Scan barcode
kodameansfriend's review against another edition
4.5
It's hard not to give this a full 5 stars, anyway, since I just could. Not. Put. This. Down. It's filled with horrible, grotesque, and depraved content--but I could not put it down. The subject matter is pornographic and violent, to say the least--so not for everyone, and you might ask why I read the whole thing, or am giving it a high rating, but I could. Not. Put. This. Down, and that's mainly why. I can't see myself forgetting this saga, either, like I can so easily with most books, being that I'm getting older and read so many.
This book managed to make me feel like a teen, surfing around and reading in chatrooms I had no business being in, in the early days of the internet, when chat forums and message boards ruled. The execution of that 90s-internet feel in this book is flawless, and the messages and reviews you read through to get the story in this book are nothing if not a train wreck that you can't look away from. I wanted to know what exactly was going on--I wanted to know what was lies and what wasn't, who was who they said they were, and who was not. I wanted to know how the saga would end, and from a safe spectators-view. I wanted all these things, and yet I worried I needed to delete the book's web history as I continued to read. For that, I think it deserves 5 stars.
I will say that the end lacked a "punch" that I expected for no reason other than that's what I wanted. I'm giving this a solid 4.5 and I'll be checking out more of Dennis Cooper's novels.
deathtoastmarket93's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Its very very dark and messed up but its so fantastic.
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, Gore, Trafficking, Torture, Sexual violence, Violence, Suicide, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Excrement
If you are sensitive to sexual crime, please look up the content warnings!!!brokenlyrium's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual violence, Torture, Pedophilia, Violence, Addiction, Death, Homophobia, Rape, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
woahwhatthe's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
tshc's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Terminal illness, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Excrement, Drug use, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Drug abuse, and Body horror
bex_reads_books's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
kattrent's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
666vicious's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5