Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris

I received this book at Christmas last year from my now-inlaws. It's about life in a graphic design office. I enjoyed how well the author was able to capture what it is like to work in an office. For example, he did a great job of characterizing how people gather in certain cubicles to discuss certain things. He also perfectly captured the spirit of everyday occurrences like what it's like to arrive in the morning and get settled with coffee and whatever free bagels are available that day. He used "we" throughout the book, instead of a particular character's identity, to further depict the communal nature of the office. The book made me nostalgic for the office I used to work in; now that I work at home I don't have these interactions.

I was not as captivated by the plot. There is a partner at the firm whose battle with cancer is a mysterious theme to many of the employees. There is also a continuous threat of layoffs that influences the characters' behaviors and leads to the main action in the book. However, it was the familiarity of the office that held my attention, not the storyline. I'm not sure if that was intentional on Ferris' part.

If you've ever worked in a cubicled office (or are interested in what it's like) I think you'd get a kick out of the sociological commentary this book offers. Otherwise, it may not hold your attention.