Scan barcode
lurker_stalker's review
2.0
This is a hard book to review. On one hand, the writing itself - beautiful use of alliteration, the vocabulary, the pacing - was great. I found myself wanting to rewind several passages just because I loved the way they sounded.
But there was too much on the other hand to make it an enjoyable experience. I struggled to finish this two-hour long audio book. First and foremost is Sean Penn's narration. I expected to be swept up in the story right away. I mean, Penn is a world-class actor who wrote the book he's reading. Who could have done it better? Unfortunately, he mostly just droned on in a monotone that couldn't stop me from zoning out regularly.
The voice of the computer breaking in numerous times in each section to provide what amounted to info dumps - even if they were brief - was annoying, to say the least.
Overall, I didn't care a bit about what was going on and by the time we got to the parts about Drumph and the election, I was counting the minutes until the book was over.
But it's another book toward my 2019 goal and only two hours wasted.
But there was too much on the other hand to make it an enjoyable experience. I struggled to finish this two-hour long audio book. First and foremost is Sean Penn's narration. I expected to be swept up in the story right away. I mean, Penn is a world-class actor who wrote the book he's reading. Who could have done it better? Unfortunately, he mostly just droned on in a monotone that couldn't stop me from zoning out regularly.
The voice of the computer breaking in numerous times in each section to provide what amounted to info dumps - even if they were brief - was annoying, to say the least.
Overall, I didn't care a bit about what was going on and by the time we got to the parts about Drumph and the election, I was counting the minutes until the book was over.
But it's another book toward my 2019 goal and only two hours wasted.
ekmanch's review against another edition
1.0
I know this is supposed to be satire, but I just did not get what it was about. I mostly just found it very strange. From the horrible rating it has I gather I'm not alone in this.
georgiemaher's review against another edition
1.0
I read the sentence “One who concentered candy smells to her crevices in the self-objectification-seeking of every random man’s desire” within the first chapter or two and knew that I was in for a horrible time.
jfkaess's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars - This book has a complete description on Goodreads and in Audible. Nevertheless, this book simply defies description. I can only say that if you have listened to the Welcome to Nightvale podcast, or read or listened to the book, then this book is kind of the same but different. In spite of my inability to give the story a cogent description, i found the audible book enjoyable. Sean Penn is a great narrator and the story is short and will hold your interest, if for no other reason than from trying to figure out what is going on. I recommend this, but not if you need an easily followable plot.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
1.0
I often try to think of something positive I have for a book I've read when I'm rating it low. But I usually don't write it down. However I got none of this. It wasn't good in any means felt like a first try to write a story that turned into a novel. First try is usually bad and this definitely was that.
madlymadly's review against another edition
2.0
Zero for the story. WTH was that? +10 for Sean Penn's reading. He reminded me a bit of Will Patton, one of my favorite audio book narrators.
cherithe's review against another edition
2.0
Imagine if Chuck Palahniuk rewrote A Confederacy of Dunces as a modern day short story, complete with fourth wall breaks, where Ignatius was only slightly more competent and the prose was almost poetic in places. Oh but then only released it as an audiobook read by Sean Penn. That's this.
tmah23's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
1.0
I would throw this book out if it didn’t belong to the library