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21stcenturyfox's review against another edition
2.0
A picture of Montreal, sleazy love triangle in the most factual way, and the sainthood of Catherine Tekakwitha.
This book must've been borne by a heavy use of amphetamines, as a former avid Beat literature reader, I know it when I see it, apologies to Leonard Cohen if I'm wrong. The writing is pretty interesting. It's a book about sex and sainthood with pretty contrasting writing between the topics. It goes from an essay about Montreal, st. Catherine, and indigenous people to sexual and at times frantic tangent.
I didn't expect there'd be many sex scenes. I'm not a prude and it wasn't badly written, but they're not arousing me personally. It WAS written in between the story of a saint who died a virgin, but I felt wetter when I watched that Martin Scorsese Jesus film than reading this book.
It wasn't horrible, but with all due respect, music was the right career path for Leonard Cohen.
This book must've been borne by a heavy use of amphetamines, as a former avid Beat literature reader, I know it when I see it, apologies to Leonard Cohen if I'm wrong. The writing is pretty interesting. It's a book about sex and sainthood with pretty contrasting writing between the topics. It goes from an essay about Montreal, st. Catherine, and indigenous people to sexual and at times frantic tangent.
I didn't expect there'd be many sex scenes. I'm not a prude and it wasn't badly written, but they're not arousing me personally. It WAS written in between the story of a saint who died a virgin, but I felt wetter when I watched that Martin Scorsese Jesus film than reading this book.
It wasn't horrible, but with all due respect, music was the right career path for Leonard Cohen.
keyradiator's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
It's got some amazing lines, but the experimental nature didn't land for me. It's appropriative of Native American culture and history in an ironic way that doesn't land well today, it's sexist and chauvinistic, and the content is overtly sexual where it serves almost no narrative purpose. There's a trigger warning for just about everything too.
I finished it. I don't regret it. I don't recommend it.
I finished it. I don't regret it. I don't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Rape and Sexism
Minor: Child abuse
alanffm's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful Losers is Leonard Cohen's infamous experimental novel from the 60's. At first the novel can leave you feeling lost : The structure is virtually non-existent and the plot hard to follow. However, as with most of Cohen's work, a bit of time and analysis will go far. This book is truly the work of a genius. F, I and Edith are all poster-boys of the postmodern age embodying different aspects youth culture and its ups and downs. With beautiful prose (I'm looking at you "God is Alive") and a wonderful fusing of history and fiction, BL is truly one of the great books of the last century.
ellyj's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
leanne_83's review against another edition
1.0
I absolutely loved Leonard Cohen's first novel, The Favourite Game, but I was extremely disappointed with Beautiful Losers.
I had heard that it was a difficult read due to its experimental form, but that wasn't what I struggled with. I guess I just found it too vulgar, too explicit in its descriptions of sexual acts. I usually don't have a problem reading books with sex scenes, but this book is different. It was a torture to read, the characters weren't even the slightest bit interesting, and the storyline isn't even worth noting about. I felt depressed and sick in the stomach after reading it.
I had heard that it was a difficult read due to its experimental form, but that wasn't what I struggled with. I guess I just found it too vulgar, too explicit in its descriptions of sexual acts. I usually don't have a problem reading books with sex scenes, but this book is different. It was a torture to read, the characters weren't even the slightest bit interesting, and the storyline isn't even worth noting about. I felt depressed and sick in the stomach after reading it.
verminatplay's review against another edition
I don’t know if we can reasonably call any of what those losers did beautiful
wokesquids's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
astridseijas's review against another edition
5.0
Puede que no sea un libro fácil de leer, de hecho, en algunas ocasiones sentía que no estaba entendiendo nada. Pero en otras ocasiones me sentía muy feliz de estar leyéndolo y me parecía que era un libro perfecto, así que eso lo compensa.
Cohen es maravilloso.
"He aquí una súplica basada en toda mi existencia: no seas mago, sé mágico."
"Yo no sé de amor, pero algo como el amor arrancó de mi garganta, con mil anzuelos, las siguentes palabras:
-PORQUE TE NECESITO, F.."
Cohen es maravilloso.
"He aquí una súplica basada en toda mi existencia: no seas mago, sé mágico."
"Yo no sé de amor, pero algo como el amor arrancó de mi garganta, con mil anzuelos, las siguentes palabras:
-PORQUE TE NECESITO, F.."
beatrixhb13's review against another edition
4.0
I spent much (most?) of this book confused. It is really raw, graphic and at times even vulgar. I am not even entirely sure what happened if I am honest but I loved it anyway.