Reviews - Notes on an Execution

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11.8k reviews for:

Notes on an Execution

Danya Kukafka

4.11 AVERAGE

alyssabova's review against another edition

4.25

dark emotional mysterious fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

laysuzu's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark informative reflective fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

the writing in this is amazing, it’s the type of book that really shows careful consideration of each and every word.
i found the storytelling pretty unique, it was enjoyable from start to finish

tardisgod18's review against another edition

4.75

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If any book encapsulates how complex human lives are and the difference of impact depending on your perspective and experiences, its this book. I thought i would be choosing a side or a bad guy but I ended up really seeing the connections of the same actions across multiple lives, as well as how our life experiences really Influence how we turn out.
It was well written, emotionally engaging and the kind of book you read in 1 - 2 sittings to be fully immersed.

strimm95's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jordans_not_here's review against another edition

4.25

“She had known from a young age that everyone had darkness inside-some just controlled it better than others. Very few people believed that they were bad, and this was the scariest part. Human nature could be so hideous, but it persisted in this ugliness by insisting it was good.”

kamdere's review against another edition

3.0

dark emotional mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

"She pictures the needle, pressing into Ansel’s arm. The blue pop of vein. How unnecessary, she thinks. How pointless. The system has failed them all."

it had some interesting ideas and writing choices sprinkled here and there and i felt really moved by the last chapter but the problem is that, unfortunately, there’s the rest of the book. which is just a pastiche of much better, more nuanced works of art meshed into something aggressively average.
for a character-driven story the cast we have to follow is incredulously hollow. them, their perspectives, and the author’s writing style are so melodramatic, so intent on pulling on the readers’ heartstrings and morals and yet you feel no sincerity in any of it.

anyway,
a) if you want a good women-centered story that focuses on and brings attention to victims—watch Unbelievable (alternatively, read the original article it was based on, which is just as brilliant).

b) if you want a story that explores human cruelty and desire for spectacle, the failure of the system (in the broader sense) and the age we live in, that subverts "serial killer" clichés by having a deplorable villain who is not romanticized in any shape or form—read American Psycho (!check the trigger warnings!).

Notes on an Execution tries to do both and, while it doesn’t particularly *fail* at those things, it comes off so tepid and lackluster, i just can’t imagine ever revisiting it.

peskridge3's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Very thought provoking and shifts the narrative from seeing the serial killer romanticized by people he manipulates to focusing on how he is perceived by the women in his life. The epilogue is genius. I would love if this author could write more stories like this!