Hard Copy
Author: Fien Veldman
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★
Published by: Bloomsbury
Pages: 256
Format: Paperback
My Rating: ★★
Spending long hours in her claustrophobic office cubicle, a customer service assistant is struggling. Isolated, frustrated and lonely, she finds comfort in only one thing: the office printer. As she confides in the printer about her hopes and dreams, her fears and her past, it becomes clear to her that he is listening. But to her employees, the blossoming relationship is a worrying cry for help.
Diagnosed with burnout and placed on leave, she faces severance and – worse – separation from her beloved printer. But she's not about to give up on her only friend without a fight. And, it turns out, neither is he.
Diagnosed with burnout and placed on leave, she faces severance and – worse – separation from her beloved printer. But she's not about to give up on her only friend without a fight. And, it turns out, neither is he.
My thoughts:
It’s a rare thing for me to give a book such a low rating, and I always approach reviews like this with care. Unfortunately, Hard Copy by Fien Veldman just didn’t work for me, and after struggling through most of it, I made the decision not to finish.
Going into this novel, I was genuinely looking forward to it. The blurb promised something strange, moving, and clever - the kind of offbeat, literary fiction I usually find compelling. I was hoping for a story that could surprise me, unsettle me in the best way, or offer a uniquely funny or poignant perspective. But despite that premise, I found myself consistently let down by the execution.
The pacing was my biggest criticism. Hard Copy unfolds at an almost glacial speed, and while I often appreciate a slow burn, here it felt more like a stall.
The lack of narrative momentum made it difficult to stay engaged, and the characters and situations never quite deepened or developed in a way that rewarded my patience or held my interest. I kept waiting for a shift - some kind of spark of emotional insight, a twist in the plot, or a shift that would perhaps reframe everything - but that moment never came, at least not for me.
There’s no doubt that Veldman has a unique voice, and I do see the outlines of something interesting in this novel. It does hold a kind of existential quietness, and I think aims to provide commentary on the strangeness of modern life and relationships. But without a strong narrative throughline, characters I truly cared for or clearer emotional stakes, much of that got lost in the fog for me.
Of course, reading is deeply personal, so I’m sure others will feel differently. I’m always glad when literature sparks different reactions and conversations. But personally, Hard Copy felt like a missed opportunity. This is a novel with a compelling concept that ultimately didn’t deliver on its promise, at least not in a way that held my attention.
If you enjoy minimalist, meandering fiction that focuses on atmosphere over action, this may still be worth exploring. But for readers like me who perhaps have an entire stack of better books waiting for them, or if you’re seeking something with more narrative drive or emotional impact, this one may prove a challenge.
Overall reaction:
It’s a rare thing for me to give a book such a low rating, and I always approach reviews like this with care. Unfortunately, Hard Copy by Fien Veldman just didn’t work for me, and after struggling through most of it, I made the decision not to finish.
Going into this novel, I was genuinely looking forward to it. The blurb promised something strange, moving, and clever - the kind of offbeat, literary fiction I usually find compelling. I was hoping for a story that could surprise me, unsettle me in the best way, or offer a uniquely funny or poignant perspective. But despite that premise, I found myself consistently let down by the execution.
The pacing was my biggest criticism. Hard Copy unfolds at an almost glacial speed, and while I often appreciate a slow burn, here it felt more like a stall.
The lack of narrative momentum made it difficult to stay engaged, and the characters and situations never quite deepened or developed in a way that rewarded my patience or held my interest. I kept waiting for a shift - some kind of spark of emotional insight, a twist in the plot, or a shift that would perhaps reframe everything - but that moment never came, at least not for me.
There’s no doubt that Veldman has a unique voice, and I do see the outlines of something interesting in this novel. It does hold a kind of existential quietness, and I think aims to provide commentary on the strangeness of modern life and relationships. But without a strong narrative throughline, characters I truly cared for or clearer emotional stakes, much of that got lost in the fog for me.
Of course, reading is deeply personal, so I’m sure others will feel differently. I’m always glad when literature sparks different reactions and conversations. But personally, Hard Copy felt like a missed opportunity. This is a novel with a compelling concept that ultimately didn’t deliver on its promise, at least not in a way that held my attention.
If you enjoy minimalist, meandering fiction that focuses on atmosphere over action, this may still be worth exploring. But for readers like me who perhaps have an entire stack of better books waiting for them, or if you’re seeking something with more narrative drive or emotional impact, this one may prove a challenge.
Overall reaction:
