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zek's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
**CONTENT WARNING**
Be advised, this novel contains detailed descriptions of extreme sexual violence, body horror, and cruelty toward animals.
While this novel is not Lee's best work, it's definitely his most infamous. I would recommend it as a good choice for testing if the "Extreme Horror" (terrible genre name, but I didn't choose it) genre is something you might be interested in. It gets into things very quickly, requiring little time investment to make an evaluation.
The Bighead is presented in a very cartoonish manner, making the extreme violence a little more tolerable. There is zero attempt at realism, making it a good start for the cautiously curious.
Edward Lee has released some exemplary novels within the genre that are 'devilishly' good. If this is your forte, go check them out.
This reviewer deliberately chooses not to discuss the plot.
While this novel is not Lee's best work, it's definitely his most infamous. I would recommend it as a good choice for testing if the "Extreme Horror" (terrible genre name, but I didn't choose it) genre is something you might be interested in. It gets into things very quickly, requiring little time investment to make an evaluation.
The Bighead is presented in a very cartoonish manner, making the extreme violence a little more tolerable. There is zero attempt at realism, making it a good start for the cautiously curious.
Edward Lee has released some exemplary novels within the genre that are 'devilishly' good. If this is your forte, go check them out.
This reviewer deliberately chooses not to discuss the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Cannibalism, Incest, Child death, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Excrement, and Sexual violence
glenvisceration's review against another edition
5.0
The most offensive, violent, sick and twisted thing I've read. Consistently in bad taste, but the use of constant weird colloquialisms gross-out humour and absurd characterisation keep it in the "all in good fun" zone.
Fantastic, but niche. In fact i would avoid saying "it's not for everyone" and instead go with "it's for very few people" but if you're one of those few you're gonna have a lot of fun.
If you're thinking of giving it a go, here's the first line. If you aren't comfortable with that, don't read it, it's not your cup of tea. It only gets worse from there.
"She stoved the baby's head in with a cast iron skillet."
Fantastic, but niche. In fact i would avoid saying "it's not for everyone" and instead go with "it's for very few people" but if you're one of those few you're gonna have a lot of fun.
If you're thinking of giving it a go, here's the first line. If you aren't comfortable with that, don't read it, it's not your cup of tea. It only gets worse from there.
"She stoved the baby's head in with a cast iron skillet."
mrsbear's review against another edition
1.0
This was probably one of the dumbest books I've ever read. Brutal and sick for grossness sake only. Yuck.
szek's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
CONTENT WARNING:
Be advised, this novel contains detailed descriptions of extreme sexual violence, body horror, and cruelly towards animals.
Edward Lee is a talented author, when looking past the the violence you will also experience well written flawed characters that mirror some of the social and economic challenges within contemporary America.
While this novel is not his best work, it's definitely his most infamous. I would recommend it as a good choice for testing if the "Extreme Horror" (terrible genre name, but I didn't choose it) genre is something you may be interested in perusing. It gets into things very quickly and will require little time investment to find out if this is something you may be interested in.
The Bighead is presented in a very cartoonish manner making the extreme violence a little more tolerable in my experience. There is zero attempt at realism making it a good start for the cautiously curious.
Edward Lee has released some exemplary novels within the genre which are 'devilishly' good. If this is your fortay, go check them out.
This reviewer deliberately chooses not to discuss plot.
Be advised, this novel contains detailed descriptions of extreme sexual violence, body horror, and cruelly towards animals.
Edward Lee is a talented author, when looking past the the violence you will also experience well written flawed characters that mirror some of the social and economic challenges within contemporary America.
While this novel is not his best work, it's definitely his most infamous. I would recommend it as a good choice for testing if the "Extreme Horror" (terrible genre name, but I didn't choose it) genre is something you may be interested in perusing. It gets into things very quickly and will require little time investment to find out if this is something you may be interested in.
The Bighead is presented in a very cartoonish manner making the extreme violence a little more tolerable in my experience. There is zero attempt at realism making it a good start for the cautiously curious.
Edward Lee has released some exemplary novels within the genre which are 'devilishly' good. If this is your fortay, go check them out.
This reviewer deliberately chooses not to discuss plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Racism, Violence, Gore, and Torture
skullheadface's review against another edition
4.0
A true gem, a blend of demonic redneck porno, with infamous scenes, kills and characters you’ll never forget. Plus, Jesus wearing a Danzig shirt.
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
4/5 Skulls
☠️☠️☠️☠️
kriavidar's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
vinett's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
3.75
alexmontavon's review against another edition
1.0
Only giving 1 star because I can’t give 0. This is the worst book I’ve ever read and I didn’t even finish it.
shane's review against another edition
4.0
This book is very violent for a greater portion of it's length and contains an inordinate amount of sexual assault, to the point that at about the 3/4 point I began to wonder if this was less a horror novel and much, much more just the author's violent, unnatural, hooligan-like mind spewed out on paper. But the final part of the book, towards the very end in fact, put paid to that when it all comes together quite well and really does stand up well as a good, solid horror novel.
I won't spoil the ending by telling too much here, but suffice to say if you can stomach the seemingly endless parade of extreme violence, and almost entirely extreme sexual violence at that, then your efforts will be well rewarded come the end.
One thing that didn't sit well with me at all however was the fact that Well... that's everyone in the entire world then, surely? I really hope the author's view of life after death is very, very wrong on that one then.
Also, I'm pretty sure women don't have Adams Apples. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not. That's just me being a bit picky though.
All in all it is a great book. Well written and with characters that you really want to care about, it's undoubtedly very, very violent in just about every way you can think of and a fair few you almost certainly haven't, but then if you've read anything about this author then you were probably quite aware of his writing style anyway.
I liked it a lot, even given the priest bit at the end.
Excellent stuff, on the whole.
I won't spoil the ending by telling too much here, but suffice to say if you can stomach the seemingly endless parade of extreme violence, and almost entirely extreme sexual violence at that, then your efforts will be well rewarded come the end.
One thing that didn't sit well with me at all however was the fact that
Spoiler
the priest gets dragged down to hell at the very end. This happens because he's apparently committed a number of sins in his life, almost entirely in his youth in fact. So let me get this straight now. A priest does some inadvisable things, some very bad things in fact and none of the good things he does for the entire rest of his life make any difference to anything as far as his god is concerned. Nothing he has done has atoned for anything. And, more importantly, the intention behind both the bad and good things he's done has no impact on his final judgement in the end. He's going to Hell anyway no matter what!Also, I'm pretty sure women don't have Adams Apples. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure I'm not. That's just me being a bit picky though.
All in all it is a great book. Well written and with characters that you really want to care about, it's undoubtedly very, very violent in just about every way you can think of and a fair few you almost certainly haven't, but then if you've read anything about this author then you were probably quite aware of his writing style anyway.
I liked it a lot, even given the priest bit at the end.
Excellent stuff, on the whole.