis. Ali Sheikh has managed to breathe life into his characters without resorting to unnecessary drama.
The downside, if I can call it as such, is that the ending left me with a very depressed feeling. The funny lines notwithstanding, Closure of the Helpdesk is an out-and-out tragedy that reflects the harsh realities of the business world. Wicked George goes unscathed, sincere Sam is torn about his future and well-meaning Barbara goes into oblivion. I might have preferred a different ending, but on the other hand, the author probably has a plan to write more books with Sam as the central character…
Ali Sheikh has expertly mixed software development with financial scandals in this engaging read. His simple and direct narrative style makes this complex topic accessible to all readers – it is almost like the author is sitting next to you narrating the story.
I was also impressed by the fact that the author (perhaps consciously) kept the content clean. His lines are so clean, I could give this book to my 13-year old (whether the kid can relate to the world of business and scandals is a whole different story). I know of books with similar plots where the “tough guys” have to talk in foul language all the time to reflect their “true” character. Well, I could easily relate to the hero and I hated the villain to no end. Yet, both of them are very human and one can easily run into them in the office on a daily basis. Ali Sheikh has managed to breathe life into his characters without resorting to unnecessary drama.
The downside, if I can call it as such, is that the ending left me with a very depressed feeling. The funny lines notwithstanding, Closure of the Helpdesk is an out-and-out tragedy that reflects the harsh realities of the business world. Wicked George goes unscathed, sincere Sam is torn about his future and well-meaning Barbara goes into oblivion. I might have preferred a different ending, but on the other hand, the author probably has a plan to write more books with Sam as the central character…
March 2, 2013
Disclosure: the author reached out to me to offer a complimentary copy.
As a software developer, lover of Office Space, big fan of The IT Crowd, and born of the ruins of the dot-com boom, this book was a mishmash of all that and was practically written for someone like me. I knew the feeling of living a startup life of working long hours, I cried with the fellow geeks at the mismanagement from non-geeks, I cheered everyone on as good things happened to the techies... all because I've been there and done that. I also appreciated the sprinkle of actual tech terms as opposed to the technobabble some writers love to use that just confuse me because I have no idea what it's supposed to mean. I can totally believe this kind of story has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen in real life. Damn those nontechnical executives that have no idea what they're doing!
The other thing that impressed me was that it was fairly well written and edited for a first and self published novel. Overall I think the story could have used some more polish in the beginning, since it took me a few chapters to get into the groove of things. I would also have liked some more depth to the minor characters, but there's plenty to love and hate already. Don't let any of the criticism stop you - I literally could not put this book down until I finished it. It's a fast but entertaining and relatable read if you're an industry insider or interested in a peek.
As a software developer, lover of Office Space, big fan of The IT Crowd, and born of the ruins of the dot-com boom, this book was a mishmash of all that and was practically written for someone like me. I knew the feeling of living a startup life of working long hours, I cried with the fellow geeks at the mismanagement from non-geeks, I cheered everyone on as good things happened to the techies... all because I've been there and done that. I also appreciated the sprinkle of actual tech terms as opposed to the technobabble some writers love to use that just confuse me because I have no idea what it's supposed to mean. I can totally believe this kind of story has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen in real life. Damn those nontechnical executives that have no idea what they're doing!
The other thing that impressed me was that it was fairly well written and edited for a first and self published novel. Overall I think the story could have used some more polish in the beginning, since it took me a few chapters to get into the groove of things. I would also have liked some more depth to the minor characters, but there's plenty to love and hate already. Don't let any of the criticism stop you - I literally could not put this book down until I finished it. It's a fast but entertaining and relatable read if you're an industry insider or interested in a peek.
March 17, 2013
This is a more easy going take on the plight of business as we know it. Where half baked all hyped ideas are pushed out to the market in a huge frenzy, then quickly die out. Execs don't care to remedy the low sales, shoddy performance and poor customer service. Executive time is rather spent on bending and breaking accounting rules to maintain financials at the levels which pay bonus, offer stock options, and keep their own rear ends in the corner cushy office. Eventually the charade comes down on itself. The hardworking lower to mid level types like software engineers are sent packing. The exec's find themselves in a perfect position to gain again on their own failure.
This was a quick and easy read, certainly had that business novel feel that won't appeal to everybody. I enjoyed that this touched on many of the causes and effects of the flawed business models we've seen in the news recently.
This was a quick and easy read, certainly had that business novel feel that won't appeal to everybody. I enjoyed that this touched on many of the causes and effects of the flawed business models we've seen in the news recently.
February 25, 2013
I received this book for free as a part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
I have read books with technical jargon in them before that I didn't understand at all and have loved them (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, anyone?), and I am saying this upfront because I don't want this to be discredited because I'm not involved in the business or computer programming worlds. I hated this book.
The premise is interesting and has potential. Following someone through the ups and downs of the programming industry is an interesting idea. But it was so poorly executed. The characters had literally no development or depth at all. At the very, very end of the book one character explains that the well being of his family is important to him, and the character of Kris is quite interesting and I liked him and his immigration plight. But I didn't care about a single character. All of the characters are one dimensional (Seriously, Barbara is just a female puppet that says "my God" multiple times). There is no emotion in this book. The main character is dumped and all that lets us know that he is depressed is that he mentions having laid in bed for a week not job hunting. None of the characters had emotions or actions associated with their dialogue and sometimes I didn't know who was speaking. I don't think that there were really any descriptions of what the characters even looked like.
This book is also desperately in need of some editing. Some sentences were structured like: "You don't know how worried I'm." That contraction is not okay. Several words were repeated right next to each other, conjunctions were left out and overall if this book were to even pass as professionally done (granted, not even as a work of art) it needs to be gone over again by someone skilled in proofreading.
The timeline of the book was jumpy at best. It started out at one place and all of a sudden you are sometime in the past before the beginning and then in the middle of the book you're back at the beginning but it jumps back into the past again without any warning. There aren't even references to years, so I literally had no idea where this book was in time. Yes, the Dot Com bust... when was that? How long was Sam working at Bodega? How long was he working on Pandora or on New Horizons? Six years later more stuff is happening, but six years from when? From when he lost his job or from some other point in time? From when he started at Bodega? Why is this company named Bodega? It keeps making me think of the word "bodacious" and I don't like it. I am from Southern California and the amount of "dude" and "man" were excessive. Why are the evil business people named Barbara and George after President Bush and his wife? I assume this is a coincidence, because I can't see how this book would have tried to allude at all to the business structure as an allegory for the government being greedy and lying to its citizens.
The synopsis of this book leads you to believe that it will be funny. It's not. It's less funny than a Dilbert comic.
I seriously don't know what to do with the copy I have. I definitely don't want to waste precious bookshelf space on it, but don't know if I should send it back to the author to give to someone else, donate it to a thrift store, or use it in my fireplace to keep my heating bill down. I wanted to like it because the author seemed like such a nice person, but I didn't. Not at all, not one bit.
I have read books with technical jargon in them before that I didn't understand at all and have loved them (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, anyone?), and I am saying this upfront because I don't want this to be discredited because I'm not involved in the business or computer programming worlds. I hated this book.
The premise is interesting and has potential. Following someone through the ups and downs of the programming industry is an interesting idea. But it was so poorly executed. The characters had literally no development or depth at all. At the very, very end of the book one character explains that the well being of his family is important to him, and the character of Kris is quite interesting and I liked him and his immigration plight. But I didn't care about a single character. All of the characters are one dimensional (Seriously, Barbara is just a female puppet that says "my God" multiple times). There is no emotion in this book. The main character is dumped and all that lets us know that he is depressed is that he mentions having laid in bed for a week not job hunting. None of the characters had emotions or actions associated with their dialogue and sometimes I didn't know who was speaking. I don't think that there were really any descriptions of what the characters even looked like.
This book is also desperately in need of some editing. Some sentences were structured like: "You don't know how worried I'm." That contraction is not okay. Several words were repeated right next to each other, conjunctions were left out and overall if this book were to even pass as professionally done (granted, not even as a work of art) it needs to be gone over again by someone skilled in proofreading.
The timeline of the book was jumpy at best. It started out at one place and all of a sudden you are sometime in the past before the beginning and then in the middle of the book you're back at the beginning but it jumps back into the past again without any warning. There aren't even references to years, so I literally had no idea where this book was in time. Yes, the Dot Com bust... when was that? How long was Sam working at Bodega? How long was he working on Pandora or on New Horizons? Six years later more stuff is happening, but six years from when? From when he lost his job or from some other point in time? From when he started at Bodega? Why is this company named Bodega? It keeps making me think of the word "bodacious" and I don't like it. I am from Southern California and the amount of "dude" and "man" were excessive. Why are the evil business people named Barbara and George after President Bush and his wife? I assume this is a coincidence, because I can't see how this book would have tried to allude at all to the business structure as an allegory for the government being greedy and lying to its citizens.
The synopsis of this book leads you to believe that it will be funny. It's not. It's less funny than a Dilbert comic.
I seriously don't know what to do with the copy I have. I definitely don't want to waste precious bookshelf space on it, but don't know if I should send it back to the author to give to someone else, donate it to a thrift store, or use it in my fireplace to keep my heating bill down. I wanted to like it because the author seemed like such a nice person, but I didn't. Not at all, not one bit.
March 19, 2013
Disclosure: The author reached out to me and offered a complimentary copy for review. I accepted the offer and read a version on the Kindle.
That said, I will say that this was a very fast read for me. I didn't run into too much technical jargon that wasn't explained to my satisfaction. The idea of the "helpdesk" in "geek terms" may have needed a bit more explanation for me, but I think it could be that my idea of the "helpdesk" is the people who are the techies... not what the author intended. Either that or I just plowed through the misunderstanding figuring I would eventually get it, which I did at the back end of the book.
What I enjoyed about it was that it was "realistic fiction"... the type that could have happened, but didn't. I could just see this happening with the ups and downs of Silicon Valley. I liked the realism of the techies who were trying to realize their dreams in spite of the odds. I could see the higher ups who were in a dog eat dog society... one quarter kings/queens of the world, as long as they hit expectations. (This is where I think an understanding of the business world would help any reader. I have a lifelong interest in Wall Street, so I can see that easier than some). The flow of the book between the officers and the techies was quite appropriate to continue the story. It's almost impossible to tell this kind of story without some backtracking.
Two main things kept the book from earning the 5th *. 1 - The characters seemed a little too... monotone (maybe that's not the right word) for my liking. Other than being techies and drinking it seemed like the characters weren't developed beyond that. Maybe that is the techie lifestyle... but I would have figured there would be more to the characters. The officers also seemed a bit dry as well... like they didn't have a life either. That and the length of time between the bulk of the story and the "second act" seemed a bit excessive. Maybe in the world we're a visitor in, it's realistic, but I can't imagine everyone out of a job this long and not a whole heck of a lot happening. I felt a little cheated out of what happened with the characters in that time. A few questions were left unanswered.
All in all though, if the author decides to write another book, I'm in...
That said, I will say that this was a very fast read for me. I didn't run into too much technical jargon that wasn't explained to my satisfaction. The idea of the "helpdesk" in "geek terms" may have needed a bit more explanation for me, but I think it could be that my idea of the "helpdesk" is the people who are the techies... not what the author intended. Either that or I just plowed through the misunderstanding figuring I would eventually get it, which I did at the back end of the book.
What I enjoyed about it was that it was "realistic fiction"... the type that could have happened, but didn't. I could just see this happening with the ups and downs of Silicon Valley. I liked the realism of the techies who were trying to realize their dreams in spite of the odds. I could see the higher ups who were in a dog eat dog society... one quarter kings/queens of the world, as long as they hit expectations. (This is where I think an understanding of the business world would help any reader. I have a lifelong interest in Wall Street, so I can see that easier than some). The flow of the book between the officers and the techies was quite appropriate to continue the story. It's almost impossible to tell this kind of story without some backtracking.
Two main things kept the book from earning the 5th *. 1 - The characters seemed a little too... monotone (maybe that's not the right word) for my liking. Other than being techies and drinking it seemed like the characters weren't developed beyond that. Maybe that is the techie lifestyle... but I would have figured there would be more to the characters. The officers also seemed a bit dry as well... like they didn't have a life either. That and the length of time between the bulk of the story and the "second act" seemed a bit excessive. Maybe in the world we're a visitor in, it's realistic, but I can't imagine everyone out of a job this long and not a whole heck of a lot happening. I felt a little cheated out of what happened with the characters in that time. A few questions were left unanswered.
All in all though, if the author decides to write another book, I'm in...
April 3, 2013
I had a hard time with this one. I had put it on my to-read list when I entered a giveaway (didn't win) and later on the author contacted me and gave me a free copy. I was really looking forward to it because it was described as being a funny read without technical jargon, so I thought it would be a light, fun read. Well, there was a lot of jargon which really disrupted the flow of the story for me. In addition, there were flashbacks that caught me off guard and I had a hard time following the story. Those aspects of the story disrupted the flow for me, so it was difficult for me to get into.
However, the main character was very likable and there were some really great lines that made me laugh or that I resonated with. The tone was a bit sad but mixed with humor, which was a weird combination but it worked for the most part. The ending was really sad and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. Usually after putting down a book, I want one of two things: a good ending that makes me feel satisfied or an ending that sticks with me for days afterwards where I can replay the events that led up to it. This book had a somewhat satisfying ending, but I was hoping for more than a cruel reality.
The book is not a bad book, but it wasn't what I was expecting so it wasn't personally my cup of tea. However, I think if you work in a corporate job and are more analytic in nature (such as being an engineer) then the writing might flow for you better. The facts are laid on the table in a way that it is told to you, not shown in a way that is more open for interpretation. It does offer some insight into the problems of corporate jobs, such as how often workers seem to miss the mark completely and how it is all a game of jumping through hoops to please your superiors. Give it a try if you are stuck in a dead-end office job and need a bit of a dry sense of humor to make you feel better about your job.
However, the main character was very likable and there were some really great lines that made me laugh or that I resonated with. The tone was a bit sad but mixed with humor, which was a weird combination but it worked for the most part. The ending was really sad and I'm not really sure how I feel about it. Usually after putting down a book, I want one of two things: a good ending that makes me feel satisfied or an ending that sticks with me for days afterwards where I can replay the events that led up to it. This book had a somewhat satisfying ending, but I was hoping for more than a cruel reality.
The book is not a bad book, but it wasn't what I was expecting so it wasn't personally my cup of tea. However, I think if you work in a corporate job and are more analytic in nature (such as being an engineer) then the writing might flow for you better. The facts are laid on the table in a way that it is told to you, not shown in a way that is more open for interpretation. It does offer some insight into the problems of corporate jobs, such as how often workers seem to miss the mark completely and how it is all a game of jumping through hoops to please your superiors. Give it a try if you are stuck in a dead-end office job and need a bit of a dry sense of humor to make you feel better about your job.
March 8, 2013
The premise of this book was great: a bunch of over-worked, under-appreciated computer programming nerds working in Silicon Valley leading up to the dot-com bust and their idiotic bosses in management. It could have been the 2000's equivalent of Office Space except in book form. But it went downhill from there. This should never have been made into a book. The character development and plot line was so rudimentary and undeveloped that it easily could have been a novella or short story. There was hardly any detail about the characters (not enough to find even a remote connection to them) and a lot of ideas were just repeated over and over and over again - i.e. how they were trying to change the world. I GET IT.
I have an engineering degree and am in the middle of getting my MBA, so I believe I fall within the demographic of people this book should be meant for and I only kept reading because I received this as a Goodreads giveaway. I don't know how anyone without a background in computer programming or business could possibly be interested in this book. At one point, one of the characters mentions how over the 20th century American literature has declined essentially because the advent of television changed the American writing style to become more dialogue-based. Yet practically the ENTIRE book is dialogue. So basically, one of the characters is making fun of the book itself which is just ridiculous. Lastly, there were tons of cheesy metaphors and American sayings that just came across as tacky and planted intentionally, in ways that no one would ever just say in casual conversation. The programmers in the book work 20 hour days on some stupid project -- instead of making you appreciate their hard work, it just makes you feel bad for how pathetic their lives are. I really wanted to like this story and tried to take it with a grain of salt that this was the author's first book, but somewhere between coming up with the premise and actually writing it fell short.
I have an engineering degree and am in the middle of getting my MBA, so I believe I fall within the demographic of people this book should be meant for and I only kept reading because I received this as a Goodreads giveaway. I don't know how anyone without a background in computer programming or business could possibly be interested in this book. At one point, one of the characters mentions how over the 20th century American literature has declined essentially because the advent of television changed the American writing style to become more dialogue-based. Yet practically the ENTIRE book is dialogue. So basically, one of the characters is making fun of the book itself which is just ridiculous. Lastly, there were tons of cheesy metaphors and American sayings that just came across as tacky and planted intentionally, in ways that no one would ever just say in casual conversation. The programmers in the book work 20 hour days on some stupid project -- instead of making you appreciate their hard work, it just makes you feel bad for how pathetic their lives are. I really wanted to like this story and tried to take it with a grain of salt that this was the author's first book, but somewhere between coming up with the premise and actually writing it fell short.
July 13, 2013
I read the whole book in one go. And that is a bit of a surprise because normally books that are either very dark or primarily one of humour are best read in two or three stages. Do not get misled by the witty sentences quoted before or after the book. That looks like only to lighten up the atmosphere. Get ready for a roller coaster and serious journey of the life of the protagonist.
Do villains always lose at the end. Does the hero always have a clear victory at the end ? Not sure. That is how life is and that is how this book goes. The author has attempted to throw in a lot of his philosophical musings through the various characters created. The book has a surfeit of different types of characters from the corporate world that gives us a chance to catch a glimpse of different parts of the corporate world and their inter-relationships.
In a world where the odd success of Facebook etc. is fascinating , this book is a stark warning that more often than not, a good idea or good intention has a long and trecherous journey to fulfilment. The enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and zeal go after one's passion faces serious challenges from the realism of day to day needs of family life.
The author has kept his language quite simple (for a man who is a veritable thesaurus himself).Despite the relatively heavy theme, this helps the book to run at a fast pace. Maybe, one keeps reading fast looking for that next gem of a witty repartee or maybe just out of hope that the protagonist will do better in the next chapter, the book forces one to read every line and not skip paragraphs.
All in all, a compelling read.
Do villains always lose at the end. Does the hero always have a clear victory at the end ? Not sure. That is how life is and that is how this book goes. The author has attempted to throw in a lot of his philosophical musings through the various characters created. The book has a surfeit of different types of characters from the corporate world that gives us a chance to catch a glimpse of different parts of the corporate world and their inter-relationships.
In a world where the odd success of Facebook etc. is fascinating , this book is a stark warning that more often than not, a good idea or good intention has a long and trecherous journey to fulfilment. The enthusiasm for entrepreneurship and zeal go after one's passion faces serious challenges from the realism of day to day needs of family life.
The author has kept his language quite simple (for a man who is a veritable thesaurus himself).Despite the relatively heavy theme, this helps the book to run at a fast pace. Maybe, one keeps reading fast looking for that next gem of a witty repartee or maybe just out of hope that the protagonist will do better in the next chapter, the book forces one to read every line and not skip paragraphs.
All in all, a compelling read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2013
For someone living in the bay area and working in technology this book feels at home right away. Its about a startup and all the struggles, agendas and corporate games that go on in the background while the hardworking engineers try to change the world. The book is funny and makes you smile every page. The humor is subtle and omnipresent and makes it a compelling read.
Anyone working in corporate America or exposed to it will thoroughly enjoy it.
Recommended!
Anyone working in corporate America or exposed to it will thoroughly enjoy it.
Recommended!
June 5, 2013
Enjoyable and hilarious. Geeks battle with the Management to prove themselves is superbly portrayed. Could connect to the character “Sam” throughout. The underlying humor is what makes it an interesting read. The small chapters and simplifying read keeps you glued to move on…The most catchy line that stays with me was that of Krish “In America it's not about a glass half full or half empty; rather it us buy one glass get one glass free.”
For a debut novel …thumbs up to Ali Sheikh.
For a debut novel …thumbs up to Ali Sheikh.
September 2, 2016
If you like cartoonish characters, clunky prose and a plot that doesn't go anywhere, this book is for you. It has all the hallmarks of a book written by a business major.
Thankfully, this is a short book.
Thankfully, this is a short book.
August 29, 2024
This book was a Goodreads First Reads given to me several years ago that I FINALLY started reading.
The book centers around a business known as Bodega and a few employees, mainly a man named Sam, that work for the company. It dives in to the ups and downs of the business world in the setting of Silicon Valley. It was very interesting to read about as the team members of Bodega are working on a design to order groceries online in a world that has not quite been introduced to proper smartphones yet.
I would've rated the book higher, but there were a few things that set me back. One was all the business jargon. I am a former business student, so I was able to follow along pretty well, but for someone who doesn't understand business, I believe, in my opinion, that this book would be much more difficult to follow. Also, I did not like the ending at all! I wish there had been more of a resolution for Sam. It seemed everyone else got some sort of resolution except for him.
I also didn't like George one bit. I hated that he had a hand in ruining Bodega, then somehow simultaneously got hired onto the board at Panamint years later and begins a new hell spree. I know that that can be the cutthroat world of business sometimes, but some of it seemed almost fake. I feel like someone like George would've been found out long before being hired to another company to a high position of power.
The book centers around a business known as Bodega and a few employees, mainly a man named Sam, that work for the company. It dives in to the ups and downs of the business world in the setting of Silicon Valley. It was very interesting to read about as the team members of Bodega are working on a design to order groceries online in a world that has not quite been introduced to proper smartphones yet.
I would've rated the book higher, but there were a few things that set me back. One was all the business jargon. I am a former business student, so I was able to follow along pretty well, but for someone who doesn't understand business, I believe, in my opinion, that this book would be much more difficult to follow. Also, I did not like the ending at all! I wish there had been more of a resolution for Sam. It seemed everyone else got some sort of resolution except for him.
I also didn't like George one bit. I hated that he had a hand in ruining Bodega, then somehow simultaneously got hired onto the board at Panamint years later and begins a new hell spree. I know that that can be the cutthroat world of business sometimes, but some of it seemed almost fake. I feel like someone like George would've been found out long before being hired to another company to a high position of power.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2013
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and like the reviewer before me said, it feels a bit rude to speak negatively of something you were given for free, but I can't really recommend this book. Granted, I am not in any way connected with the business world or e-culture, so maybe this book would hold more interest for me if I knew these worlds more intimately, but really the point of a novel is to transcend unfamiliarity and make the reader feel connected and invested in whatever world the characters inhabit, and this book did not achieve that goal for me.
The strengths of this book were getting to have a look into the culture of dot com companies (albeit not a very comprehensive one) and the subplot involving one of the characters who is trying to both save the company and then later trying to manipulate its books so he can make a quick golden parachute for himself, unbeknownst to his colleagues and bosses. I read the book all the way through, at first purely out of a sense of obligation to the free gifting. Because honestly it was leaving me pretty cold, there was very little description of anything, and I was rolling my eyes at the main character, Sam, within the first few chapters.
But I should acknowledge that I did get curious about the ultimate fate of Bodega and whether or not the chief financial officer George was going to get away with his complicated Wall Street shenanigans, so I did get somewhat sucked into the b-plot, hence the two stars. I really couldn't care much about Sam's A-plot desire to get his Pandora project to fruition, because I didn't naturally care, and the author didn't do enough to get me to see why I should care about it.
It seems pretty clear that the protagonist is supposed to be Sam, who is this young, naive wunderkind programmer at Bodega, a dot com startup that opened in the unbridled optimism of the dot com boom. But the structure of the novel is a bit confusing at times, because there are also several chapters devoted to the point of view of George, the chief financial officer at Bodega who spends half of his time trying to point out to everyone around him that Bodega is fast running of cash and still has no income, and half of his time trying to figure out how to cook Bodega's books so he can keep the company afloat long enough to manipulate the company's stock price and secure a last-ditch windfall for himself and his allies. There were times when I actually began to think that maybe George was supposed to be the sympathetic character of the novel, because he kept saying sensible things about how a company can't expect to survive when it's bleeding money. I started to think that maybe Sam was supposed to be seen as a really talented kid but entranced with a shallow, self-involved dream about how ordering movie tickets and groceries online was going to "change the world" and that maybe George was meant to be seen as a devious antihero.
But there were so many more obvious pointers in the text to Sam's point of view being the one we as readers should champion, so I'm not really sure what the point was in spending so much time on George's viewpoint (and making him right so often), except maybe to give us a window into how Wall Street manipulators think and how they manipulated the dot com boom and bust? I sometimes found myself rooting for George in this book, despite finding him more or less a smarmy, reprehensible person with no moral center. But compared to Sam, whose idealization of his project felt shallow and laughable, George was at least doing something that involved a lot of sneaking around and tension and so gave the book some real conflict for a while. And everyone around him was so dumb and self-serving that I kept feeling like they deserved what George was doing to them. And at least he was pretty much loyal to his allies (if for self-serving reasons).
I kept waiting for the book to question Sam's point of view about his work, and thought maybe the point of the book was going to be to show Sam maturing and either learning to have a life beyond work, or else finding a more worthy way to "change the world", but none of that really happened. Nobody grows and changes in this novel, except maybe Sam's buddies a bit, but that all happens offscreen anyway.
Speaking of Sam and his buddies, they often talk a lot in shallow one-liners that they obviously think are very witty and smart. This made them feel flat and featureless, and at times annoying. Their lives were also pretty boring, since all they do is work, sometimes up 20 hours a day. It's nearly impossible to sympathize with or even have emotional feelings about any of them because I could count on one hand the details I knew about Sam and his background, and his buddies even less. I think it's telling that none of the characters in this book (except for George, and this is only revealed right at the end of the book) have last names. Not even Sam has a last name. Maybe this was a deliberate choice (and not one indicating a lack of investment in these characters by the author), but if so, the reasons for that intention never became clear to me, and so it was just one more thing that encouraged me to see these characters as business-world and tech-geek stereotypes. I suppose you could try to make an argument that this book is subtitled "A Geek Tragedy" because the characters are meant to be Everyman characters of the dot com world? But again, if that was the author's intention, it really didn't come across clearly enough.
I'm sorry, Ali Sheikh, to give your book such a tepid review, especially after the book was free and you sent your book with a very nice cover letter. There are some sparks of potential here, and so I wish you luck in continuing to write and grow as an author.
The strengths of this book were getting to have a look into the culture of dot com companies (albeit not a very comprehensive one) and the subplot involving one of the characters who is trying to both save the company and then later trying to manipulate its books so he can make a quick golden parachute for himself, unbeknownst to his colleagues and bosses. I read the book all the way through, at first purely out of a sense of obligation to the free gifting. Because honestly it was leaving me pretty cold, there was very little description of anything, and I was rolling my eyes at the main character, Sam, within the first few chapters.
But I should acknowledge that I did get curious about the ultimate fate of Bodega and whether or not the chief financial officer George was going to get away with his complicated Wall Street shenanigans, so I did get somewhat sucked into the b-plot, hence the two stars. I really couldn't care much about Sam's A-plot desire to get his Pandora project to fruition, because I didn't naturally care, and the author didn't do enough to get me to see why I should care about it.
It seems pretty clear that the protagonist is supposed to be Sam, who is this young, naive wunderkind programmer at Bodega, a dot com startup that opened in the unbridled optimism of the dot com boom. But the structure of the novel is a bit confusing at times, because there are also several chapters devoted to the point of view of George, the chief financial officer at Bodega who spends half of his time trying to point out to everyone around him that Bodega is fast running of cash and still has no income, and half of his time trying to figure out how to cook Bodega's books so he can keep the company afloat long enough to manipulate the company's stock price and secure a last-ditch windfall for himself and his allies. There were times when I actually began to think that maybe George was supposed to be the sympathetic character of the novel, because he kept saying sensible things about how a company can't expect to survive when it's bleeding money. I started to think that maybe Sam was supposed to be seen as a really talented kid but entranced with a shallow, self-involved dream about how ordering movie tickets and groceries online was going to "change the world" and that maybe George was meant to be seen as a devious antihero.
But there were so many more obvious pointers in the text to Sam's point of view being the one we as readers should champion, so I'm not really sure what the point was in spending so much time on George's viewpoint (and making him right so often), except maybe to give us a window into how Wall Street manipulators think and how they manipulated the dot com boom and bust? I sometimes found myself rooting for George in this book, despite finding him more or less a smarmy, reprehensible person with no moral center. But compared to Sam, whose idealization of his project felt shallow and laughable, George was at least doing something that involved a lot of sneaking around and tension and so gave the book some real conflict for a while. And everyone around him was so dumb and self-serving that I kept feeling like they deserved what George was doing to them. And at least he was pretty much loyal to his allies (if for self-serving reasons).
I kept waiting for the book to question Sam's point of view about his work, and thought maybe the point of the book was going to be to show Sam maturing and either learning to have a life beyond work, or else finding a more worthy way to "change the world", but none of that really happened. Nobody grows and changes in this novel, except maybe Sam's buddies a bit, but that all happens offscreen anyway.
Speaking of Sam and his buddies, they often talk a lot in shallow one-liners that they obviously think are very witty and smart. This made them feel flat and featureless, and at times annoying. Their lives were also pretty boring, since all they do is work, sometimes up 20 hours a day. It's nearly impossible to sympathize with or even have emotional feelings about any of them because I could count on one hand the details I knew about Sam and his background, and his buddies even less. I think it's telling that none of the characters in this book (except for George, and this is only revealed right at the end of the book) have last names. Not even Sam has a last name. Maybe this was a deliberate choice (and not one indicating a lack of investment in these characters by the author), but if so, the reasons for that intention never became clear to me, and so it was just one more thing that encouraged me to see these characters as business-world and tech-geek stereotypes. I suppose you could try to make an argument that this book is subtitled "A Geek Tragedy" because the characters are meant to be Everyman characters of the dot com world? But again, if that was the author's intention, it really didn't come across clearly enough.
I'm sorry, Ali Sheikh, to give your book such a tepid review, especially after the book was free and you sent your book with a very nice cover letter. There are some sparks of potential here, and so I wish you luck in continuing to write and grow as an author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 7, 2021to-read
February 27, 2013
“There comes a time in everyone’s life—and I do mean in everyone’s life—when you ask yourself what it is that you’ve been doing with your life. Sometimes you even realize that whatever you’ve been doing all your life, you’ve been doing it wrong. Dead wrong… Son, you want that realization to hit you when you’re 70? Or 50? Or when you’re still young, with your whole life still ahead of you?”
‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ centers around ‘Bodega’, a young software company in the Silicon Valley and its employees. On the one side there’s the upper management, namely Barb, Steve and George, the humourless CFO, on the other there’s Sam, an idealistic project manager and his team of workaholic programmers: wise-cracking Vick, smart Jen and Krisha, who has only recently arrived from India on a work visa. They put in 70 hours a week, have no social life and dream of ‘changing the world’ with the creation of e-commerce software.
I found ‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ an easy read. Despite the technical environment, there is very little jargon and the plot was compelling enough to keep me going. The author has a knack for depicturing the corporate work environment and the power play within.
Unfortunately, there is little depth to the characters, which come across as one-dimensional as cardboard cutouts. Attempts at introducing subplots involving the main characters’ personal lives (e.g. Sam’s romance with Kelly, Krisha’s visa worries) sadly just remain attempts. As other reviewers have already mentioned, there’s also issues with the story’s timeline, which caused some disorientation while reading.
Considering the tricky subject matter and for a first novel, ‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ makes a decent read. Two stars and a bit from me.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ centers around ‘Bodega’, a young software company in the Silicon Valley and its employees. On the one side there’s the upper management, namely Barb, Steve and George, the humourless CFO, on the other there’s Sam, an idealistic project manager and his team of workaholic programmers: wise-cracking Vick, smart Jen and Krisha, who has only recently arrived from India on a work visa. They put in 70 hours a week, have no social life and dream of ‘changing the world’ with the creation of e-commerce software.
I found ‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ an easy read. Despite the technical environment, there is very little jargon and the plot was compelling enough to keep me going. The author has a knack for depicturing the corporate work environment and the power play within.
Unfortunately, there is little depth to the characters, which come across as one-dimensional as cardboard cutouts. Attempts at introducing subplots involving the main characters’ personal lives (e.g. Sam’s romance with Kelly, Krisha’s visa worries) sadly just remain attempts. As other reviewers have already mentioned, there’s also issues with the story’s timeline, which caused some disorientation while reading.
Considering the tricky subject matter and for a first novel, ‘The Closure of the Helpdesk’ makes a decent read. Two stars and a bit from me.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of the Goodreads First Reads program.
February 8, 2013
NOTE: I was contacted by the author and offered a copy of this book to read and review free of charge.
Sheikh's strength lies in writing very realistic dialogue and truthful characters. That being said, it's not a good choice for people who use reading to escape the real and the true.
The story is introduced middle first, then told beginning, middle again, and on into the future. When brilliant young upstart Sam is recruited into a burgeoning tech company in the midst of the Silicon Valley's heydey, he feels he finally has a chance to change the world. Teamed with similar luminous code-monkies, Sam finds himself heading this team that is developing the only promising product in a company none of them can see is ailing, and failing fast. With a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how business REALLY gets done at a corporate level, who is actually making money hand-over-fist, and who ultimately gets the work done, "Closure of the Help Desk" delivers an honest story that reads like a first attempt by a successful economist to write a courtroom drama and Wall Street thriller mash up.
However, Sheikh's honesty allows for some great observational humor, my marked page being:
"Funny," Sam said, trying to cheer everybody up, "how we reach out for a drink when things are really good and when they're really bad."
"What's the big mystery?" Vick said. "In victory you deserve it, in defeat you need it."
*SPOILERS*
**
**
The ending was somewhat problematic for me in that it doesn't afford what the title suggests: closure. The good guy does NOT get the girl, he does NOT land the dream job, and the bad guy does NOT get caught. He in fact gets promoted. But more than that, what could feel like an ambiguous ending that leaves it to the reader's imagination really just feels like the story was left off mid-telling. I don't need either a tidy or happy ending, but I do need to feel that the race was run. While it's certainly a (geek) tragedy for our times, it's also just as depressing as reading an editorial on our country's economic standing.
Sheikh's strength lies in writing very realistic dialogue and truthful characters. That being said, it's not a good choice for people who use reading to escape the real and the true.
The story is introduced middle first, then told beginning, middle again, and on into the future. When brilliant young upstart Sam is recruited into a burgeoning tech company in the midst of the Silicon Valley's heydey, he feels he finally has a chance to change the world. Teamed with similar luminous code-monkies, Sam finds himself heading this team that is developing the only promising product in a company none of them can see is ailing, and failing fast. With a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how business REALLY gets done at a corporate level, who is actually making money hand-over-fist, and who ultimately gets the work done, "Closure of the Help Desk" delivers an honest story that reads like a first attempt by a successful economist to write a courtroom drama and Wall Street thriller mash up.
However, Sheikh's honesty allows for some great observational humor, my marked page being:
"Funny," Sam said, trying to cheer everybody up, "how we reach out for a drink when things are really good and when they're really bad."
"What's the big mystery?" Vick said. "In victory you deserve it, in defeat you need it."
*SPOILERS*
**
**
The ending was somewhat problematic for me in that it doesn't afford what the title suggests: closure. The good guy does NOT get the girl, he does NOT land the dream job, and the bad guy does NOT get caught. He in fact gets promoted. But more than that, what could feel like an ambiguous ending that leaves it to the reader's imagination really just feels like the story was left off mid-telling. I don't need either a tidy or happy ending, but I do need to feel that the race was run. While it's certainly a (geek) tragedy for our times, it's also just as depressing as reading an editorial on our country's economic standing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2013
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, and was fairly interested in reading it. However, I was let down by the second chapter, and it stayed down from there. I think if you are going to jump around in time you should give your readers some context if not blatantly stating it. I have no idea what the time period is over the course of the story. I think it must be awhile since two supporting characters begin dating, get married, and have a baby in the last third of the book, but it would be nice to be sure.
Judging by other reviews some readers had issues with the amount of jargon, although I may not have fully understood some of the financial Wall Street terms, it didn't take away from my understanding of the plot. I did have an issue with the fact that this book is described as "At once hilarious and tragic." I failed to find the hilarious part of the story. It was a shallow tale of two self centred individuals; Sam the Geek and George the Wall Street Scammer. I really expected Sam to grow and perhaps gain some compassion, instead he remained stuck in his bubble.
I am not thrilled that I had to write a negative review for a gift. I was hoping for a more developed story that tugged on my heart strings. Instead, I got what feels like a rough draft, with the skeleton of characters and a plot. With a bit of work, and a good editor, this book has potential.
Judging by other reviews some readers had issues with the amount of jargon, although I may not have fully understood some of the financial Wall Street terms, it didn't take away from my understanding of the plot. I did have an issue with the fact that this book is described as "At once hilarious and tragic." I failed to find the hilarious part of the story. It was a shallow tale of two self centred individuals; Sam the Geek and George the Wall Street Scammer. I really expected Sam to grow and perhaps gain some compassion, instead he remained stuck in his bubble.
I am not thrilled that I had to write a negative review for a gift. I was hoping for a more developed story that tugged on my heart strings. Instead, I got what feels like a rough draft, with the skeleton of characters and a plot. With a bit of work, and a good editor, this book has potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2013
This book could be really great, but there's two major issues in it:
1) The author promises no jargon. However, there's still quite a bit of it in here.
"'Let's see,' Myeng said, 'so far we've got a strategic partnership, investment plans over ten years, hedges against currency fluctuations, marketing rights for South Seas on Bodega software, possible equity participation in the future, and a subsidiary for us in Silicon Valley-'"
I may speak a bit of tech geek but a LOT of this book is from an accountant's point of view and it's often hard to follow.
2) The timeline. I really like that the plot takes the reader back and forth in time, from the beginnings of Bodega, to Sam joining the company, and to how it was all ruined. But there's no transition or indication and it often jumps more than once in a page.
I'm going to side with Jessica and suggest that this book is in need of impartial editing.
Note: I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
1) The author promises no jargon. However, there's still quite a bit of it in here.
"'Let's see,' Myeng said, 'so far we've got a strategic partnership, investment plans over ten years, hedges against currency fluctuations, marketing rights for South Seas on Bodega software, possible equity participation in the future, and a subsidiary for us in Silicon Valley-'"
I may speak a bit of tech geek but a LOT of this book is from an accountant's point of view and it's often hard to follow.
2) The timeline. I really like that the plot takes the reader back and forth in time, from the beginnings of Bodega, to Sam joining the company, and to how it was all ruined. But there's no transition or indication and it often jumps more than once in a page.
I'm going to side with Jessica and suggest that this book is in need of impartial editing.
Note: I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
July 12, 2013
I won this book for free from the Goodread's First Reads giveaway.
Rating: 2.5/5 (it was ok). "Closure of the Helpdesk" was interesting at times but also very boring at times. The whole tech and business aspect was not for me and those parts dragged on a lot and took up the majority of the book. I was also really annoyed with the Bodega workers and did not understand how a company could be run so poorly by so many people. Barbara and George were simply idiots and horrible characters. The more intriguing parts revolved around Sam trying to date Kelly, and the last few chapters of the book. I also did enjoy Kris and Sam's characters and found they were the most relatable.
Even though this book was not totally for me, there will be many people out there that will enjoy it! I do recommend it for people interested in reading about tech related jobs (a bit above my head). I am glad I won the book as I did enjoy a few parts.
Rating: 2.5/5 (it was ok). "Closure of the Helpdesk" was interesting at times but also very boring at times. The whole tech and business aspect was not for me and those parts dragged on a lot and took up the majority of the book. I was also really annoyed with the Bodega workers and did not understand how a company could be run so poorly by so many people. Barbara and George were simply idiots and horrible characters. The more intriguing parts revolved around Sam trying to date Kelly, and the last few chapters of the book. I also did enjoy Kris and Sam's characters and found they were the most relatable.
Even though this book was not totally for me, there will be many people out there that will enjoy it! I do recommend it for people interested in reading about tech related jobs (a bit above my head). I am glad I won the book as I did enjoy a few parts.
August 22, 2013
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I'm not that smart with computers and don't get too caught up on the technical stuff, so it took me a little while in the beginning to really get into the book. Then the story line progressed a little and I got more interested in what was happening. It did bring up some good points about big companies and how they survive and what really goes on behind the scenes.
There is an underlying story here about what you can do with your life and what kind of goals you should set for yourself. It talks about how you live your life and what you can do to change the world for the better.
This might sound strange, but I loved the feel of the book and it's pages. They where so smooth and didn't feel like sandpaper like some books do.
If you are a tech junkie, you would appreciate this book.
There is an underlying story here about what you can do with your life and what kind of goals you should set for yourself. It talks about how you live your life and what you can do to change the world for the better.
This might sound strange, but I loved the feel of the book and it's pages. They where so smooth and didn't feel like sandpaper like some books do.
If you are a tech junkie, you would appreciate this book.
July 14, 2013
I received my copy through a Goodreads giveaway and always enjoy trying a new author. I also love to read about the business world and thought this would be an interesting insight into Silicon Valley.
I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and stereotypical. Also, the accounting escapades and technology developments lacked some creativity.
The premise of "changing the world" was thrown around several times but wasn't developed. The storyline fell flat for me and, even though I thought about 2/3 through that it was starting to get more interesting, it didn't end with any kind of conclusion to some things that I would have expected. It left me hanging in some respects.
Overall it was readable, but lacking the promised humor and depth to both the characters and storyline.
I felt that the characters were underdeveloped and stereotypical. Also, the accounting escapades and technology developments lacked some creativity.
The premise of "changing the world" was thrown around several times but wasn't developed. The storyline fell flat for me and, even though I thought about 2/3 through that it was starting to get more interesting, it didn't end with any kind of conclusion to some things that I would have expected. It left me hanging in some respects.
Overall it was readable, but lacking the promised humor and depth to both the characters and storyline.
February 19, 2013
Anyone who has worked for a company whose management didn't seem to know what they were doing and sure didn't know what the other employees were doing can relate to this book. If you've gone though several reorgs, sat through countless meetings and wondered why the company blindly accepted many consultants ideas whether they made sense or not you may like this book. Some of the chronology seems to be out of order especially in the beginning and the chapters could be tied together better but overall I enjoyed the book. The characters were definitely relatable and the author shows a mild sense of humor. I also like the way the author revealed the character's thought processes. This book is not bad for a first novel.
I received this book free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
I received this book free in a Goodreads Giveaway.
August 29, 2013
I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads.
While I was momentarily confused by the timeline in the book at first, I found it to be an enjoyable read and I hardly put it down from the moment I started it.
My life has revolved around the IT business for many years now and so a lot of the book hit close to home. It was easy to fall in love with Sam, Vick, and Kris. However, I do wish Jennifer's character was more developed.
The ending felt uncomfortable, hard to swallow. But I suppose that would be the point. I didn't expect to feel so melancholy at the end of this book when I started it. But not all books can have happy, neatly tied together endings. I would have to say that the feeling I was left with at the end of this book rings true for the subject.
While I was momentarily confused by the timeline in the book at first, I found it to be an enjoyable read and I hardly put it down from the moment I started it.
My life has revolved around the IT business for many years now and so a lot of the book hit close to home. It was easy to fall in love with Sam, Vick, and Kris. However, I do wish Jennifer's character was more developed.
The ending felt uncomfortable, hard to swallow. But I suppose that would be the point. I didn't expect to feel so melancholy at the end of this book when I started it. But not all books can have happy, neatly tied together endings. I would have to say that the feeling I was left with at the end of this book rings true for the subject.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2013
This book was an alright read. There were some parts that were boring and filled with a little too much "technical jargon" even though the synopsis promises against it. And I had a hard time following the time line, sometimes there were flashbacks and I felt it wasn't clearly described because I wasn't aware it was a flashback until I got confused about certain things going on. I did like the main character, alot of his lil witty sayings cracked me up. There was a lot of wit which I did enjoy. I think if it wasn't for the the fact that some parts had me literally laughing out loud, I probably would've given it 2/5 stars. I suggest picking this up if you have an interest in the corporate world or stories about the "man" holding you down.
April 5, 2013
An interesting look at the dot.com bubble bursting. People who were on a roll, thinking their company was doing great only to discover that they had been cooking the books. None of the Wall Street earning reports were truthful, management was looking out for themselves and tech projects released before the people making them thought they were ready.
A story of those who gave away a lot, thought they were making progress and then find that they are back at square one. Though they failed in many things, they all learned about what they really wanted and ultimately what they really wanted from life.
This is a quick read that was great for reading a chapter here and there.
I received this via a Goodreads First Read giveaway.
A story of those who gave away a lot, thought they were making progress and then find that they are back at square one. Though they failed in many things, they all learned about what they really wanted and ultimately what they really wanted from life.
This is a quick read that was great for reading a chapter here and there.
I received this via a Goodreads First Read giveaway.
September 2, 2013
This is an interesting book, covering the rise, downfall of Bodega, a company any one of us can relate to. The simple and direct narration makes it more close to reality. It depicts the normal employee’s struggle of ‘Change the world’ vs Make a living.
Many reading moments that make you smile, think, feel sad. Plot is simple, but the author does an incredible job to help you look through a window on what happens behind the scenes with people, process and practices in corporate world, that makes it a compelling story to read. Author has a real gift for taking a complicated financial malpractice and laying bare where it started, how it snowballed, and how it crashed Bodega and many lives associated with it.
Definitely recommend to all.
Many reading moments that make you smile, think, feel sad. Plot is simple, but the author does an incredible job to help you look through a window on what happens behind the scenes with people, process and practices in corporate world, that makes it a compelling story to read. Author has a real gift for taking a complicated financial malpractice and laying bare where it started, how it snowballed, and how it crashed Bodega and many lives associated with it.
Definitely recommend to all.
March 8, 2013
I received this book from the Goodreads giveaway.
I know you should never judge a book by it's cover, but it's the first thing we see. I think the cover could be more attractive, bolder and brighter.
As for the story. There was an overuse of the word 'said' when characters spoke. The author missed an opportunity to provide the reader insight to what the characters were thinking, feeling, etc... Also, there are several italicized sentences before a character spoke. I was confused and did not know if these were 'inside thoughts' or was something else the character was saying. Again it was another missed opportunity.
I know you should never judge a book by it's cover, but it's the first thing we see. I think the cover could be more attractive, bolder and brighter.
As for the story. There was an overuse of the word 'said' when characters spoke. The author missed an opportunity to provide the reader insight to what the characters were thinking, feeling, etc... Also, there are several italicized sentences before a character spoke. I was confused and did not know if these were 'inside thoughts' or was something else the character was saying. Again it was another missed opportunity.
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