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heykellyjensen's review against another edition
4.0
I hadn't read the two books when they were two books, and I'm glad I read 'em together because they complement each other well.
Both are violent, sexually-charged, and deal with identity, queerness, and social norms. In "Lockpick Pornography," we have very angry characters, who do very terrible (and hilarious) things to lash out against the ideals society sells. It's totally graphic and at times bloody but in a really enjoyable way.
In "We All Got it Coming," we have a 30-year-old who has avoided the fact he has to face himself in order to grow up. Not easy, but ultimately good for him. I think the last chapter -- particularly the last few paragraphs where Arthur is reflecting on the fact liking who you are is the most important thing of all -- was great. It not only worked in this story but fit perfectly with the first. Harmony!
What I appreciate about Comeau's writing is that it's not pretentious nor does it attempt to be. It's very much human, very much the id (ugh, and writing that probably makes me sound all pretentious but I think invoking a little Freud is appropriate here). The kind of adult fiction I like reading because it doesn't try too hard to be The Next Great Novel. Plus, these books are unabashedly graphic.
Both are violent, sexually-charged, and deal with identity, queerness, and social norms. In "Lockpick Pornography," we have very angry characters, who do very terrible (and hilarious) things to lash out against the ideals society sells. It's totally graphic and at times bloody but in a really enjoyable way.
In "We All Got it Coming," we have a 30-year-old who has avoided the fact he has to face himself in order to grow up. Not easy, but ultimately good for him. I think the last chapter -- particularly the last few paragraphs where Arthur is reflecting on the fact liking who you are is the most important thing of all -- was great. It not only worked in this story but fit perfectly with the first. Harmony!
What I appreciate about Comeau's writing is that it's not pretentious nor does it attempt to be. It's very much human, very much the id (ugh, and writing that probably makes me sound all pretentious but I think invoking a little Freud is appropriate here). The kind of adult fiction I like reading because it doesn't try too hard to be The Next Great Novel. Plus, these books are unabashedly graphic.
ryyyyyyyye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
phifalling's review against another edition
4.0
I was uncertain what to rate this, because for me personally the first story is a 3 and the second is a 5, so I just have it one in the middle. The stories are so tonally different that I wonder if someone who liked one would like the other, though they both share the raw feeling of humanity the author imbues, despite the first characters actions being so imhuman and horrid. The second stories protagonist does a few questionable things, but they're all understandable emotional responses, that he feels guilt over, and add to instead of detract from his feeling of humanity as a character. The second story is very sweet, and really the only way I can describe it is by how human it feels. Highly recommend.
rosagigantea's review against another edition
4.0
I legitimately don't know what I think of this book. I love the second story (We All Got It Coming), and I think the two stories set each other off well. The first story (Lockpick Pornography) feels like a pretty spot on critique of a lot of the guys I've encountered in my radical queer circles, but it was subtle enough that I'm only mostly sure it was meant to be a critique. (Which is fine, and generally means better writing, I just... I don't know, want to know I'm not supposed to sympathize with things like aggressive misgendering.) I'm pretty sure I liked it, it just also reminded me of most of the more upsetting times I've had in the queer community.
the_original_shelf_monkey's review
5.0
Comeau has become a favourite of late (check out his brilliantly strange One Bloody Thing After Another), and Lockpick Pornography continues along the same lines, delivering a pair of weird, odd, funny, and very original takes on homosexuality, relationships, thefts, public sex, abuse, vigilantism, kidnappings, and more. I wouldn't call the two novellas burdened with plot; these are shaggy, rambling tales that charm the reader even as their wincing at some of the graphic descriptions (the title does contain the word pornography, so I don't know what else I was expecting). As Comeau's protagonists amble through a world they aren't really a part of, we grow to understand the effortless alienation that the LGBT community faces, and the strong sense of humour that can help people survive such bigotry. It's also remarkably sweet-natured and giving.
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