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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
This is the most disturbing book I’ve ever read. The afterward helped put the whole novel into perspective. I don’t even know how I could possibly rate this...
One of the most difficult books I've ever read. There's been a lot of furor over the autobiographical "truth" of this novel, and even over the identity of its author, but it certainly feels like an aesthetically true piece of writing. It's morbidly grotesque, unremittingly malevolent, and emotionally deadening in its litany of atrocities: narrator enters town, narrator is abused, narrator leaves town, over and over again. In no way an enjoyable read, and surprising only in the creativity of its cruelty.
(Note of interest: reputedly, Kosinski was supposed to be at Roman Polanski's house on the night in 1969 when the Manson Family murdered five people there. He missed it thanks to a baggage delay at the airport.)
(Note of interest: reputedly, Kosinski was supposed to be at Roman Polanski's house on the night in 1969 when the Manson Family murdered five people there. He missed it thanks to a baggage delay at the airport.)
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Antisemitism, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol
I know this book is one of the ‘classics’ but I honestly did not like it. And I mean it Literature-wise because plot wise I think every person who read it would agree with me that there is nothing to like there. Is just that this book is overfilled with excessive violence of all types - solid ¾ of the book is just ignorant, cruel peasants torturing main character in different more and more hideous ways. I completely understand that it contributes to main character’s character development but it is just excessive. When we get to a change of plot (finally) from mindless violence to towards-end-of-war part then I like this book so much more because it gets a more prominent historical context, we see how those final months of war looked for civilians, we see main character not being passive anymore but taking control over his life (as much as 11 year old boy can). So overall the last quarter of the book was really good but it doesn’t outweigh the rest of it when I often had to stop reading to control my gag reflex
For some reason that I don't understand, but find uncomfortable, this novel was too easy to read. From the blurbs and the reviews, I expected it to be wrenching and difficult, but that is not what I found. It was horrific, yet I remained detached through out. Some reviewers felt that the violence and abuse were shock tactics. I am in the camp of not being surprised that those atrocities could easily have occurred and perhaps weren't even harsh enough. Even today, even in "educated and civilized" communities, atrocities happen regularly and are allowed to perpetuate. I don't understand why it would be so hard to believe in the possibility of a Gypsy/Jew boy being treated with fear, ignorance, and loathing at that time and in those circumstances.
The afterward was at the beginning. I wish I'd have read it after reading the book.
The afterward was at the beginning. I wish I'd have read it after reading the book.
one of my absolute favorite books!!!! a must read. there is a rumor about this book that it is based on jerzy kosinski's life as a child during ww2. if so, then no wonder his works are troubled and brilliant.
This is an interesting book with a lot of graphic, brutal and unbelievable aspects to it. A difficult book to get through and one I probably wouldn’t recommend to many others, but think that it’s definitely worth reading if you have the stomach for it.
Revisiting this novel was hard, but important. It is so brutally dark and incredibly moving. I had to take it in short spurts because the violence and disregard for human life and dignity is just so graphic and overwhelming, but ultimately, it is a masterpiece of fiction, a deeply troubled meditation on the human condition through the extremities of war, poverty, ignorance, and greed. If you can stomach this bare, unadorned look at the worst of humanity, it is very worthwhile.