Story: 6.5 / 10
Characters: 6
Setting: 6
Prose: 5

Tags: Programming, relationships, marriage, infidelity, mental health, stress, work, downsizing, coding, software ( )

I read Ullman's recent book, A Life in Code, and thought it would be interesting to read her novels. I thought this book would be amusing, a programmer obsessed with a bug, but I actually found it anxiety inducing. My heart literally started racing when the programmer accidentally deleted his days worth of work, and my own memories of bugs, that seemed to become personal, was a little too real. While parts of the book tended to drag, and the tester, Berta's voice seemed indistinguishable from Ullman's own voice in a Life of Code, which was a bit distracting, I have a feeling that this book will stick with me. ( )

Probably closer to a 4, but I'll cut Ullman some slack as this is billed as a first novel and the subject matter is so unique in my experience that I couldn't help but be delighted. Ullman accurately captures the thrill of victory/agony of defeat of programming, and the little joys and crushing despairs of living in the world. I wish there were more books like this, which, really, is what a 5-star book should be. ( )

How computer programming can drive one mad! Well plotted, good characters. Many technical terms and ones and zeros, but you can get the drift. ( )

An so-so story but in Bug is a sequence which describes the procedures and problems of computer programming in a stong forthright way for the programming complete outsider. ( )