Logging Off. Well, sort of…..
- Book: Logging Off
- Location: England
- Author: Nick Spalding
Andy Bellows is in a right mess. He can’t sleep, he’s anxious all the time, his neck hurts and he can’t have a decent shit. And when all that conspires to wreck a job interview, he knows he needs help.
The trouble is, the doctor’s prescription is a digital detox. Because Andy is addicted to technology. But how on earth is he going to survive without his social media contacts, online gaming and Google maps?
Nick Spalding’s novel Logging Off is a parable for our times, but it’s laugh-out-loud funny, telling Andy’s intoxicating detoxifying story through a series of picaresque escapades and a cast of humorous misfits.
Best friend Fergus, journalist on the local rag, lures Andy into the initial 60-day detox but it’s coffee-shop owner Grace, a wounded addict herself, who helps Andy see how much fun the natural, analogue world can be. And it’s at her cafe where the ever-increasing band of followers – Loggers Off – meet to hear words of wisdom from their tech-free leader.
This is a light humorous read, with a sharp satirical edge amongst the humorous language and episodes that surround Andy. Because who doesn’t feel like gadgets have taken over their life?
I can’t go out for a bike ride without hitting ‘record’ on my Strava app. I tweet and blog about what I’m reading. My work is all online. I listen to audiobooks on Audible. And I check my phone for emails, WhatsApp messages and share prices more frequently than Jeff Bezos earns another billion dollars. And I know I’m not nearly as badly addicted as many others.
Andy’s dilemma is that he doesn’t want to go through with the detox. He’s lying to Grace and to all his Loggers Off acolytes, especially to beautifully imagined characters Colin and Wilberforce. He misses the convenience of technology, and the fun of engaging with complete strangers on forums. So it’s lucky that an episode at a theme park – when Grace loses a family heirloom – allows Andy to prove the worth of social media, and find the best way forward.
Balance. It’s all about balance. Sure, you can stare at a screen for a few hours. But why not go for a walk afterwards – without checking Google maps for directions – or drop into the pub to see your mates, without placing bets on the Coral app or uploading a pic of your pint to Insta.
Obvious stuff, but Nick Spalding and Andy Bellows show us the way to log off – partially – with a belly laugh and a wry grin. I’ll never see a duck pond or a humping dog in the same way again.
For lovers of TripFiction, Andy logs off in the south of England. The sense of place might not be that strong, but the sense of humour makes this a fun read.
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