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mockingthebird's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I hate Roy Strang but I loved his story (in a dark and twisted way). I wouldn’t recommend as it is not for the faint of heart. But Welsh is a master of absolutely horrid and irredeemable characters - honestly bravo to him.
joeyoudan's review against another edition
3.25
Gets very difficult. A hard one to review because 50% of it, the marabou stork stuff, is fucking shit. Irvine Welsh is only good at what he is always, consistently, good at: the messy lives of his characters. However, this guys life, Roy’s, gets too messy, too far. I think even Welsh recognises this, and the characters actions are essentially irredeemable. I guess that’s the major disappointment- it was easy to accept the marabou stork stuff as an experiment gone wrong, but there really are no like ale characters in the text, rendering it pretty bleak and hollow. Occasionally magic, though, and even more occasionally humorous .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Physical abuse
crisrobb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
harrymclellan's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jlancast96's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Rape, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicide, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Racism and Violence
niamhflora's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
m_e_d_b_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide attempt, Torture, and Violence
g_me's review
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
tsanoff's review against another edition
5.0
I've Read almost everything from Welsh.
This one is DEEPER
DEEPER
.
.
.
DEEPER
.
.
A Fu.in masterpiece!
This one is DEEPER
DEEPER
.
.
.
DEEPER
.
.
A Fu.in masterpiece!
partybonus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A trigger warning nightmare! OOOOF. There’s an interesting story here and a creative way to tell it. It’s not spoiling anything to say it: man in coma is dreaming (hallucinating?) that he’s actually hunting Marabou Storks in Africa. So you go back and forth between that and the whole “how did he get here” story.
I couldn’t put it down but was also majorly messed up after reading. You’re in capable hands with this writer but you’re gonna go some places you do NOT wanna go so if you’re someone who can’t handle most of the heavy hitter TWs (animal torture and S.A) then I don’t recommend this. I used to be obsessed with true crime documentaries and books in my teens and twenties and I love horror movies but this was like all of that in a blender so reader beware ❤️
I couldn’t put it down but was also majorly messed up after reading. You’re in capable hands with this writer but you’re gonna go some places you do NOT wanna go so if you’re someone who can’t handle most of the heavy hitter TWs (animal torture and S.A) then I don’t recommend this. I used to be obsessed with true crime documentaries and books in my teens and twenties and I love horror movies but this was like all of that in a blender so reader beware ❤️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Animal death, Pedophilia, Torture, Animal cruelty, Gore, Incest, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Drug abuse, Rape, and Self harm