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sixlimbs's review against another edition
The cover will lead you to believe this is 1) funny 2) a mystery. It is not funny and the mystery does not begin until page 91 and even then is not engaging. I could see why some would like it but go in expecting more of a contemporary lit vibe.
reedg's review against another edition
3.0
Very cool how the narrator becomes more sure of himself as a "writer" as the book goes on.
rocksandroles's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
It's...It's fine, I guess. The book reads as though the reader is a little dull and needs metaphors explained to them, and such way I wish the author trusted me a little more. It was a neat setting but the main character is less than likeable.
christina_sirotich's review
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
thevioletfoxbookshop's review
I wanted to like this book. The premise was intriguing and had great potential, but the writing was killing me. The book is very verbose and long-winded. We get off on tangents yet breeze over what seem to be important points. The main character is a sociopath and because his thoughts dont make sense to the reader, ultimately the book makes no sense.
hogwash1's review against another edition
1.0
The worst book I read this year, maybe last year too, and the year before that. Every single sentence needs to be rewritten -- though why bother? Books this bad should be illegal.
ruthiella's review against another edition
1.0
I found this book to be very disappointing. 300 pages of dreck such as,
“I wanted her to look beautiful and maybe that is what all children want: for their parents to look beautiful. And in order for them to look beautiful, you have to find ways to ignore their ugliness. It is easier to be ugly yourself than to admit to the ugliness of the people who made you; it is easier to love the people who made you if you are ugly and they are not. And it is easier to live on this earth if you love the people who made you, even if that means risking the love of the people you yourself have made. Even if.”
WTF? Not only was the story dull and unfunny, other than the names of a few authors and Aunt Polly from Tom Sawyer, there are virtually no real literary references in this book. And I might add, there are no real arsonists either. In fact, I don’t think the author even likes books. I am not sure how he feels about arsonists. The back flap compares of the book it to "A Confederacy of Dunces" and "Catch 22", neither of which I much liked. I guess it is supposed to be a farce. Maybe I just don’t get farcical humor?
“I wanted her to look beautiful and maybe that is what all children want: for their parents to look beautiful. And in order for them to look beautiful, you have to find ways to ignore their ugliness. It is easier to be ugly yourself than to admit to the ugliness of the people who made you; it is easier to love the people who made you if you are ugly and they are not. And it is easier to live on this earth if you love the people who made you, even if that means risking the love of the people you yourself have made. Even if.”
WTF? Not only was the story dull and unfunny, other than the names of a few authors and Aunt Polly from Tom Sawyer, there are virtually no real literary references in this book. And I might add, there are no real arsonists either. In fact, I don’t think the author even likes books. I am not sure how he feels about arsonists. The back flap compares of the book it to "A Confederacy of Dunces" and "Catch 22", neither of which I much liked. I guess it is supposed to be a farce. Maybe I just don’t get farcical humor?
pinknantucket's review against another edition
3.0
This was a lot of fun, though I did feel Sam Pulsifer (the accidental and somewhat hapless arsonist of the title) was treated somewhat unfairly by fate, in the end. I love the idea that there are hundreds of people all around the world who secretly wish for the houses of famous writers to be destroyed, for various reasons. I particularly liked Sam's Mum. And the letter writers he encounters. I don' think you'd regret spending time with this book.
My copy: Bought second-hand from Savers (for 49c). Whoever bought it first bought it from the Brunswick St Bookstore for $22.95. I'd happily read it for that price too.
My copy: Bought second-hand from Savers (for 49c). Whoever bought it first bought it from the Brunswick St Bookstore for $22.95. I'd happily read it for that price too.