Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
This is the third Anna Burns text I've read in the last month, since I casually picked up Milkman and devoured it in only a couple of sittings. Although that novel, her previous novel No Bones, and this short novel or longish short story, all treat of the Northern Irish experience of violence, vendetta, and the PTSD of their female heroines, I find Burns's prose style, aplomb, and terror-based humor really fabulous. She is a great stylist.
As an added bonus, Mostly Hero uses an absurd version of superhero comic language and situation to describe more of the Northern Irish civil war experience, taking the piss out of that tradition and drawing, in my opinion, the obvious parallel between humankind's worst idiocy--violence and warfare--and our so-called pop culture (really corporate/state propaganda) art--all that Star Wars and Marvel comix crap that indoctrinates our children into believing in the overly simplistic good guys/bad guys scenario, that heroes are invulnerable (quite useful in garnering recruits for the military), that violence solves every problem, and that violence and coercion through the threat of violence are the best measures of manhood, dignity, and pride.
Let my children read fables of anarcho-syndicalism!
--------------------
Just presented this novel novel to students. They enjoyed the humor, for the most part, but didn't seem to feel it as deeply as I feel it as an important take on how we cover our crimes in mythic hero and villain thought. Still, I loved the reread. I'd forgotten that Anna Burns and I are the same age. 1962 produced a few great writers: Burns, Paul Beatty, Donna Tartt, and yours, truly. Heh heh. Putting myself in rather illustrious company I know.
As an added bonus, Mostly Hero uses an absurd version of superhero comic language and situation to describe more of the Northern Irish civil war experience, taking the piss out of that tradition and drawing, in my opinion, the obvious parallel between humankind's worst idiocy--violence and warfare--and our so-called pop culture (really corporate/state propaganda) art--all that Star Wars and Marvel comix crap that indoctrinates our children into believing in the overly simplistic good guys/bad guys scenario, that heroes are invulnerable (quite useful in garnering recruits for the military), that violence solves every problem, and that violence and coercion through the threat of violence are the best measures of manhood, dignity, and pride.
Let my children read fables of anarcho-syndicalism!
--------------------
Just presented this novel novel to students. They enjoyed the humor, for the most part, but didn't seem to feel it as deeply as I feel it as an important take on how we cover our crimes in mythic hero and villain thought. Still, I loved the reread. I'd forgotten that Anna Burns and I are the same age. 1962 produced a few great writers: Burns, Paul Beatty, Donna Tartt, and yours, truly. Heh heh. Putting myself in rather illustrious company I know.
Took a minute to get into but ultimately more human and funnier than expected, especially listening to the author narrate in such a matter-of-fact drawl; I recommend the audiobook.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What were you hoping for?
Something light and fun, and getting a small reprieve from dealing with misogyny as a major theme after finishing the Empusium.
First impressions?
It took me a while to get into the writing style -- I found myself needing to reread many sentences a handful of times.
What is it about?
Nominally a satire of super-hero stories. Digging deeper, about who we are and what our actions reveal us and our desires to be?
Most memorable moment?
The idea of having to take a very slow service elevator to reach the penthouse of a skyscraper is quite funny.
Good physical presence?
Very small book, which makes me wonder if it's a short story? Or novella? Somwhere in the inbetween.
Best thing about it?
The humor and not taking itself too seriously. Even if I found the impact not being so high, I appreciate the story didn't feel like it was trying to be too important.
Would you recommend it to your friends?
It didn't really resonate with me, and not sure who I would think it would be for.
Describe in three words.
Whirlwind superhero satire.
What do you think it made of you as a reader?
I feel like it challenges you to keep up and follow along.
Any sidetracks it took you down?
None.
And ... did it make you cry? Or laugh out loud?
Didn't quite inspire much in me, but definitely got a few chuckles.
If you could change one thing about the book, what would it be?
I feel like there's interesting ideas underneath, but I got caught up in the whirlwind of the story and feel like I missed the big punch.
Marks out of 5?
2
Would you read it again?
Probably not. Unless I find I like something else from Burns a lot, and feel like I need to give this another shot.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(3,5)
An excellent superhero satire, with a bit of commetary of straight relationships thrown in the mix.
An excellent superhero satire, with a bit of commetary of straight relationships thrown in the mix.
Povestea pare a fi o parabola cu multe detalii în care personajele principale sunt femeia fatala, super eroul și răufăcătorii. Uneori faptele și acțiunile sunt exagerate și duse pana la extrem ca în benzile desenate. Nu știu daca am reușit sa deslușesc în întregime întreaga poveste.
De exemplu Super-eroii pot muri de mai multe ori, dar și răufăcătorii pot fi reînviați. Și prin eliminarea altor super-răufăcători, aceștia pot deveni din nou eroi. În această poveste ciudată, personajele principale, femeia fatala și super eroul, joacă uneori pe tipul bun, alteori pe tipul rău, luptându-se constant între ei și cu toți ceilalți, uneori în relațiile dintre bărbați și femei, alteori pentru și din dorința de a acapara puterea în societate.
Chiar daca e o cărticica de ca.125 pagini, nu mi s-a părut o lectura usoara
De exemplu Super-eroii pot muri de mai multe ori, dar și răufăcătorii pot fi reînviați. Și prin eliminarea altor super-răufăcători, aceștia pot deveni din nou eroi. În această poveste ciudată, personajele principale, femeia fatala și super eroul, joacă uneori pe tipul bun, alteori pe tipul rău, luptându-se constant între ei și cu toți ceilalți, uneori în relațiile dintre bărbați și femei, alteori pentru și din dorința de a acapara puterea în societate.
Chiar daca e o cărticica de ca.125 pagini, nu mi s-a părut o lectura usoara
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wonderful parody of superhero yarns. Great fun, but it’s a bit relentless and is just starting to run out of steam by the end.
I find it hard to engage with satire, or parody, when it concerns genres I don’t normally watch or read (see my review of [b:The Fire Gospel|3212034|The Fire Gospel|Michel Faber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1329066935l/3212034._SY75_.jpg|3245713]). And that's how I mostly felt about this long short-story of the superhero/villain genre, though it ends up a great metaphor for our mental defenses and (mis)communications with others. I enjoyed Burns’ intelligence and wit.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes