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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
You have to love a book that makes you want to read Dante's Inferno. This book is, as it claims, about love, over the top, epic, die slowly for you, love, but it is in no way sweet or sentimental. Set all over the world, past, and present and even in hell with the most unlikely of all leading men - an ex-pornstar burn victim. This was like Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume, with a darker side. A great ride.
Really not sure why I'm reading this book....but I've got to finish it now. Pretty interesting storyline, but some parts are very descriptive and kind of uncomfortable to read. The main character is burned in a bad fire at the beginning of the book and so there are parts where they're describing his wounds and treatment and it's not pleasant! He meets an artist who has mental issues in the hospital and most of the story has focused on their relationship and the stories she tells about "past lives" she's lived. Okay, so I finished it and I thought it was pretty good. Not like my usual books. I liked how the author tied things up at the end.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Body shaming, Gore, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I give up!
I started listening to this on audiobook several weeks ago. I faithfully plugged along, sometimes listening to one disc a day, sometimes going a week without listening to it at all. One day I listened to two discs. I was very proud of that day.
Right now I am midway through disc 11 and I've decided not to try to force this anymore. The only reason I kept listening was because I was determined to finish, and not out of any desire to actually know where the story was going or experience the world of these characters. Quite simply, this book is boring.
The central story is of the unnamed narrator, a former porn star who was in a car accident and was severely burned. While in the burn unit at the hospital feeling understandably bitter, he meets a stranger, Marianne Engel, who comes to visit him. She is/was a psych patient, and he tries to figure out if she's schizophrenic or bipolar. But she's his only friend, and they become close.
As this man's story is told (lots of gross, graphic description of what it's like to recover from extensive burns), Marianne tells him stories about her life in a 13th century German monastery. She peppers this with little love stories that take place in various places and times.
And that's it. My understanding is that all the little love stories she told were all supposedly about past lives that she and the narrator lived. But I don't really know how all this worked. If they were all the other characters, then why is the story in the 13th century them specifically? I don't know. If someone reading this review has read the book and wants to send me a little message explaining how this all came together at the end, that would be great. I just don't care enough to actually finish listening.
I started listening to this on audiobook several weeks ago. I faithfully plugged along, sometimes listening to one disc a day, sometimes going a week without listening to it at all. One day I listened to two discs. I was very proud of that day.
Right now I am midway through disc 11 and I've decided not to try to force this anymore. The only reason I kept listening was because I was determined to finish, and not out of any desire to actually know where the story was going or experience the world of these characters. Quite simply, this book is boring.
The central story is of the unnamed narrator, a former porn star who was in a car accident and was severely burned. While in the burn unit at the hospital feeling understandably bitter, he meets a stranger, Marianne Engel, who comes to visit him. She is/was a psych patient, and he tries to figure out if she's schizophrenic or bipolar. But she's his only friend, and they become close.
As this man's story is told (lots of gross, graphic description of what it's like to recover from extensive burns), Marianne tells him stories about her life in a 13th century German monastery. She peppers this with little love stories that take place in various places and times.
And that's it. My understanding is that all the little love stories she told were all supposedly about past lives that she and the narrator lived. But I don't really know how all this worked. If they were all the other characters, then why is the story in the 13th century them specifically? I don't know. If someone reading this review has read the book and wants to send me a little message explaining how this all came together at the end, that would be great. I just don't care enough to actually finish listening.
I longed for this book never to end. I often felt like my past life was also in this story.
I really liked this book, and almost wanted to give it a higher rating.
My two complaints were 1. Personally I got bored with it, and had to force myself to continue, which I enjoyed, but docking points for my mood
2. I'm not sure how I feel aboutmy life was empty when i was in sex work, and now i am happy with my truer, holier friends. just kinda rubbed the wrong way
However, I will say I did really absolutely enjoy this book. Marianne's stories drew me in completely. Their relationship was wonderful to experience. This book had me reacting completely enthralled.
My two complaints were 1. Personally I got bored with it, and had to force myself to continue, which I enjoyed, but docking points for my mood
2. I'm not sure how I feel about
However, I will say I did really absolutely enjoy this book. Marianne's stories drew me in completely. Their relationship was wonderful to experience. This book had me reacting completely enthralled.
This book warmed my heart and soul more than I gave it credit for doing. I was told it would but didn’t seem like it right away and was skeptical with all the religious meaning but it’s showed itself over time it was much more complicated. This is definitely a favorite of the year so far!