Then We Came to the End: A Novel

At first, I was somewhat hesitant to read a workplace satire. There is a certain pain in watching Office Space that only one in the depths of cubicle hell can really feel in between the humor. But thankfully, I didn't let that prevent me from reading Joshua Ferris's novel once it had been gifted to me. Set during a period of layoffs in an advertising agency, Then We Came to the End shows the humor and the humanity of working in an office with people you'll never really know. My only real complaint is with the number of characters, I ended up mixing some together, which is probably sadly somewhat true to life. Humorous, and also surprisingly somber at times, TWCTHE brings the humanity back to the workplace.

This hilarious back-and-forth chronicle is a must read for anyone that has endured, enjoyed or suffered the corporate working environment. Deep characters beyond stereotypes, compelling writing and thought-provoking anecdotes convert this into an office classic.

I'm puzzled by the mixed reviews that readers seem to give this book. But I'm glad that it has apparently been a commercial success nevertheless, because it deserves to be. Perhaps its workplace setting and the blurbs on the book cover, which emphasize how "hilarious" it is, have led too many to expect the absurdism of "The Office". This book is richer than that TV show. While "The Office" has caricatures of workplace personalities, Ferris manages to create relatable workplace characters - impressively doing so even while using the first person plural "we" narrator throughout most of the book. Highly recommended!

I read this book while working through my last month at a really awful job. The office politics, gossip, downsizing and hilarious attempts at coping with the daily grind by the employees at this fictional ad agency was a salve to my frayed nerves. At least they had each other and at least I had something to read that literally made me laugh out loud on the bus during my commute.

From a literary perspective, I found the language of the book to be really interesting. It isn't often you find a book written from the collective point of view, and for once, I thought the intent of the book matched the technique employed by the author. The collective narration wasn't a gimmick, it actually advanced the point of the novel. I am glad the book received such good reviews, I am a big fan.

Deanna Hurst powers Joshua Ferris' story THEN WE CAME TO THE END, with her firm songwriting and speaking skills adding drama to the story of coworkers fighting for jobs, perks, and survival in a cutthroat business environment.