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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
On paper, this book seemed like a sure win for me. Dark, macabre humor, a surreal yet mundane setting, a confusing and unreliable narrator, a glimpse of civilization as it breaks down into something primal and strange...it sounded thrilling. Ultimately though, it felt like too many ideas went into the oven and all of them came out either half-baked or burnt.
I don't normally write reviews, but after finishing this book I found myself nagged by all the other books I've read recently that have tackled similar topics with much more success. So rather than going into detail about everything I disliked about Mr. Robinson, here are some recommendations in the same grim vein:
Shirley Jackson's masterful [b:We Have Always Lived in the Castle|89724|We Have Always Lived in the Castle|Shirley Jackson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415357189s/89724.jpg|847007]. A mysterious American Gothic tale that retains heart and humanity even as it becomes increasingly paranoid and claustrophobic.
[b:Freshwater|35412372|Freshwater|Akwaeke Emezi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500884500s/35412372.jpg|56785192]. A really difficult one to explain, but in short, the life of a mentally ill young woman as told by her alternate identities/the voices in her head with beautiful and poignant prose. It's everything you could want from an unreliable narrator, plus a hefty dose of magical realism with roots in folklore.
[b:The Beauty|34356502|The Beauty|Aliya Whiteley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494012588s/34356502.jpg|42263451]. Society crumbles and something grotesque (or is it beautiful?) rises in its place. Body horror and atrocities described with eerie normality. (Seriously though, content warning for body horror).
[b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439197219s/6288.jpg|3355573]. Dark and utterly humorless, a post-apocalyptic classic that strips humanity to its core. Goodness fighting to survive against a tsunami of horrors. There are some scenes that are pretty beyond the pale, but I never found it unbearable.
I don't normally write reviews, but after finishing this book I found myself nagged by all the other books I've read recently that have tackled similar topics with much more success. So rather than going into detail about everything I disliked about Mr. Robinson, here are some recommendations in the same grim vein:
Shirley Jackson's masterful [b:We Have Always Lived in the Castle|89724|We Have Always Lived in the Castle|Shirley Jackson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1415357189s/89724.jpg|847007]. A mysterious American Gothic tale that retains heart and humanity even as it becomes increasingly paranoid and claustrophobic.
[b:Freshwater|35412372|Freshwater|Akwaeke Emezi|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1500884500s/35412372.jpg|56785192]. A really difficult one to explain, but in short, the life of a mentally ill young woman as told by her alternate identities/the voices in her head with beautiful and poignant prose. It's everything you could want from an unreliable narrator, plus a hefty dose of magical realism with roots in folklore.
[b:The Beauty|34356502|The Beauty|Aliya Whiteley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494012588s/34356502.jpg|42263451]. Society crumbles and something grotesque (or is it beautiful?) rises in its place. Body horror and atrocities described with eerie normality. (Seriously though, content warning for body horror).
[b:The Road|6288|The Road|Cormac McCarthy|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1439197219s/6288.jpg|3355573]. Dark and utterly humorless, a post-apocalyptic classic that strips humanity to its core. Goodness fighting to survive against a tsunami of horrors. There are some scenes that are pretty beyond the pale, but I never found it unbearable.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found the book via a disturbing books iceberg video on YouTube. Most of the novel has this eerie and foreboding undertone, while seeming almost cheery at times on the surface. But it took the longest part of the book before I realised what landed it on the iceberg. It was a good read though!
dark
medium-paced
I don’t think I’ll ever read it again but this book fucked me up in the best way.
It’s like a short, delirious fever dream.
It’s like a short, delirious fever dream.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I'm getting way more cynical with these type of books as I grow older and maybe in my early twenties this book would have been given an four star rating, but as it is...it scrapes a two - just barely.
Elect Mr. Robinson does have it's charms. I found the relationship between Robinson and his wife to be the more engaging part of the story. There was also enough characters to keep me interested.
I suppose what the nail in the coffin for me was the ending.
It wasn't too dark for me, I've read way worse and appreciated the outcomes, if not enjoyed them. I suppose it was the fact that I saw it coming and it felt forced like the author was just doing it for shock value more than anything else.
Elect Mr. Robinson does have it's charms. I found the relationship between Robinson and his wife to be the more engaging part of the story. There was also enough characters to keep me interested.
I suppose what the nail in the coffin for me was the ending.
It wasn't too dark for me, I've read way worse and appreciated the outcomes, if not enjoyed them. I suppose it was the fact that I saw it coming and it felt forced like the author was just doing it for shock value more than anything else.