Reviews with content warning for Animal cruelty - The Wasp Factory

Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

174 reviews

bananatrampoline's review

4.0

dark medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

wathav's review

5.0

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Another I want to reread and will occasionally recommend. I still think about it.

Content Warnings

spidermomsays's review

2.5

dark slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

The writing was ok but this book really dragged for me despite several shocking events and the fact that it was under 200 pages.

Content Warnings

lilianisreading's review against another edition

3.5

dark tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

danipowl's review

3.25

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

night_shift's review

2.75

dark reflective 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: Yes

I dunno, man. Had some darkly funny bits but I called the ending (although wavered here and there when clues were "resolved") about a quarter of the way in. I can see where this was probably shocking and I was deff uncomfortable with the frequent animal deaths, but something about this felt like it was trying to say something but even Banks didn't know until that very last chapter where he tried to bring it all together (not entirely successfully, imo)
I guess also this wasn't going to be my jam from the start as I'm not a fan of the sociopath/serial killer POV. That said, Frank really is a unique voice and it doesn't waver.

Content Warnings

jumpingjacksofy's review against another edition

3.5

challenging dark mysterious sad tense 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

Content Warnings

jaid5394's review against another edition

1.5

dark mysterious 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

Content Warnings

sarahww's review against another edition

2.75

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This book reminds me a lot of the THE DUMB HOUSE. An interesting but disturbing premise, adequate execution, but no discernable themes? Sometimes I think a book exists just to make you feel kind of gross, and this is one of those books.

I will say, the narrator really kills it here. He get into character and he has a great accent and he really makes the whole story come to life. There were some story elements that I found interesting, but for the most part I just kind of felt overstimulated for the sake of shock. I can understand why some people might like that, but it's not really for me. The more I think back on it, the more I dislike it.

I think it you like books like THE DUMB HOUSE, or EXQUITISTE CORPSE (haven't read but a gut feeling), then maybe pick this one up at it seems to be in a similar vein. Otherwise, steer clear.

Content Warnings

corruptcat's review against another edition

1.0

Content Warnings

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