i realize that i am opening myself to ridicule with the aggressive one star review, but i simply can't give it more in good conscience. i really did hate it, and this book stands out to me because it is one of the first i didn't finish despite my negative feelings. i simply didn't care what happened and could not motivate to motor through it despite my irritation. 
 i found it pretentious, vague in a frustrating fashion, and derivative. i mean have we not read other books about the lack of vision society creates at a certain point. 
 someone please explain why everyone is so apeshit over this one. really.