Book Review: “NSFW” by Isabel Kaplan

NSFW by Isabel Kaplan

OK, there is a burgeoning industry in books about contemporary work.  I have called this “The Revenge of the English Majors”.  Zillions of smart, literate, nerdy young workers slave away at idiotic and exploitative corporate work.  Unlike plods like me, some of these kids can write.  And do write.  Watch out.

(For reference, here is a partial list from reviews in this blog, see below.)

NSFW is, of course, yet another.  In this case, the target industry is TV network development.  Specifically, TV in the age of MeToo.  Even more specifically, young female workers in the age of MeToo.

Like any sensible person, I already hate work. This story doesn’t exactly make me ache for a career in TV, that’s for sure.  It’s ghastly.

And, of course, in addition to all the inane power games, privilege, hypocrisy, and generic abuse, there are wicked sexual politics.  (There isn’t even the First Black Girl, let alone the Other Black Girl in this story.)

Kaplan is a pains to make sure we don’t get comfortable, or take any simple positions.  She manages to portray multiple variations on the MeToo theme, all of them horrendous and morally abhorrent. 

As they say about nuclear war, “the only way to win, is to not play”.  But how can you get anywhere in this world, if you don’t play?

I have to say that this story was hard to read in places.  Everyone seems to be compromised. No one can be trusted.  There aren’t any right answers.

And the worst thing is, it’s so predictable.  I mean, there aren’t many surprises here.  I could see the catastrophes coming a mile away.  But there didn’t seem to be anyway to avoid them.  (Except by walking away, which is its own form of catastrophe.)

I’m not sure whether Kaplan had an overarching goal for this book.  It’s certainly satirical, though too grim to be very enjoyable.  The characters are realistically flawed, and none of them seem to be heroic.  The problems are a combination of mundane ambitions (who will get the promotion, how to dress for success) and tragedy (rape, ruined careers, psychological trauma).

And, of course, at the Kaplan walks away without resolution.

What is the deal, here?  You beat me up with awful stuff, give me no hope, and then walk away without taking a moral stand?

Sigh.

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For reference, some of the numerous “Revenge of the English Majors” reviewed in this blog: this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this)

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1. Isabel Kaplan, NSFW, New York, Henry Holt and Company, 2022.

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