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carmentxx's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
2.5
i cant even bring myself to say i’m glad i finished this book, because i’m not. i know oedipa’s inability to step back from the potential conspiracy is supposed to represent how overwhelming paranoia can be, but i hated it. i just kept thinking, what’s the point? i’m still struggling to find one.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Suicide, Drug abuse, and Alcoholism
chloesnotscared's review
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual harassment, and Racial slurs
Minor: Drug abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Cursing, Death, and Antisemitism
whysoserious's review
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Okay I first want to acknowledge that there are many readers out there that absolutely hated this and their reason is almost always because it made no sense. I get that. At the same time I loved this, very similar to Sound and the Fury by Faulkner. I had to learn over time that I need to just read the words and allow myself to be immersed in what is (in some ways) a stream of consciousness of the narrative. If you try to "make sense of" this novel you will be sadly disappointed. There is certainly an overarching premise to the book but the trail-offs into history and back again can be wonderful if you don't mind them making little sense to the whole plot.
My only criticism is that Pynchon is a tad heavy on the old verbiage. His sentences can go on, and on, and on, and on, and on and...
This can be tiresome after time and I found myself wondering what he was even saying at points. However, regardless of the actual content, the prose in itself is bloody marvellous! He uses odd quirks and turns of phrase that you just can't help but admire.
All in all I really liked this. If it had been any longer it may have started wearing but at only 140-something pages this was a fairly swift read even for someone with the attention span of a cucumber, like me. Not for those who want a solid plot with an outcome and defined story arc. Also if you want mainstream then this is certainly one to avoid - whilst it received praise and popularity when it was written, I wouldn't say the average reader would read it and you won't find something this weird in the local supermarket.
My only criticism is that Pynchon is a tad heavy on the old verbiage. His sentences can go on, and on, and on, and on, and on and...
This can be tiresome after time and I found myself wondering what he was even saying at points. However, regardless of the actual content, the prose in itself is bloody marvellous! He uses odd quirks and turns of phrase that you just can't help but admire.
All in all I really liked this. If it had been any longer it may have started wearing but at only 140-something pages this was a fairly swift read even for someone with the attention span of a cucumber, like me. Not for those who want a solid plot with an outcome and defined story arc. Also if you want mainstream then this is certainly one to avoid - whilst it received praise and popularity when it was written, I wouldn't say the average reader would read it and you won't find something this weird in the local supermarket.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Drug abuse, and Death
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