Generation Dementia

I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect from *Generation Dementia*—a book about a garbage-truck road trip could’ve gone *very* wrong. But Hartnett pulls it off by making the absurd feel inevitable, like these characters were always destined to barrel toward disaster with a six-pack and a half-baked plan. The virtual narrator’s performance is a standout: it’s not your typical audiobook polish, but that’s the point. The slightly robotic cadence in emotional moments creates this weird, unsettling contrast that actually *works*, especially during the novel’s darker turns. It’s like listening to a sentient GPS recite a eulogy—unexpectedly fitting. That said, the audiobook isn’t without flaws. The middle act drags a bit, with some tangential scenes that feel more like Hartnett showing off his knack for weirdness than serving the plot. And while the narration’s deadpan style mostly lands, there are moments—particularly in crowded dialogue scenes—where the lack of distinct character voices makes it hard to track who’s speaking. Still, the payoff is worth it. The final act sticks the landing with a mix of heartbreak and gallows humor that lingers long after the last chapter. If you’re tired of safe, sanitized fiction, this is the kind of audiobook that’ll leave you grinning like you’ve just survived a minor car crash—bruised, but weirdly exhilarated.