Reviews tagging 'Animal cruelty'

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

174 reviews

moonmoonsun's profile picture

moonmoonsun's review

3.5
dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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refriedreid's review


Way too violent. Turned my stomach

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ab1gail_g's profile picture

ab1gail_g's review

3.75
challenging dark emotional funny sad tense 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: Complicated

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cartimandua's profile picture

cartimandua's review

3.25
challenging dark 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

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rarityfemme's profile picture

rarityfemme's review

challenging dark medium-paced
Loveable characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Note: I don't like giving star ratings as I dont really understand the system. Please forgive the lack of one.

I hate to admit that I enjoyed this book, but I really did.

Its a great horror/thriller read with a lot of very dark plot points and a twist that I wasnt expecting at all. (I am a bit daft though, I'll be the first to admit it)

If you're a sensitive reader I highly recommend thoroughly perusing the trigger warnings, as they'll definitely be needed. 

All in all, if you're someone who can handle dark topics I'd recommend this to you.

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emmastevvenson's review

4.0
dark tense fast-paced

This shit is crazy. I’d be concerned if you’re not at least a little disturbed by this book, however it is intriguing and a good read. I enjoy the unreliable narrator. 

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beitidh_flitcroft's profile picture

beitidh_flitcroft's review

4.75
challenging dark funny mysterious reflective 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

horrifically graphic in places, but utterly captivating. 

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saintgroovy's profile picture

saintgroovy's review

4.5
challenging dark 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

This is a uniquely dark and detached story, and taking the journey throughout daily life and memory with Frank gives insight into the psychopathic mind. You’ll find yourself confronted with the most monstrous of human behavior, while tackling Franks complete apathy towards his own actions. At times it’s funny how easily Frank justifies doing something terrible, and the roundabout ways he explains the need for cruelty.
I think the themes of gender identity and masculinity lead to such a complicated conclusion, not only for our narrator but for us. Do you hold sympathy for a person who is incapable of feeling any themselves? 
This is a story of both a victim and a perpetrator, who in the end holds no deep feelings about anything at all. 

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challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-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

This is a very dark story. Take heed of the content warnings as they probably don't do justice to how vicious and grotesque this is in places. At the same time though I couldn't stop reading it, it is as fascinating as it is disturbing. I've actually read this three times now, leaving a long gap between each so I can recover, and I still love it and loathe it as much as I did the first time. 

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azrealz's review

3.5
challenging dark tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

A pretty dark, but interesting book. I like Ian Banks's writing style, and he did a good job with keeping me hooked, and having well done reveals. But not an easy book to read 

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