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maia313's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Think I would have enjoyed this more upon a second reading - fairly hard to follow but an interesting read! great as a postmodern text, would like to read more Pynchon. However, some parts are left unanswered which although well done, feels a bit unsatisfying. The paranoia/conspiracy element I enjoyed, but thought this could have been played on a bit more. Will be interesting to study and to compare to other works.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Racial slurs, Suicide, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual content, and Drug use
stargirlmolly's review
challenging
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Suicide
grboph's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I'm not entirely sure of how to react to this book. I found it quite engaging and enjoyed almost every second I spent reading it, but there was an air of surreality around the entire thing (which I've never been the hugest fan of, but that comes more down to personal preference than anything else). I think the story was fascinating and unique, and I really liked the character of Oedipa - I wish we had gotten inside her head a bit more before the last ten or twenty pages of the book, though. I will also enjoy thinking about all the possibilities for things that could have happened after the ending because boy howdy, are there a lot of them. One last thought I have is that the overall plot and many of the characters Oedipa runs across make for a very interesting social commentary now and that it would have been even more relevant in the sixties when the book was first published than it is now (and it feels pretty relevant now) - I almost wish I knew more about that period in US history so I would be able to better understand it. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book (although I'm usually not very into surrealist books like this) and I would recommend it for anybody who is into conspiracy theories or anything satirical.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Genocide, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Child death, Religious bigotry, Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Animal death, Antisemitism, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence
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