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clairoxygene's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danni_faith's review against another edition
5.0
For the first half of the book, I kept thinking that I had enjoyed Tram 83 more than what I was enjoying this book, but upon finishing this novel I believe both are equally strong and important works.
The literary references in the last 50 pages just keep coming, and Mabanckou uses them to critique French, South American, and American literary imagination while at the same time criticizing his own motivations as a writer and somewhat cultural recorder.
This novel is stunningly brillant! The humor is laugh-out-loud funny of the intellectual variety. I cannot believe how short this was. I certainly will read more from him.
The literary references in the last 50 pages just keep coming, and Mabanckou uses them to critique French, South American, and American literary imagination while at the same time criticizing his own motivations as a writer and somewhat cultural recorder.
This novel is stunningly brillant! The humor is laugh-out-loud funny of the intellectual variety. I cannot believe how short this was. I certainly will read more from him.
bent's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't like this book. I enjoyed the first story, but after that, I didn't like the narrator, I didn't like any of the stories he related, I didn't like the style in which the book was written. I would probably have abandoned this book early on, but I was reading it for my book club so I felt obligated to finish it. It was a short book, but it felt long. I don't recommend it.
lenacamci's review against another edition
2.0
Mabanckou est un écrivain plein de talents: la plume qu'il prête à son personnage est pleine de second degré, de culture et se lit comme un courant de pensées. S'il excelle dans la forme, j'ai beaucoup plus de mal avec le fond. Dans ce livre, un pilier de bar rempli un cahier des anecdotes que lui raconte ses voisins, à la demande du propriétaire du bar mais je cherche encore l'intérêt des histoires racontées... Des aventures malheureuses et invraisemblables, qui me donnait juste envie d'arrêter de lire. Il n'y a pas de morale, d'humour (à mon goût) et les sujets abordés sont juste déplaisants.
sofiasko's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mellon89's review against another edition
3.0
We read Verre Cassé for the Francophone literature class, and it led to a very interesting discussion. The writing style is very different, and makes me want to read more of his works.
esquiredtoread's review against another edition
1.0
Republic of the Congo
I did not like this one. Writing style wasn't for me at all.
I did not like this one. Writing style wasn't for me at all.
_nat_con_'s review against another edition
dark
funny
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