Reviews

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

jjulesf20's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0

i was recommended this book so i tried really hard to like it but holy fuck there was so many things i hated. 
the most interesting part was eric’s backstory and the lead up to why he was institutionalised. everything else was just frank being misogynistic, killing family members or animals, and scratching his crotch. the writing was repetitive and boring and not at all moving the plot along, i didn’t even know where the plot was supposed to be going. 
the absolute worst part of this book was the last chapter.

out of fucking nowhere in comes wild transphobia. frank is revealed to be afab, and just fucking accepts it. no where in the story does it hint at frank ever questioning his gender. he’s mad at the fact he’s essentially castrated and he uses that to justify the murders.

i’m a fan of horror usually but this book just feels like it was excessive with the killings for shock factor. the last chapter feels like shock factor. frank’s entire lead up to the last chapter is essentially erased with the last line where he says

”eric will wake up with a sister”

i’m just really disappointed in it 

belle05's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

2.5

hollietoftx's review against another edition

3.0

Read this sooo long ago. It was recommended to me by my A-Level English Literature teacher after I was disappointed in Atonement lol. Can't really remember too much now but I remember liking it!

klearlly's review against another edition

dark tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

hootypocket's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

reytak's review against another edition

4.5

huh a bit of a weird / out of place ending imo but at least it gives frank a lot of self reflecting and hopefully improvement to do lol. i  liked this book! im confused on what the purpose of eric was throughout the whole story but im sure i could figure it out if i just think enough

also esmeraldas death lowkey made me laugh omfg poor girl but thats so goofy

stillonmars's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

vaudevillianveteran's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

sleepy_book_wyrm's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. To say I enjoyed reading this book would not be true. It was a pretty uncomfortable read and hard going in places, but it drew me in and I was involved with the story and characters. I needed to know what happened to Frank.

I'm not sure I liked the ending, but I'm not sure any other would be better either.

This book is worth a read but only if you don't get easily upset.

heleneb's review against another edition

fast-paced

5.0