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menfrommarrs's review against another edition
5.0
Lots of amusing sexual situations, nothing to make you feel like a perv.
5 stars for pretzel storyline.
Grover Gardner as narrator was a perfect choice for the voice of this one.
5 stars for pretzel storyline.
Grover Gardner as narrator was a perfect choice for the voice of this one.
alexcavanaugh's review against another edition
4.0
The beginning is pretty rough, consisting mostly of the main character visiting a couple of different strip clubs, seemingly for no reason. Definitely picks up about halfway through and by the end heavily reminds me of Fargo. I read it in a few hours, and it's definitely worth the read, given how quickly you're in and out of the debacle.
lou_mac's review against another edition
2.0
I like a flawed character but in this novel all the leads are absolute garbage with very little in the way of redeeming features. There's a thread of slight mystery running through which is the only reason I made it to the end - that and the fact its quite short so by the time you're half way through you light as well finish.
I don't read a lot of this sort of book, so I'm unsure if the author was playing on a trope but all the women were either strippers with kind hearts or prissy, rich and horrible (through our male protagonists eyes at least) which wore a little thin by the end. Saying that none of the characters had much depth...just general criminal vibes throughout.
It is well written though, and I enjoyed the descriptive elements of the book a lot-I feel like I can picture the town, which is nice.
I don't read a lot of this sort of book, so I'm unsure if the author was playing on a trope but all the women were either strippers with kind hearts or prissy, rich and horrible (through our male protagonists eyes at least) which wore a little thin by the end. Saying that none of the characters had much depth...just general criminal vibes throughout.
It is well written though, and I enjoyed the descriptive elements of the book a lot-I feel like I can picture the town, which is nice.
innae's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting little tale of a man wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. I felt I knew how the tale would end, in fact how it had to end...the surprise came in the how. It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I did, I felt for our poor hero, Charlie...so many good things in his life, destroyed by so few things. Basically a good guy, who got led in the wrong direction.
bradbury1971's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
buttontapper's review against another edition
3.0
I was digging this book... right up until the ending. A really uneven read, as it seemed to build towards an ending that never came. Maybe I should watch the movie instead?
efbeckett's review against another edition
4.0
Sleazier than I like, but a fine, quick noir thriller than can be polished off in under 3 hours. Normally I try not to know who played what character in the film version before reading a book but I'm actually kind of glad I did in this one because as a result one turn of events took me completely by surprise.
papernapkin's review against another edition
2.0
The writing in this book was pretty good, except for the ironic "surprise" twist at the end, which if you've ever read a Greek tragedy, you saw it coming from a mile away. The story itself was a little too sordid for my Victorian sensibilities.
civion's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
great story, fast paced, terrible ending
thecrazybookhoarder's review against another edition
1.0
Corrupt attorney living a life of crime, in a world of booze, strip clubs, and questionable “friends.”
For me the book was crass and shallow. You learn barely anything about the characters- and in a story with very few characters with redeeming qualities- everyone is pulling one over on everyone else- little backstory gives you little to care about who comes out on top.
The ending I liked- I got a sense of redemption from spending the day reading this book. I probably would have DNF’d if it wasn’t a bookclub selection.
However- I know this is a movie with John Cusack, one of my faves, and I can see this being darkly humorous in a Grosse Pointe Blank kind of way.
For me the book was crass and shallow. You learn barely anything about the characters- and in a story with very few characters with redeeming qualities- everyone is pulling one over on everyone else- little backstory gives you little to care about who comes out on top.
The ending I liked- I got a sense of redemption from spending the day reading this book. I probably would have DNF’d if it wasn’t a bookclub selection.
However- I know this is a movie with John Cusack, one of my faves, and I can see this being darkly humorous in a Grosse Pointe Blank kind of way.