It is not too much to ask that people should restrict themselves to suggesting books

[conuly]

that have at least one thing in common with what the OP is looking for.

Let's say the OP is looking for a book with these features:

1. Tracking chips and/or bar codes on people
2. A walled city (the big reveal is that the tracking chips kill you if you try to leave)
3. Food rationing
4. This isn't stated but I think it's implicit, a futuristic setting

Do you know what books do not have any of those first three features? The Uglies series! The Maximum Ride books! The Shadow Children series! Also, Bar Code Tattoo and This Perfect Day, but I can at least see where those people are coming from. But seriously, if there are no tracking chips or bar codes, and the food isn't tightly rationed, maybe pick some other book? Or just go do something else? You don't have to suggest a book if you have no idea what it is.

I get that sometimes people get overenthused, but come on.

Comments

[minoanmiss]

Heh. I recently asked for book recs and some... didn't fit the parameters of what I was asking for. I hear you.

[grav_ity]

It's challenging when people are vague, but it's SUPER frustrating when you're specific and people ignore your requests.

[conuly]

It's been an ongoing issue in that sub forever. People get annoyed when the terrible answers come from AI, but at least half the time I'm the bad guy for saying "No, that book sounds nothing like the one the OP is asking for, could you at least read the description?" (I mean, I say it nicer, but that doesn't help. Except when everybody else is saying it meaner.)

[grav_ity]

like, i don't know if ryan graudin's THE WALLED CITY has chips or barcodes, and i have no idea what delilah dawson's HIT is about *out*side of barcodes, so I WOULD RECOMMEND NEITHER OF THEM. it's so much easier to just not say anything.

[conuly]

Or if you're going to recommend an iffy thing, take three seconds to double check first.

[carbonel]

This Perfect Day (which I have an unreasonable fondness for) is close enough that I would think of that for those parameters, though it doesn't have the reveal feature, of course.

[conuly]

Or the bar codes, or the tracker chips, or the tight food rationing, or the walled cities....

[gingicat]

I truly can't think of anything that fits those parameters!

[conuly]

OP did find the book eventually!

[gingicat]

What was it?

[conuly]

"The Murder Complex" by Lindsay Cummings.

[gingicat]

Wow, that got some wildly varying reviews on Goodreads.

[madamoiselle_sambuca]

LOLOLOL Sorry but that is so hilarious! I don't work at a library but I hear ya just the same... still...

[conuly]

Neither do I, I just like to hang out at /r/whatsthatbook.

Usually my complaints are more about poorly-worded requests (including the absolutely hilarious "it's set during a time when things were bad for black people in America") but every once in a while....

[minoanmiss]

splorfle

[conuly]

I know! It was... wow.

[madamoiselle_sambuca]

Gotta love Reddit, dontcha? I hang out at r/3as cos I still don't own a Damn switch lol🌼