"Nothing had really happened".

The above quote, appearing on the penultimate page of this book, is pretty much a perfect description.

Man, I think that was the worst book I've read in quite a while. Made even more frustrating by the fact that the premise is actually really interesting - an unknown middle eastern country which has fallen under strict dictatorial rule imposes a regime whereby everyday administrative tasks have to be approved by an unseen organisation known only as "the Gate". Citizens must join 'the queue' in order to do pretty much anything, including getting life-saving surgery. However the Gate never opens and the queue never moves.

This concept, and the "Disgraceful Events" that apparently cause it to happen, present an intriguing setting, which is never taken advantage of in the book's 200 pages, at any point.

The plot is barely existent - merely a rambling collection of character interactions with no discernible narrative theme or connection. The characters themselves are all incredibly bland and indistinguishable from one another. The story, if it can even be called that, just meanders on without direction or offer of engagement.

I literally got nothing from this book. Most of the time I felt I was just staring at the words, comprehending them linguistically but not being given any deeper context for them whatsoever.

Terrible. Avoid.