The Word Exchange is an extremely ambitious book and there are portions
of it which are so clever – it’s set in the near future at a time when the
printed word is disappearing and everyone seems to be catching “word flu” and
struggling to communicate without the aid of handheld devices. I really love
the way the author weaves in newly created words and how the chapters are
ordered alphabetically, each with a word and definition which applies to its
content. Alena Graedon succeeded, too,
in making me think about my own reliance on devices and technology. I even
improved my vocabulary as I read this as an eBook and used the dictionary
feature to review actual, but somewhat less commonly used words.
On the other hand, I have really struggled to stay with this
book and to finish it. It does not hold my interest, especially when Bart (character
who is working on a new dictionary) is speaking/writing to us. I have suggested
the title to several English teachers because I think that they will be
intrigued by the story and its literary allusions, but I wish it was shorter so that more of our students would
read and discuss this dystopian situation and some of the important ideas which
it explores.
See what you think – we have a copy of Word Exchange
available for checkout. Other “read-alikes” might include The Circle by
Eggers or The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester.
