Reviews

Ablutions: notes pour un roman by Patrick deWitt

dp112's review against another edition

dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

dili's review against another edition

2.0

I'm not exactly sure wth this was apart from a short collection of alcoholic self serving depravity. Either you'll relate or it's a PSA

bfmermer's review against another edition

3.0

Daha önce Sisters Kardeşler'ini okuyup bayıldığım Patrick deWitt'in ilk romanı Arınmalar, 2009 yılında yazar henüz 34 yaşındayken yayınlanmış. Romanda eski bir Holywood barında barmenlik yapan başkarakterimizi takip ediyoruz. Kitabın en büyük alametifarikası ikinci tekil şahıs ile yazılmış olması galiba. Zira hikayede ya da kurguda bir muhteşemlik bulamadım ben. Anlatım gerçekten başkarakterle empati kurmamızı oldukça kolaylaştırıyor demek isterdim, ancak olaylar oldukça Amerikan bir barda geçip alkol ve uyuşturucuyla dolu olunca o da pek mümkün olmadı. Genel anlamda hikayenin akışı iyiydi, ancak sonunu da pek beğenmedim. Romanın sevdiğim bir diğer yanı da bazı kitaplarda ve filmlerde romantikleştirilen o bar ortamını, oradaki zavallı karakterleri açıkça göstermesi oldu. Kitapta altı çizilecek cümleler de var, deWitt'in iyi bir yazar olduğu şüphe götürmez zaten. Yine de ortalama bir ilk roman olmuş Arınmalar. Avi Pardo'nun çevirisi de alışıldığı üzere oldukça iyi bu arada.

veep23's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

dessa's review against another edition

3.0

Four stars for writing. Three stars for being another damn book about an alcoholic straight white male indulging in self-destruction for no apparent reason.

anushri17's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.0

The experiences felt repetitive which might have been the point considering the cycle of alcohol and drugs depicted. Despite my love for second person narrative it just became difficult to finish and the "happy" ending didn't help. Liked the raw imagery given for everything (made me shudder in disgust) and the variety of characters.

bettyvd's review against another edition

4.0

Net zoals in The Sisters Brothers een bijzondere schrijfstijl. Tegelijk grappig en verschrikkelijk, je moet het maar doen!

ashwednesdayy's review against another edition

dark reflective

4.0

austinstorm's review against another edition

Note: I have stopped giving star reviews, having decided arbitrarily and pretentiously that they are reductionist.

This is a horrible, horrifying novel about an alcoholic bartender, his alcoholic patrons and his life's endless debasements.

The only impressive thing about it is the second person narrative, used very effectively to create an odd distance and a feeling of being underwater the whole time.

Would have quit halfway through, but was able to finish it in one day. I was hoping for redemption, but despite the cheesy TV-grade ending any sort of redemption was too much to ask.

Also, who subtitles their first novel, 'Notes for a Novel'? I call bullshit on that and this whole grimy mess.

Addition: just found out this guy's next got shortlisted for the Booker prize. I say again!

stale_reviews's review against another edition

dark funny reflective 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

4.0