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ecebozturk's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kyahs's review against another edition
4.0
How to review this book? It was odd. I thought to myself many times, "why am I reading this?" and "this is a strange book to give as a gift."
However, it was gripping and I did want to read it to the end.
Are there any messages of the book? I think that depends on the reader.
However, it was gripping and I did want to read it to the end.
Are there any messages of the book? I think that depends on the reader.
catpdx's review against another edition
2.0
Ah, Boris. Like many other readers, I imagine, I read this one on the strength of L'Écume des Jours and L'Arrache-cœur – favorites of mine – and the wild story of the book itself. From what I’d read of it, I wasn’t expecting anything up to the standards of those two books, but, it’s Vian, and it seemed that since he intended it to be something of a hoax, there’d be something deeper beneath the noir cover.
Not really. Despite the caveats, it's a nasty, sordid piece of work. The misogyny and racial aspects, even when one tries to read through a lens of irony or highly disguised social critique, remain – to employ that overused word – problematic. The same goes for the repeated use of sexual violence (particularly toward children); the attempts at shocking the reader may make sense for the genres he’s imitating, or as a critique of Southern white society and how that society has formed Lee, but it’s a stretch. A few readers have compared it to Native Son, but the imitation pulp style of I Spit on Your Graves doesn’t leave much room for nuance and development.
Overall, the concept is brilliant; the follow-through didn’t work for me. It just made me want to take a hot shower and pretend Vian had never written the thing. It seems the book haunted poor Boris, too, as, in addition to causing a ding in his literary reputation, it led to his being fined 100,000 francs when a copycat murderer claimed it as inspiration, and ultimately culminated in his sudden cardiac death while watching the (apparently dreadful) film adaptation.
Read it if you’re a Vian fan, or if you’re into the twisted stuff. Otherwise, skip.
Not really. Despite the caveats, it's a nasty, sordid piece of work. The misogyny and racial aspects, even when one tries to read through a lens of irony or highly disguised social critique, remain – to employ that overused word – problematic. The same goes for the repeated use of sexual violence (particularly toward children); the attempts at shocking the reader may make sense for the genres he’s imitating, or as a critique of Southern white society and how that society has formed Lee, but it’s a stretch. A few readers have compared it to Native Son, but the imitation pulp style of I Spit on Your Graves doesn’t leave much room for nuance and development.
Overall, the concept is brilliant; the follow-through didn’t work for me. It just made me want to take a hot shower and pretend Vian had never written the thing. It seems the book haunted poor Boris, too, as, in addition to causing a ding in his literary reputation, it led to his being fined 100,000 francs when a copycat murderer claimed it as inspiration, and ultimately culminated in his sudden cardiac death while watching the (apparently dreadful) film adaptation.
Read it if you’re a Vian fan, or if you’re into the twisted stuff. Otherwise, skip.
williambrunet_lectures's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
siham's review against another edition
3.0
J'ai beaucoup aimé la plume mais ce qui m'a agacé est l'appellation "roman policier" que j'ai trouvé exagérée si ce n'est fallacieuse. Il ne suffit pas de voir un personnage assassine deux pages avant la quatrième de couverture pour faire une intrigue policière.
Finalement, trop d'érotisme à mon gout.
jorge_shdz's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
bellagothh's review against another edition
3.0
Ce livre m'angoissait avant que je lise. En fait, il est plutôt chouette. Il fout en l'air toutes mes valeurs mais ça reste chouette. Je m'attendais à ce qu'il me bouleverse un poil plus en le lisant ce qui m'a laissée un peu sur ma faim.
rubysky1's review against another edition
1.0
백인에게 살해당한 동생의 복수를 위해 사건과 상관 없는 두 백인 여성을 살해한다는 플롯에 전혀 공감할 수 없었다. 전체적인 구성이 단순하고 줄거리 전개 과정에 위기감도 없어 독자를 몰입시키지 못하는 느낌이다.