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loki_the_gnome's review against another edition
5.0
Somehow, maybe Dennis Cooper's least articulate and most haunting work to date. No idea how to quantify any of this, and honestly this one didn't come together for me until that last chapter; said chapter gutted me more than maybe half of Cooper's full novels have managed.
If Frisk was an exploration of the (non)limits of fantasy, defining the strict difference between fantasy and reality, then Guide is a blurring of those lines; the real invades the fictitious and the fictitious is without any real reprieve. No real distinction is given even by the very end, rather than Frisk's brutal but necessary closure about its own unreality, Guide leaves itself entirely open. The novella equivalent of a wound that will never heal, a loss that will never return, a lie that will never be corrected. Absolutely crushing. "You can basically forget us."
If Frisk was an exploration of the (non)limits of fantasy, defining the strict difference between fantasy and reality, then Guide is a blurring of those lines; the real invades the fictitious and the fictitious is without any real reprieve. No real distinction is given even by the very end, rather than Frisk's brutal but necessary closure about its own unreality, Guide leaves itself entirely open. The novella equivalent of a wound that will never heal, a loss that will never return, a lie that will never be corrected. Absolutely crushing. "You can basically forget us."
boomlight's review against another edition
5.0
Hazy, prose that slowlt deconstructs and falls apart. Concise constructed crosscutting falling and falling down to cutting midsentence, fantasy--reality, reconciliation, speaking together with most notably Frisk (cooper is a characyer in both), where Frisk construcrs and deconstructs the image of violence amd fantasy. Guide specifically deals with amd reconciles the difference between the two, feeling like some strange inbetween of Trys humanesque feel and the more analytical tone of Coopers other works. Gutpunch of a novel like Coopers other works.
s0on_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
reubenlb's review against another edition
4.0
a personal exploration of death that reaches a level of sentimentalism that the other books haven’t reached (and i’m either used to the explicit or this is less so)
motifenjoyer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
4.0
"What we went through together was far too intense, self-incriminating, and confused to rethink, much less put into words."
adambwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, bold, and brilliant. A lot of Cooper's unique and trademark style has been carried over into Guide but with some innovation. For instance, Guide is much more personal, it seems. This episode of the George Miles series is, in my opinion, the best because it brings together the three previous novels and begins to explain who George Miles was to Dennis, why he is so important - how he changed Dennis forever. The novel somehow manages to be touching, heart-breaking, and disgusting all at once. Superb and unexpected.
2001astaceodyssey's review against another edition
4.0
Mr. Cooper has a gift of making extremely controversial and uncomfortable subject matter compulsively readable. His books are obviously not for everybody, but his genius isn't hard to see if you can stomach the contents.
This is brave and important writing.
This is brave and important writing.
lvlarly's review
challenging
dark
fast-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
3.75
annamgoodman's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Amazing writer but this book is severely disturbing! Read at your own risk
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Excrement, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Death, Sexual content, Addiction, Mental illness, Murder, Rape, Drug abuse, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Car accident and Forced institutionalization