Syrup

Rating:
Summary: strengths weaknesses opportunities THREATS
Review: True enough, ridiculing the world of marketing and corporate politics is a lot like shooting fish in a barrel, but it's also fun! Syrup is an excellent appraisal of life in a world when giving the people "what they want" is very difficult when your people have been turned into undiscerning consumers by decades of lies and spin-doctoring. Our hero sells a product that doesn't exist, and eventually parleys his non-deal into producing a movie. Anyone who has had to deal with the inanities and petty miseries of company life will appreciate the protagonist's good-hearted snake-oil selling, although some suspension of disbelief is required a little later on -- Max Barry isn't quite as au fait with the movie world as he is with marketing. All the same, a fun read; it made me go straight back for Barry's follow-up, Jennifer Government. But what's up with the cover? It has no relevance whatsoever to the book? Was someone in Penguin's marketing department sulking about being found out...?

Rating:
Summary: Great Read! Very entertaining!
Review: I picked up this book because it was mentioned on the website of Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club) and whose writing style I love. I found this book at my school library and was hooked by the third page. Max Barry has an awesome talent for writing a story that is engaging, somwheat realistic, and his characters are great! I havent read a book this engrossing for over a year, and am now on a mission to check out his other books.

If you are a person who is into advertising, marketing, business ethics, or Coca-Cola, then this book will suck you in quicker than a blacke hole. For those of you who aren't any of the above (or a Pepsi person), give it a shot anyway! I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised.

Rating:
Summary: This Will Dominate Marketing Novels as Coke Does Beverages
Review: Scat knows that every person comes up with only three, million dollar ideas a year. The majority of people never bother to take the risk and follow those ideas. Scat is not one of those people. Scat has a revolutionary idea that will make him filthy rich. He knows that Coke will be interested.

Scat learns quickly (the hard way) though that that ethics aren't part of the business world and you can't trust anyone or you'll end up flat broke and homeless. He also learns that vengeance is a great business trait and he might even be able to make a bit of money along the way.

This is a sensational novel written in first person style as Scat tells his story. Short chapters headed by clever funny marketing tips make this book a pleasure to read. This novel will inspire you to get out there and make money. If you like this feeling after finishing a brilliant novel also buy The Money Makers by Harry Bingham it's even better than Syrup. Also read Richard Branson's Losing my Virginity his sensational autobiography.

Rating:
Summary: Believable
Review: Scat has an idea for a new cola, and 6 can help him make it to the big time. But Sneaky Pete is stealing the idea, so competition arises. Fans of Ben Elton should enjoy this book - taking a closer look on a modern topic (marketing) and bringing it to the public eye. Enjoyable all the way. (A+)

Rating:
Summary: Breathless Sendup
Review: "Syrup" is a non-stop Disneyland joyride of a book, alternately uproariously funny and scathingly cynical. The author's grasp of over-the-top marketing techniques probably sounded clever to him at the time, but it's hard to out-gutter-dive Madison Avenue and Hollywood, who have made his satirical novel seem rather tame in the 4 years since it was published.

In a battle of style-versus-substance, I wish this novel had a bit more in the plot department but obviously it isn't meant to be the GAN and it isn't. Just a reckless romp through the absurd world of marketing, in a Spider Robinsonesque abandon.

Rating:
Summary: Fast read-great writing
Review: I read this in less than two days. And loved every minute of it. Not too deep, not too shallow. Kept me interested the whole time. Great "summer beach" book. Nothing to think about, just easy to enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: A roller coaster ride.
Review: Where do I start with this book? The characters were completely unrealistic, the plot twists were ridiculous, and the situations that the characters were able to handle were just impossible. But despite all that, I really liked this book. It was just funny.

I think the author's style really drew me in. It was a very quick, easy and enjoyable read. With the short sections, introductory headlines, and marketing tips, this book was just fun to read. I'll probably look for more from this author in the future.

Rating:
Summary: Light and entertaining
Review: Max(x) Barry has a lot of fun, and even a little soapbox, in this tale of marketing and branding excess. Highly readable, albeit with an ending that could have been a little more developed.

Rating:
Summary: Wit and pop culture genius Max(x) Barry's frosh epic
Review: Okay, EPIC is a bit far-fetched, but this novel -- which I picked up on a whim -- is one to read at least twice. While recommending this to friends, I always explain that Barry's twist of popular culture and extensive knowledge of the American capitalist parody allows SYRUP to immediately identify with readers. Who doesn't know about "New Coke?" Who can't relate with the modern day advertising sillyness (yet genius).

Laugh-out-loud hilarity at Barry's own observation of the marketing world as told through the main character SCAT, as he endures a complex misadventure of hip sex, culture, and counter culture.

Barry has definitely solidified himself as an expert of modern marketing humor that is SYRUP.

Rating:
Summary: Who says "over 40" people won't like it?
Review: Yeah, I guess this is a generation X novel, but I'm well beyond that and I still got one tremendous kick out of it.

This is good free-wheeling satire, a good-natured poke at marketing and consumerism.

It's a fast, easy read following our hero, Scat, who has a million dollar idea only for it to be stolen by his trusted room mate, Sneaky Pete. Falling in love with self-proclaimed lesbian, 6, Scat has her help as the two play the corporate games for their profit and our fun.

I read Barry's second novel, JENNIFER GOVERNMENT, first and liked it so much, I went on and read this earlier novel. Call it silly and inane if you want and you might even be right, but it's still an enjoyable roller coaster ride.