Scan barcode
karieh13's review against another edition
2.0
True, I’ve only read one other of Chuck Palahniuk’s books – “Haunted” – which I liked – but maybe I am just not the right audience for this story. Because? I am not at all sure what this book was about.
Wait – I don’t mean that exactly… I guess I mean that I am not sure what the author was trying to do here – what the point of the book was. If it was something along the lines of “Hollywood is superficial and it’s all about names and brands” – well – I think I got that point VERY early on. But that doesn’t explain why the book keeps going.
This story of a Hollywood actress and the woman who stands behind her belabors most of its points. “Beyond her first few words, Lillian’s talk becomes one of those jungle sound tracks one hears looping in the background of every Tarzan film, just tropical birds and Johnny Weissmuller and howler monkeys repeating. Bark, bark, screech…Emerald Cunard. Bark, growl, screech…”
And this narrative device, introduced on page 3, is still being used on page 178. My copy of the book – has 179 pages.
I shouldn’t go on – again – maybe I just didn’t get it. But there were flashes of what I think have earned Palahniuk his devoted following that made me wonder what this story could have been:
“Imagine every compliment you’ve ever received, made manifest, etched into metal or stone and filling your home. That terrible accumulating burden of your Dedication and Talent, your Contributions and Achievements, forgotten by everyone except yourself. Katherine Kenton, the Great Humanitarian.”
But maybe my feelings are best expressed by the author himself: “The priceless diamond itself lost in this heap of so many worthless, dazzling glass shards.”
Wait – I don’t mean that exactly… I guess I mean that I am not sure what the author was trying to do here – what the point of the book was. If it was something along the lines of “Hollywood is superficial and it’s all about names and brands” – well – I think I got that point VERY early on. But that doesn’t explain why the book keeps going.
This story of a Hollywood actress and the woman who stands behind her belabors most of its points. “Beyond her first few words, Lillian’s talk becomes one of those jungle sound tracks one hears looping in the background of every Tarzan film, just tropical birds and Johnny Weissmuller and howler monkeys repeating. Bark, bark, screech…Emerald Cunard. Bark, growl, screech…”
And this narrative device, introduced on page 3, is still being used on page 178. My copy of the book – has 179 pages.
I shouldn’t go on – again – maybe I just didn’t get it. But there were flashes of what I think have earned Palahniuk his devoted following that made me wonder what this story could have been:
“Imagine every compliment you’ve ever received, made manifest, etched into metal or stone and filling your home. That terrible accumulating burden of your Dedication and Talent, your Contributions and Achievements, forgotten by everyone except yourself. Katherine Kenton, the Great Humanitarian.”
But maybe my feelings are best expressed by the author himself: “The priceless diamond itself lost in this heap of so many worthless, dazzling glass shards.”
pati_c's review against another edition
2.0
Que decepção... Não vou dizer que sou fã número 1 do autor, mas gostei bastante de alguns dos livros anteriores (Fight Club é o meu favorito; Haunted é engraçado e dark; Snuff é ok e Invisible Monsters passável), porém este livro foi uma surpresa. No pior sentido da palavra.
Escrito como script de filme, com nomes e marcas em boldface (que idéia!), a narradora, que é uma espécie de secretária/criada, conta a vida de sua patroa, uma famosa atriz de Hollywood em decadência, e tudo que as cerca: traições, casamentos, divórcios, blablabla.
Personagens batidos e flats, tópico vazio e sem graça, trama previsível, enfim, aquele tipo de livro que faz você se perguntar: 1) “cadê o editor desta joça?”, para rapidamente levar as mãos a cabeça em desespero e 2) “o que estou fazendo lendo isto?” Eu já coloquei de lado, pois embora não tenha me custado nada (peguei na biblioteca), meu tempo não esta para ser gasto em asneira.
Escrito como script de filme, com nomes e marcas em boldface (que idéia!), a narradora, que é uma espécie de secretária/criada, conta a vida de sua patroa, uma famosa atriz de Hollywood em decadência, e tudo que as cerca: traições, casamentos, divórcios, blablabla.
Personagens batidos e flats, tópico vazio e sem graça, trama previsível, enfim, aquele tipo de livro que faz você se perguntar: 1) “cadê o editor desta joça?”, para rapidamente levar as mãos a cabeça em desespero e 2) “o que estou fazendo lendo isto?” Eu já coloquei de lado, pois embora não tenha me custado nada (peguei na biblioteca), meu tempo não esta para ser gasto em asneira.
soulpopped's review against another edition
4.0
Sure, I saw the twist coming. And yes, maybe I'm swayed by the fact that I went to a release for this book. Regardless, though, while it doesn't match up with his better works, Tell-All far outshines his other more recent novels -- Pygmy, Snuff and Haunted all fall in comparison. I enjoyed the story, and you will, too.
teacupandsaucer's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
3.0
navmannya's review against another edition
4.0
Чудова сатира, за яку не можна не любити Чака Поланіка. Театр, кіно і реальність переплітаються так тісно, що читачу важко знайти між ними межу. Та краще сприймати картинку цілісно, інакше можна ще більше заплутатися. Захоплива історія любові та ненависті, вірності й зради, дружби та суперництва з купою літературних, історичних та кінематографічних алюзій не без висміювання споживацького суспільства.
Та не все так гладко. Через велику кількість постатей англійської та американської літератури, а також голлівудських імен книга дається іноземному читачу трохи складно, а на перших 20-30 сторінках захочеться її покинути. Не варто. Закінчення не розчарує.
Та не все так гладко. Через велику кількість постатей англійської та американської літератури, а також голлівудських імен книга дається іноземному читачу трохи складно, а на перших 20-30 сторінках захочеться її покинути. Не варто. Закінчення не розчарує.
doty91's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
dajna's review against another edition
3.0
Ma... di solito i suoi libri mi coinvolgono dalle primissime pagine e non mi lasciano fino alla fine. Con questo ho fatto un po' fatica, mi sono sentita obbligata a leggere fino ad almeno un quarto della storia prima di essere presa. Ed è solo nell'ultimo quarto che mi sono sentita affascinata come di solito.
Forse perché non conosco quasi nessuno dei nomi citati? In ogni caso non credo lo rileggerò, come voglio fare con gli altri. Tre stelle perché è uno dei miei autori preferiti, ma se fosse stato il suo primo romanzo da me letto non mi avrebbe affatto invogliato ad andare a leggerne altri.
Forse perché non conosco quasi nessuno dei nomi citati? In ogni caso non credo lo rileggerò, come voglio fare con gli altri. Tre stelle perché è uno dei miei autori preferiti, ma se fosse stato il suo primo romanzo da me letto non mi avrebbe affatto invogliato ad andare a leggerne altri.
exteenawreads's review against another edition
4.0
Although not my favorite of Palahniuk's books, I still enjoyed reading Tell-All. It is probably the only one of his books that I guessed the ending so far, which took some of the fun out of his writing. Nevertheless, it was still an entertaining summer read.
sandrahuber's review
4.0
I haven't read all of Palahniuk's books, but i am a big fan of his books. I liked the character development in this book. I've read other Palahniuk books were i was more impressed with the character development, such as Rant, but in this one i thought it was well done with the discovery and information set aside for each character. I loved how more information came out about her brother the more interesting i got. I wouldn't to hear more and more about her character that i couldn't put the book down. I thought it was creative to have the main characters name come out at the end. It made it all seem more sentimental and had you wondering until the last page. A good page turner and story, Nothing short of a Palahniuk tail.