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lauramiserez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I really enjoyed the powerful language of this book, esp. the many parallels between warfare and the mining/logging interests of Southwest US at this time. The characters are horrible, but in a way I found compelling and authentic. I can see why it’s a modern classic and helped inspire so many to environmental activism. A book like this only works though if it’s able to point fun at itself and point out its own contradictions, and I found Abbey’s use of irony really effective in this regard. It loses points for me with the ending — it felt way too much like a perfect bow tied — and with the sexist and two-dimensional characterization of the only female in the group. But overall I really enjoyed the book and will definitely explore more Abbey.
cheflaz's review against another edition
2.0
Not nearly close to what I wanted it to be. So close to getting it without really getting it. You’re not The Overstory and you never will be.
autumn_dannay's review against another edition
5.0
I love Edward Abbey for the dirty old coot he is, just as I'll adore George Hayduke for the rest of my life. Crazy, wild, and full of piss n' vinegar is the only way to describe this book.
ebransford's review against another edition
3.0
Lonesome dove meets Nell zink. Wacky characters, beautiful descriptions of the scenery, and banging one liners. But a lot of plot stuff I honestly just scanned and it didn’t necessarily grab my attention. Definitely some sexist vibes going on. But I’m visiting this part of the country in a few weeks and it got me excited
edowdle's review against another edition
2.0
Some fun prose, but good lord, does every other paragraph need to be a thinly-veiled sexual exploration of Bonnie? We get it - young, curvy, sensual, etc etc etc. Male gaze much?
marcat_854's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
varo's review against another edition
Abbey manages to be racist and sexist in the first handful of pages and it only gets worse from there. Additionally, the prose is so purple, I'm surprised it hasn't been taken for a medical exam
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
kieranyes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: War
nobodyatall's review against another edition
5.0
Probably my favourite book of all time. It's excellent, story, writing style, imagery, terrible puns. It's all there and it's superb.
stewreads's review against another edition
3.0
This book is the story of four memorable characters- a foul-mouthed Vietnam vet, a redneck, a doctor, and a nurse (I think?)- who decide to travel the country and blow things up. Specifically, things like bridges, railroads, and dams; anything that they believe to be harmful to nature has to go. So essentially what we have here is Fight Club for hippies, which is exactly what I expected, being that I first heard about this one from Chuck Palahniuk himself in one of his essays. What makes The Monkey Wrench Gang work, more than anything, is its humor and its heart. Towards the beginning of the novel I was noting similarities to Pynchon, but by the end I pictured the story as a Wes Anderson film with explosions. All in all, this was a very enjoyable and unique read with a strong ending, and I would definitely recommend it.