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emdash_necessary's review against another edition
I can’t read one more word about men wanking.
notallbooks_mp's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
writergracie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Joseph Earl Thomas' debut novel 'God Bless You, Otis Spunkmeyer' is one of those books that makes readers work. The writing is more poetry than prose. Sometimes, sentences, paragraphs, and entire pages require careful reading and rereading. It's worth it. This is one of those novels that will stay with me.
dominiquejl's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
me_alley's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
There isn’t anything wrong with this book, per se. I fear it won’t do very well, because it’s not anti-Trump ENOUGH and neither is it pro-Trump ENOUGH. He’s nothing if not polarizing. Readers will undoubtedly find the documentarian either too harsh or too kind, depending on their opinion.
It is mostly based on 4 interviews with the former talk show host between 2021 and 2023. I wish he had interviewed Marc Burnett and gotten more into the show development. I am always pretty intrigued into show running and how TV becomes popular.
It is mostly based on 4 interviews with the former talk show host between 2021 and 2023. I wish he had interviewed Marc Burnett and gotten more into the show development. I am always pretty intrigued into show running and how TV becomes popular.
gar42's review against another edition
challenging
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? It's complicated
4.0
This was a really intense book, with all of the action taking place during one long shift at an emergency room in Philly.
Joseph Earl Thomas is clearly so intelligent and in touch with the multitude of ways systems long at play in our world trap, abuse, traumatize, and brutalize people, especially Black and poor people.
What seems like a long shift at a hospital is actually a revolving door of relationship strife, family baggage, economic insecurity, prison and labor exploitation, and health crises all on display through the eyes of one main character.
The prose takes a minute to get used to, with its many asides and dependent-clause filled sentences, but the picture the book paints is a vivid one, exposing the numerous fractures in a post-capitalism America.
Joseph Earl Thomas is clearly so intelligent and in touch with the multitude of ways systems long at play in our world trap, abuse, traumatize, and brutalize people, especially Black and poor people.
What seems like a long shift at a hospital is actually a revolving door of relationship strife, family baggage, economic insecurity, prison and labor exploitation, and health crises all on display through the eyes of one main character.
The prose takes a minute to get used to, with its many asides and dependent-clause filled sentences, but the picture the book paints is a vivid one, exposing the numerous fractures in a post-capitalism America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
ruthsturm94's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
peterse1's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
makealongstorycourt's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
2.0
😬
Okay I don’t like stream of consciousness books, and this was that. Alas, I pushed through and ???? I just don’t know how to feel about it.
Honestly the entire novel felt like a surface-level therapy session with those people who say something horrifically tragic and then just carry on with describing the weather. You know those people??? It felt rushed, for me, and I couldn’t enjoy the parts that I liked because the writing style made me feel as though I needed to read through the prose fast bc the sentence structure was wildly long. The sentences required your working memory to hold so much while still taking in 3-4 more dependent clauses and it felt 🤯
Sorry for not liking this - truly just not for me, but this could be a banger for others.
Okay I don’t like stream of consciousness books, and this was that. Alas, I pushed through and ???? I just don’t know how to feel about it.
Honestly the entire novel felt like a surface-level therapy session with those people who say something horrifically tragic and then just carry on with describing the weather. You know those people??? It felt rushed, for me, and I couldn’t enjoy the parts that I liked because the writing style made me feel as though I needed to read through the prose fast bc the sentence structure was wildly long. The sentences required your working memory to hold so much while still taking in 3-4 more dependent clauses and it felt 🤯
Sorry for not liking this - truly just not for me, but this could be a banger for others.