For what it’s worth, I have read a lot of books in my life, ranging from children’s to young adult and including every genre imaginable. No prior book prepared me for the intense experience that “S.” by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst gave me. If you know anything about J.J. Abrams, you know that he doesn’t do simple. If you are willing to tag along for his rides, though, they are definitely rewarding. “Lost,” “Fringe,” “Alcatraz,” and “Super 8” are confusing and thought provoking in the best possible ways. “S.” has the same intensity that J.J. Abrams has built his career around, but in book form.

So, what is “S.?” It is the name of the entire concept of the book. The book itself is called “Ship of Theseus” and is written by a fictional author named V.M. Straka. “Ship of Theseus” is made to look like an old library book written in the 1940s. It even has library stamps with return dates in it and a call number. The book is being used by a graduate student named Eric for his dissertation and is found in the library by an undergraduate named Jen. They write within the margins as communication and they begin a journey to figure out the identity of the mysterious author V.M. Straka, as this was his last book. The book by V.M. Straka, “Ship of Theseus,” is about a man who finds himself on a ship and can’t remember anything about himself.

Honestly, the book component of the experience is not as compelling as the story that progressed in the margins. Eric and Jen’s stories unfold as they uncover the mysteries behind the book. The best way to explain how epically awesome “S.” is as a whole is to show you pictures of the book. There are many inserts within the book, ranging from longer letters from Eric and Jen written on coffee stained notebook paper to a dining hall napkin (an actual napkin!) with the campus map drawn on it. These inserts immerse you in Eric and Jen's world and are very much appreciated by this book nerd.

All photos of "S." taken by me.

Let me tell you something: not much can tear me away from the internet, but this book did. Besides work, I did nothing else in over 60 hours because every spare second was spent with this book. It takes awhile to absorb everything, so it is more time consuming than an average read, but it is 100 percent worth it. Doug Dorst, as the writer, took a grandiose J.J. Abrams’ idea and transformed it into a reality.

Do yourselves a favor and get a hold of this book immediately if you consider yourself a lover of books, J.J. Abrams, or just fantastically epic narratives.