Little Brother - MMLit

            I finished Little Brother yesterday and I have to say that I was very disappointed.  Throughout the novel you had Marcus explaining all the neat aspects of technology and I thought that it was all going to come back in the end, but it didn't.  The climax was set up perfectly, you had this huge gathering of people wanting to play this weird game and the air was filled with a feeling of revolution, with the idea that something big was going to happen, but it never did.  Marcus basically ran away, and then felt really guilty about it so he went back only to be arrested a day or two later.  So now I was thinking, "o.k. maybe this book won me back an unhappy ending would fit the reality of the book's world fairly well."  Wrong again, instead we get Marcus accepting his fate like he always new this was going to happen and then being miraculously saved by Barbara Stratford.  Compared to the other exciting parts of the novel, such as the late night beach meeting and the concert in the park, the ending just didn't hold up.  The book dragged on too much only to get to a rushed ending where I no longer really cared about what happened to Marcus.  How are you supposed to sympathize with a hero who basically says screw it and then pees his pants?  I had pretty high hopes for this book, it had my full attention by the second or third chapter, but after awhile I just couldn't wait for it to end.
           The best part of the book I think is the idea behind the book.  The idea that this is something that could actually happen.  That we should be more aware of the role technology plays in our lives and how much of that role is positive and how much is negative.  The book also has the idea of nonconformity going for it.  In a world where kids are constantly trying to fit in to groups that already exist, Marcus is someone who starts his own group and still doesn't feel the need to fit in.  He rolls with the punches and lives life the way he wants.  He could be a role model to children and adults alike.  Always stand by your beliefs no matter how difficult the obstacles that stand in your way may be.