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bush42's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
really funny, full of compelling images and people. lots of sections where saunders just makes up a guy and gives him a 3 page monologue about some bullshit. too cynical for its own good, i think. spends so long with its spikes on that it's hard to see the bright spots, even when they're there.
tevreads's review against another edition
5.0
The first book by George Saunders, and my first time listening to an audiobook. ‘CivilWarLand in Bad Decline’ was listened to for me with a deep admiration of Saunders, I’m currently writing a piece on his craft and have read extensively about his journey to become a writer and how this short story and novella collection came into fruition. As Saunders let go of the shackles of trying to be a ‘serious’ writer that was stuck in the voice of other writers and not his own, ‘CivilWarLand in Bad Decline’ is the result. My favourite piece of this book was ‘The 400-Pound CEO’ which reminded me of the famous George Saunders style of absurd humour.
eeechooo's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
rltinha's review against another edition
3.0
Não só padece do "defeito" prosa curta, como a escrita é a típica do gajo niilista com pulsões psicopatas que é o rei das piadas de snack-bar para indivíduos com QI superior a 120. Um jovem adulto tomará isto como a última bolacha do pacote, quem já tenha lido muito deste cinismo virtuoso sentirá menor entusiasmo, sobretudo se não se fascinar com o sadismo latente a uma pretensa crítica mordaz aos padrões sócio-económicos dominantes na sociedade norte-americana.
thatjameswhitman's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
gabesteller's review against another edition
4.0
Jeeeezus this was dark. But also funny as hell and i am here for it!
Side notes:
Lots of Ghosts! Def can see the seeds of some ideas that end up in Lincoln in the Bardo
also Having finally read a bit of Vonnegut, his influence is all over Saunders stuff. I should probably read some more of him.
Side notes:
Lots of Ghosts! Def can see the seeds of some ideas that end up in Lincoln in the Bardo
also Having finally read a bit of Vonnegut, his influence is all over Saunders stuff. I should probably read some more of him.
mcdal's review against another edition
Never have I felt so called out by an Author’s Note
bbshams's review against another edition
5.0
some of the most emotionally charged stories i’ve ever read! often tragic, often dystopian, can almost be overwhelming at times, each story feeling like a sort of gut punch. the prose is subtle and at the same time stunning, and saunders has a knack for making you truly care for his characters....or hate them! either way, you find yourself invested entirely.
bookhawk's review against another edition
3.0
I added this book to my reading list because it was on Esquire’s List of 75 Books Every Man Should Read several years ago. It is a good entertaining, funny read at times and probably best suited for short story lovers. Part of it reminded me of Forrest Gump by Winston Groom in the outlandishness of the story.