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fivetilnoon's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
A clever story, and very French. I read the book for the focus on Bretagne and was pleased with that aspect of it. Too much crude sex for my taste.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lynn_pugh's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
readingwithkt's review against another edition
DNF @ 48%. This is a very fast-paced book, sectioned off into short vignettes within structural 'parts'. The structure was fine, as was the writing and translation, but the character development was extremely weak. I'm halfway through and I know nothing about the late Henri Pick besides that he worked in a pizzeria. Like, we have met his wife and that's all she had to say about him? It's just weird and unrealistic. As a reader, the author lost my buy-in during the section where we meet his wife and daughter and it's like they don't know him at all.
Further to this, there were some really strange scenes throughout the book. One of sexual assault which we are supposed to "laugh off" with the character? Vile. And another scene where two characters go out to drink together and one approaches the other, without preamble, and begins fingering her. Honestly, wtf... all I was thinking was "only a man would write this scene". I also questioned myself r.e. "did they really have sex in public?", but the character then goes on to say that he doesn't have a hotel room but could get one... This is after the sex happens when they are lying with their clothes undone.
The author lost me completely then. It went from wacky and weird to just downright ridiculous. I didn't laugh once (I only realised afterward that this novel is supposed to be funny) and couldn't be bothered spending more time with this bizarre cast of one-dimensional characters... none of whom we know anything much about. I quite simply did not care to continue.
Further to this, there were some really strange scenes throughout the book. One of sexual assault which we are supposed to "laugh off" with the character? Vile. And another scene where two characters go out to drink together and one approaches the other, without preamble, and begins fingering her. Honestly, wtf... all I was thinking was "only a man would write this scene". I also questioned myself r.e. "did they really have sex in public?", but the character then goes on to say that he doesn't have a hotel room but could get one... This is after the sex happens when they are lying with their clothes undone.
The author lost me completely then. It went from wacky and weird to just downright ridiculous. I didn't laugh once (I only realised afterward that this novel is supposed to be funny) and couldn't be bothered spending more time with this bizarre cast of one-dimensional characters... none of whom we know anything much about. I quite simply did not care to continue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
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