Logging Off – Nick Spalding
Genre: General Fiction/Humor
Published: April 2020, Amazon Publishing
Rating: 4.5/5
About the Book
Andy Bellows is in a right state. Plagued with insomnia, anxiety and neckache, he’s convinced there’s something seriously wrong with him. And the worst thing is that his doctor agrees. The diagnosis: Andy is in the grip of a self-destructive addiction to technology—he just cannot put that bloody mobile phone down.
Texting, tweeting, gaming and online dating—technology rules Andy’s life. His phone even monitors his bowel movements. So how will he cope when he’s forced to follow doctor’s orders and step away from all of his beloved screens?
From having to leave the flat in search of food like some kind of Neanderthal to engaging in conversations with actual people, Andy’s about to discover just how bewildering—and scary—the analogue world can be.
And when his sixty-day detox hits the headlines—making him a hero to suffering technophiles everywhere—Andy is sorely tempted to pack it all in and escape in the nearest Uber.
Can he get himself out of this mess, and work out how to live a better, technologically balanced life…without consulting Google even once?
Swathi’s thoughts:
This is the most fun filled male centric novel I’ve ever read. I laughed, giggled almost every single chapter and loved it.
Andy Bellows, a freelance graphic designer is addicted to internet and everything online. So addicted that he has a habit of googling every symptom he has and getting diagnosed online without consulting an actual doctor. Oh did I tell you about the App he uses to monitor his every bowel movement?
One fine day when he’s pitching his new design to a probable client, shit happens and he discovers something is terribly wrong with him and it has nothing to do physically. His doc advices a 60 day digital Detox and reluctantly Andy decides to give it a go.
What happens next? It’s not easy to stay out of internet these days. Especially if your job involves lot of time googling for designs. Andy has to face his worst fears, fight his urge to give up the Detox just to hold his dear phone in his hands. As days move on, Andy experiences a new way to life that he never knew existed and certainly can’t handle without being awkward and funny!
Nick Spalding touches a rather sensitive topic with humor and wit making it a light read for his readers. I love every character in the book. They’re well developed and likeable. Uplifting and thoughtful in every way. This is just the book you need to read in the modern world where we’re glued to gadgets and just can’t live a analog life in the digital world. Highly recommend it. Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book. All opinions mine.
Meet the Author
Nick Spalding is an author who, try as he might, can’t seem to write anything serious.
Before becoming a full-time author, he worked in the communications industry, mainly in media and marketing. As talking rubbish for a living can get tiresome (for anyone other than a politician), he thought he’d have a crack at writing comedy fiction – with a very agreeable level of success so far, it has to be said. Nick has now sold over two million books – including a million books sales with Amazon Publishing alone. This flabbergasts him every single day.
Nick lives in the South of England with his lovely (and extremely patient) wife. He’s now in his mid forties – and is rather annoyed at the universe about it, because it gave him no choice in the matter. He’s also addicted to Thai food, still thinks Batman is just about the coolest thing on Earth, and has a dreadful singing voice.
