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breealysia's review against another edition
2.0
The concept for this book is interesting and amusing. However, it could've been accomplished in half the pages. After awhile, there are too many stories circling around and some do nothing for the overall point. I found myself bored half way through, which is surprising given the subject matter. Still, I admire what Baker attempts to do. It's hilarious and clever in many places.
kelseywonderful's review against another edition
4.0
Makes a jab at our over sexualized culture. Once you get over how raunchy it is, you can appreciate how the characters interlace (pun intended) and enjoy it for the little story that it is.
yangyvonne's review against another edition
1.0
Pornographic Dr. Seuss on acid. Who knew that many euphemisms for penis existed?
The "plot" is a sex-themed world that people go to in order to act-out their sexual fantasies. No one seems to know about it and the only ways to get there are bizarre. Once there, you pay or trade sex (or sexual organs) for your experiences. No fantasy is too odd and none of the normal (scientific) limitations exist in this alternate universe. A sub-plot involves this world "sucking" all the porn out of ours, resulting in a giant "porn monster" that they must take care of and who has seemingly insatiable desires.
The book has a theme in that everyone ends-up in the same place, but there is no real point. It is as if the author just wanted to write-down every one of his sordid fantasies and because he is an established writer, he knew the book would sell. I've read a ton of erotica, but this has no finesse, no ability to draw you in and you find yourself not blushing, but almost physically ill from the graphic nature of everything. This will never be "50 Shades" in popularity, and I am glad for that. Call me a prude, but this goes way too far.
The "plot" is a sex-themed world that people go to in order to act-out their sexual fantasies. No one seems to know about it and the only ways to get there are bizarre. Once there, you pay or trade sex (or sexual organs) for your experiences. No fantasy is too odd and none of the normal (scientific) limitations exist in this alternate universe. A sub-plot involves this world "sucking" all the porn out of ours, resulting in a giant "porn monster" that they must take care of and who has seemingly insatiable desires.
The book has a theme in that everyone ends-up in the same place, but there is no real point. It is as if the author just wanted to write-down every one of his sordid fantasies and because he is an established writer, he knew the book would sell. I've read a ton of erotica, but this has no finesse, no ability to draw you in and you find yourself not blushing, but almost physically ill from the graphic nature of everything. This will never be "50 Shades" in popularity, and I am glad for that. Call me a prude, but this goes way too far.
laurabb's review against another edition
2.0
The best description I can think of for this dirty and immature book is a blurb from the back cover. Tom Bissell from GQ magazine says "...Had Dr. Seuss been a slightly insane pornographer, he might have written a book like this." I'm not sure where I first saw this as a recommendation, or why I bought it blindly on that rec, but I'm glad to have crossed it off of my list and to move it on out of my house.
snowwhitehatesapples's review
1.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
When I first heard of House of Holes, I thought: Ohhh, is this going to be one of those satirical magic realism novels that's going to hit me in the back of the head with clever symbolism and metaphors, philosophy and what not?
Well, now that I'm done reading this, I can readily tell you that I'm on the fence. Of course, that's not the entire truth because I'm not really on the fence too. In fact, I'm trying to convince myself that I'm on the fence because I was convinced that there's supposed to be a greater meaning to this book—that there's something else other than how creative the author got with some words.
You see, there are moments in this book which made me think like this. Little moments of wisdom like:
Then, there are moments like this just makes me think that those moments of wisdom are just figments of my imagination:
So, if I'm wrong about this book having a deeper meaning, if House of Holes is simply a book of raunch with some humor (not satire!) and nothing more, then I think I've read one of the more creative raunchy but shallow novels. Though, the humor didn't really reach me since the tone of the entire novel is rather off, and I found the raunchy moments boring.
However, if this book was actually intended to be some kind of satire, then it has certainly missed it's mark. There are barely any hidden meanings or critiques, and there is a severe lack of character development and plot, which made the book too shallow to be meaningful as well.
So yeah, you can see why I'm stuck and unable to form a more concrete opinion of this book.
When I first heard of House of Holes, I thought: Ohhh, is this going to be one of those satirical magic realism novels that's going to hit me in the back of the head with clever symbolism and metaphors, philosophy and what not?
Well, now that I'm done reading this, I can readily tell you that I'm on the fence. Of course, that's not the entire truth because I'm not really on the fence too. In fact, I'm trying to convince myself that I'm on the fence because I was convinced that there's supposed to be a greater meaning to this book—that there's something else other than how creative the author got with some words.
You see, there are moments in this book which made me think like this. Little moments of wisdom like:
“I think I’m a bit in love,” said Shandee, “and the weird thing is I don’t know what Dave looks like, or what his voice is like, or what his personality is like, or anything.”
“Ain’t that the way it is sometimes,” Lila said. “You don’t know a damn thing about them and yet you love them to pieces.” Lila gave Dave’s arm a pat, sighing, and handed it back (p.34).
Then, there are moments like this just makes me think that those moments of wisdom are just figments of my imagination:
“Will you dance for me? Let your breasts roam for a moment -- I need to see how they dance.'
'Okay.' She danced, and as she danced, she tried to think of the most delicious salads she could imagine -- with artichokes and sundried tomato and blue cheese dressing, and beets, lots of beets” (p.185).
So, if I'm wrong about this book having a deeper meaning, if House of Holes is simply a book of raunch with some humor (not satire!) and nothing more, then I think I've read one of the more creative raunchy but shallow novels. Though, the humor didn't really reach me since the tone of the entire novel is rather off, and I found the raunchy moments boring.
However, if this book was actually intended to be some kind of satire, then it has certainly missed it's mark. There are barely any hidden meanings or critiques, and there is a severe lack of character development and plot, which made the book too shallow to be meaningful as well.
So yeah, you can see why I'm stuck and unable to form a more concrete opinion of this book.
jessferg's review against another edition
2.0
Good lord, Nicholson, what happened here?!?!
It's subtitled "a book of raunch" so I knew I was in for something awful, but......wow. The stories are loosely connected and there are recurring characters but there is not real "plot" per se.
The "literary commentary" part is how Baker starts a scene and even though it is clearly pornographic, you see for a split second how it might also be erotic - and then he throws in something like a screwdriver in the ass or talks about someone playing with their "slobbering kitty" which, of course, is just ludicrously funny.
I don't know if it is meant to be part of the commentary on how ridiculous porn is overall, but the thing that stood out the most (not a penis joke) is how ALL of the women are forced to satisfy both others and themselves. And how the women seem to inherently be satisfied as long as the penis in question has an orgasm. Things like the guy who goes off too early: "That's okay, honey, I like that you had to come right away - that's supersexy." Or the woman who walks into a shop and the guy says she's so beautiful he's going to just cum in his pants. How about the room full of dicks where the women are just dying to stroke and blow them all? NOPE. NOPE. And NOPE.
I think there might be two or three stories where a guy actually makes a woman have an orgasm or there is any sense of mutual interest, and even then it isn't the point. In every other story, she's got to fuck herself or something else - trees, the aforementioned screwdriver, a host of fruits, disembodied hands.... I'm so tired of this fantasy that women are put on earth to serve men that it's just not even funny as satire.
Not that Baker treats men with respect either - both sexes are simply objects of attraction.
There is virtually no indication of sex other than man/woman (maybe a woman looking at another woman's boobs, at most) although multiple partners are well-represented.
We won't even talk about the complete lack of good hygiene. (That's only half a joke...)
There are one or two good punches here that seem Baker-esque (pooping out pinecones and statutes; genital reversal and crotchal transfers) but overall, the whole thing just gets rather tiresome before it's even halfway through.
Skip it.
It's subtitled "a book of raunch" so I knew I was in for something awful, but......wow. The stories are loosely connected and there are recurring characters but there is not real "plot" per se.
The "literary commentary" part is how Baker starts a scene and even though it is clearly pornographic, you see for a split second how it might also be erotic - and then he throws in something like a screwdriver in the ass or talks about someone playing with their "slobbering kitty" which, of course, is just ludicrously funny.
I don't know if it is meant to be part of the commentary on how ridiculous porn is overall, but the thing that stood out the most (not a penis joke) is how ALL of the women are forced to satisfy both others and themselves. And how the women seem to inherently be satisfied as long as the penis in question has an orgasm. Things like the guy who goes off too early: "That's okay, honey, I like that you had to come right away - that's supersexy." Or the woman who walks into a shop and the guy says she's so beautiful he's going to just cum in his pants. How about the room full of dicks where the women are just dying to stroke and blow them all? NOPE. NOPE. And NOPE.
I think there might be two or three stories where a guy actually makes a woman have an orgasm or there is any sense of mutual interest, and even then it isn't the point. In every other story, she's got to fuck herself or something else - trees, the aforementioned screwdriver, a host of fruits, disembodied hands.... I'm so tired of this fantasy that women are put on earth to serve men that it's just not even funny as satire.
Not that Baker treats men with respect either - both sexes are simply objects of attraction.
There is virtually no indication of sex other than man/woman (maybe a woman looking at another woman's boobs, at most) although multiple partners are well-represented.
We won't even talk about the complete lack of good hygiene. (That's only half a joke...)
There are one or two good punches here that seem Baker-esque (pooping out pinecones and statutes; genital reversal and crotchal transfers) but overall, the whole thing just gets rather tiresome before it's even halfway through.
Skip it.
danadanger's review against another edition
4.0
the filthiest thing i've ever read, hands down. also hilarious and touching.
booksrule's review
funny
I don't have proof, but I fully believe this book is a prank.
PS. If anyone knows how Malcolm Gladwell received his, uh, cameo in the book -- please lmk!
PS. If anyone knows how Malcolm Gladwell received his, uh, cameo in the book -- please lmk!
sunnycurt's review against another edition
4.0
Hilarious and very, very smutty. There is no character development and only one vignette after another that resolve in some kind of porn cliche, although there is a quotient of sci fi in the delivery.
heidibowell's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0