Title: The Word Exchange
Author: Alena Graedon
Publication:Knopf Doubleday, 2015
Genre: Fiction (undertones of dystopian Sci-Fi and a failed attempt at thriller)
The Premise: is brilliant. In a not too distant (somewhat alternate) future, the English language is on the brink of collapse as an imprudent computer virus transcends binary code to biological code, becoming known as 'word flu'. The enigmatic blip of coding turns epidemic overnight as swaths of humanity, reliant on super-smartphones called ‘Meme’s to tell them the word on the tip of their tongue, find communication to be their worst enemy. Nowhere is safe when every word could lead to infection.
If you want to know more, read the book, seriously. This book is critical of society's increased reliance on devices and satirical of the 'devolution' of the modern languages. Even better, the language of the book is used to emulate the progression of 'word flu' itself, punctuating the text with nonsense words to mimic aphasia (the loss of ability to understand or express speech). Additionally, Graedon uses excessive literary references and sophisticated word choices until you regret how ignorant you've become. Fret not, our protagonist and sometimes narrator, Anana, is just as clueless as the rest of us.
The primary element that kept me engaged is how recently the events have occurred within the book's timeline. Most of the events are narrated in present tense or from a few weeks into the future without disproportionate insight from the author, keeping me morbidly curious of the progression of the 'word flu' epidemic. Even as the book concludes for the readers and Anna, the story rages on in the background
On that Note: I could have done without the romantic tangent of major characters Anana, Bartleby, and Max. Ultimately, I would have loved to see this exact premise, in an entirely different subgenre (noir perhaps?).
Recommendation: Read when you've decided to become a cyber ghost and delete all your social media accounts, or when you swear off your smartphone and other digital devices. Preferably on Kindle.
