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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.
frankiecully's review against another edition
1.0
Did not enjoy this book at all. Finished it however I had to drag myself back to it to keep going.
trashmaestro's review against another edition
4.0
“I threaten to end Hollywood if I do not receive instantaneous ghost love, not merely incorrupt but overwhelmingly fragrant. I'm going to end Movies if I don't feel better very soon. I will destroy your neighborhood theater in the near future.“
lesleynr's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, but I only made it half way through... then I got bored. I guess I'm just dedicated to loving Leonard Cohen. Borrow, don't buy.
beetree's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know what the hell to say about this book. So I'll talk about the feelings. Sometimes, I had to shut it because it was too nauseating. Sometimes I thought it was delicious, and disgusting. Sometimes my thoughts ran in parallel with it. At one point I declared that it was the best book in all the world because it just felt...so good.
I'll try to break it down. This was by far the strangest and most uninhibited thing that I have ever read. I felt as though I had never read a book before. Cohen wrote it when he was severely, severely depressed. Severely depressed. And I'll say it again. He was severely depressed. There's no point in trying to understand the ins and outs of the whole thing, because I just don't think you're supposed to. I'll copy-paste what it says on the back anyway...
"One of the best-known experimental novels of the 1960s, Beautiful Losers is Cohen's most defiant and uninhibited work. The novel centres upon the hapless members of a love triangle united by their sexual obsessions and by their fascination with Catherine Tekakwitha, the 17th-century Mohawk saint.
By turns vulgar, rhapsodic, and viciously witty, Beautiful Losers explores each character's attainment of a state of self-abandonment, in which the sensualist cannot be distinguished from the saint."
I don't usually talk books over with my mom, but I did this time, after I told her it was the best book ever, and she believes it's a love-hate. There's pretty much no in between. For her it was more of a hate, she is glad she read it but she has no desire to ever again. For me it was a love. I think any strong reaction is a good one; is book is provocative beyond anything I've ever seen or read. But not for the faint of heart.
I'll try to break it down. This was by far the strangest and most uninhibited thing that I have ever read. I felt as though I had never read a book before. Cohen wrote it when he was severely, severely depressed. Severely depressed. And I'll say it again. He was severely depressed. There's no point in trying to understand the ins and outs of the whole thing, because I just don't think you're supposed to. I'll copy-paste what it says on the back anyway...
"One of the best-known experimental novels of the 1960s, Beautiful Losers is Cohen's most defiant and uninhibited work. The novel centres upon the hapless members of a love triangle united by their sexual obsessions and by their fascination with Catherine Tekakwitha, the 17th-century Mohawk saint.
By turns vulgar, rhapsodic, and viciously witty, Beautiful Losers explores each character's attainment of a state of self-abandonment, in which the sensualist cannot be distinguished from the saint."
I don't usually talk books over with my mom, but I did this time, after I told her it was the best book ever, and she believes it's a love-hate. There's pretty much no in between. For her it was more of a hate, she is glad she read it but she has no desire to ever again. For me it was a love. I think any strong reaction is a good one; is book is provocative beyond anything I've ever seen or read. But not for the faint of heart.
foucvnt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
kesogago's review against another edition
5.0
I can't defend this book neither to myself, nor to you.
Read if you don't want to judge, read like Tarantino plots. On a mental level. Absorb the words, enjoy the ride.
Read if you don't want to judge, read like Tarantino plots. On a mental level. Absorb the words, enjoy the ride.
vvnobook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
What a ride! Cohen greatly captured the notion of history as the present and the present as history. This work was avant garde for its time. It tackles colonialism, sexual deviance, heteronormativity and so many other themes. Be ready for some weird shit. "I"'s descent into grief and madness sorrounding his research on the A--- is mesmerizing and it is all the more interesting since Cohen managed to weave in the turmoil of the 60s in Quebec. You can't help but to love to hate F and Edith as their story sends the narrator in an even greater spiral. I also found endearing how both men were not stereotypes of masculinity but they were rather really really flawed men. My only complaint with the book is, as a postmodernist text, it is sometimes though to follow and the stream of consciousness can be hard to read if you are not used to the style.