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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
Really enjoyed this, but not convinced I fully understand the ending...
I don't know why I kept going until the end.
I hated the characters and I didn't see the point of the story. I'm sure I can take out some conclusions about humanity or whatever the hell, but I really just want to be done with this book. Not for me, though I can see it has its fans.
I hated the characters and I didn't see the point of the story. I'm sure I can take out some conclusions about humanity or whatever the hell, but I really just want to be done with this book. Not for me, though I can see it has its fans.
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
For some time now I have thought it possible to believe that America was going insane. In her own way…. America had had her neuroses before, like when she tried giving up drink, like when she started finding enemies within, like when she thought she could rule the world; but she had always gotten better again. But now she was going insane….In a way she was never like anywhere else. Most places just are something, but America had to mean something too, hence her vulnerability - to make-believe, to false memory, false destiny. And finally it looked as though the riveting struggle with illusion was over, and America had lost.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
if i could give negative star ratings, i would. this book SUCKS. not only is it just boring and narratively all over the place, its pretty much just 500 pages of the most male gaze-y, misogynist, racist, and overall offensive story i have ever read. all the characters SUCK and Martin Amis seems to think that pointing out that they suck makes up for it. the whole tone of this book is like a 14 year old 'edgy' teen who thinks that offending people is 'dark humour', and would definitely tell you to 'just take a joke'. i'm not going to waste any more energy on thinking about this book, all i can say is don't read it. i only did because i had to for a class i was taking, and even then it took me months to finish it (i almost gave up several times, but i'm a strong believer in 'no read-y, no opinion-y')
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Misogyny
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found every moment of reading this book a chore and only finished because it was on my 100 books bucket list. It’s a rambling plot that barely moves you forward and the conclusion is so cliche and obvious. Just awful.
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well that was quite a waste of time. Thanks for nothing, professor.
The beginning sounded really promising with the 'murderee' knowing when she will die and who will be her killer. Also the narrative situation that mixed the narrator/author with the story was intitally enjoyable. However, instead of getting the promised "whydunnit" it was after the introductory chapters just 400 pages of awful, boring characters without any real development. Add to that the casual mentioning of rape and a character who prides himself if he does not rape a woman and an overall objectification of all female characters.
Really hoped for the ending to be surprising but despite the last chapters picking up a little bit of speed again, the attempted plot twist was honestly just silly because it basically made the previous 400 pages next to redundant. I skim read many paragraphs amd I don't think I missed out on anything.
The beginning sounded really promising with the 'murderee' knowing when she will die and who will be her killer. Also the narrative situation that mixed the narrator/author with the story was intitally enjoyable. However, instead of getting the promised "whydunnit" it was after the introductory chapters just 400 pages of awful, boring characters without any real development. Add to that the casual mentioning of rape and a character who prides himself if he does not rape a woman and an overall objectification of all female characters.
Really hoped for the ending to be surprising but despite the last chapters picking up a little bit of speed again, the attempted plot twist was honestly just silly because it basically made the previous 400 pages next to redundant. I skim read many paragraphs amd I don't think I missed out on anything.