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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
yoohoo's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This book is a window into Israeli post holocaust society, and without understanding that you cannot fully comprehend the story. It's told in a smart, witty manner, with some unfunny jokes in between, and if you're looking for an essay lighthearted read you're in the wrong place. I felt immersed into the story, as if I was there during Dovalehs show. Grossman's writing is amazing, truly bringing the characters and the story to life. It's reflective, makes you think, and leaves just enough open ends to keep you wondering on some things. I recommend reading this in a book club so that you can discuss it with someone. Also, if you enjoyed this novel I suggest the show "Bojack Horseman", I felt they were quite similar in many ways - and vice versa.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Sexual assault
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
koljonen's review against another edition
2.0
This was a tough one; I haven't struggled to enjoy a book in this way in a while. I couldn't relate to the characters at all. Neither did their unlikeability (especially Dov's) bring anything interesting to the table. I found the structure of jokes alternating with childhood memories highly repetitive and grating. Too much of this book rests on the buildup to the ending, which is exactly the opposite of what I prefer. The main emotion I felt while reading this book was slight irritation, although I do admit Grossman's writing has pace and intensity that does suck you in, even if reluctantly.
surockwell's review against another edition
3.0
I haven't read anything quite like this - original, uncomfortable yet gripping, just odd. I'll intend to come back to this one later on and might connect more deeply
elinakd's review against another edition
2.0
Although this book did have some funny parts, for the most part it was painful and uncomfortable to read. I've loved plenty of painful and uncomfortable books (A Little Life being one of my favorites) but with this one I didn't feel that the pain and discomfort was with it at the end.
neurotictrainwreck's review against another edition
5.0
I read the whole thing in one sitting. It felt like I was experiencing this morbid trainwreck of a show in real time. I was gritting my teeth and cringing and laughing and holding back tears. Truly brilliant. You cannot look away.
holyhekkador's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know why I didn't enjoy this book. I feel like it was trying so so so so so hard to create a piece of meaningful art that each element was super obvious in what it was trying to do. I know that humor wasn't really the point of this book, but it's bold to make you spend 200 pages with an unfunny comedian. Though of course that's the predicament of the audience in this book. Unlike the audience, though, I wasn't actually listening to a real-live person recount a tragic formative memory, and didn't owe the narrator anything that people owe to each other. I still read the whole thing, but it was a slog.
whyintheheck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
4.5
m4xx0r's review against another edition
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
2.0
levishak's review against another edition
4.0
This is a difficult read, just like it would have been to sit and listen to Dov, the main character. Actually, the beginning is rather agonizing with bad jokes and I quit the book at least twice. When I read that other readers had problems reading the book and persevered, I decide to do the same. My book club (which is at a synagogue)recently said, “No more Holocaust books”. Well, this is definitely a book that explores a Holocaust victim’s impact on her son and husband. The genius of the writer is his unique ability to impart a story gradually, in a suspenseful manner, shared by a stand- up comic, the protagonist, over the course of an evening, interspersed with jokes, asides, tangents, historic references , observations and confessions. If you are a devoted reader, willing to suffer a bit, this book is definitely worth reading.