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rodney1946's review against another edition
medium-paced
4.5
of its time (early 2oth century) and place (California this is outstanding
alannathellama's review against another edition
3.0
all that to make some basic ass point about greed? using some terrible theories? the ending scene was iconic, if a bit heavy-handed
it was kinda funny, kinda freaky, kind of meh
best takeaway from the book is LEAVE WOMEN ALONE
it was kinda funny, kinda freaky, kind of meh
best takeaway from the book is LEAVE WOMEN ALONE
earth_to_haley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.5
reignitedreader's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely language and lyrical description paired with a bleak and gruesome plot. Engaging novel with extremely unlivable characters. Loved it.
bsmorris's review against another edition
3.0
Norris's characters are so flawed as to be fairly unsympathetic, but I like how the novel is crafted and its use of symbols. The ending is a real gut punch, but also rather satisfying.
tayboud's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
katie_pfotzer's review against another edition
1.0
I DNFed this book.
I picked up this book because I wanted to read something set in San Francisco during the gold rush and this was what I saw suggested online for that.
I got a full-cast audiobook to listen to this book. It was recorded in the 80s by all these amazing actors who I love. But the way it was recorded was by splitting up the narration into one sentence bites that probably 30 people were taking turns saying. This felt confusing and disorienting and made the boo really hard to get into.
Beyond that, I thought the story was really strange. It follows a young, oafish dentist who becomes obsessed with one of his patients. The character was disturbed, the relationship felt forced, and the humor of the book fell totally flat for me.
I decided because of that not to continue this book. I know a lot of great writers that I respect really like this book so maybe someday I can find a place for it in my heart. But for now, it's sayonara!
I picked up this book because I wanted to read something set in San Francisco during the gold rush and this was what I saw suggested online for that.
I got a full-cast audiobook to listen to this book. It was recorded in the 80s by all these amazing actors who I love. But the way it was recorded was by splitting up the narration into one sentence bites that probably 30 people were taking turns saying. This felt confusing and disorienting and made the boo really hard to get into.
Beyond that, I thought the story was really strange. It follows a young, oafish dentist who becomes obsessed with one of his patients. The character was disturbed, the relationship felt forced, and the humor of the book fell totally flat for me.
I decided because of that not to continue this book. I know a lot of great writers that I respect really like this book so maybe someday I can find a place for it in my heart. But for now, it's sayonara!
lindseyzank's review against another edition
5.0
The last page of this novel made my jaw drop and think that Frank Norris is a master story teller.
pearlmorpho's review against another edition
4.0
The line, "Then it became abominable," will probably stay with me for the rest of my life.