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shane_tiernan's review against another edition
2.0
I've enjoyed a bunch of Morrow's short stories, but this one was just okay for me (probably 2.5 stars). Still really witty and funny, but then there was suddenly this really dark part about the PLA, gang rapes and torture. I'm not sure if Morrow was being political, trying to make readers aware of these atrocities or if it was there for some other reason, but it really brought me out of the "comedy headspace" that the story was putting me in. The premise of the story was creative and hilarious.
Also of note, this is the second e-book I've ever read. So it looks like this is going to be a thing now, after putting it off for many years. I mean I'm still reading regular books but I'll keep reading e-books too.
Also of note, this is the second e-book I've ever read. So it looks like this is going to be a thing now, after putting it off for many years. I mean I'm still reading regular books but I'll keep reading e-books too.
pine_wulf's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I didn't actually care so much for the yeti's lessons with the Dalai Lama. They dragged a bit. Probably compounded by my near complete ignorance of Buddhism. I also don't know if being able to get some of the James Bonds references would have helped. Because the ones I did get, I didn't find funny.
What I did like was the Dalai Lama's half-brother and his obsession with blowing up the bridge and killing the soldiers and feeding the train to the river and the Dalai Lama's long-suffering attitude to it. I wasn't really sure how this story was going to resolve, since there isn't much plot, but it did a good job of it in the end. And despite appearances, the yeti learned something after all.
What I did like was the Dalai Lama's half-brother and his obsession with blowing up the bridge and killing the soldiers and feeding the train to the river and the Dalai Lama's long-suffering attitude to it. I wasn't really sure how this story was going to resolve, since there isn't much plot, but it did a good job of it in the end. And despite appearances, the yeti learned something after all.
arensb's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
If you've read Morrow before, you know to expect a mix of intellectualism and goofiness, and this one doesn't disappoint: a yeti meets the current incarnation of the Dalai Lama to teach him Buddhism, which he does, as they bond over a shared love of James Bond movies.
sebgoll's review against another edition
informative
reflective
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? Yes
2.5
verkisto's review against another edition
3.0
I go into some of Morrow's works knowing I'm not going to get all of it, but most of this short story (novella?) went over my head. The story is pretty much what you would expect based on the title -- Bigfoot decides to find more meaning in his life by pursuing Buddhism. His friend the Dalai Lama gives him certain tasks to complete to raise his consciousness, but he's still Bigfoot, so that goes about as well as one would expect.
The story has the sense of humor, depth, and wisdom one would expect if you're already familiar with Morrow's work. I just don't have much interest in Buddhism for it to keep my interest, and I found myself glazing over long portions of the story. Maybe that's Morrow's point, that Buddhism won't work for people who don't accept it, but it felt like a much longer work than it was (43 pages) because I kept checking out.
This might be best read by people who have an understanding of Buddhism, as they may better appreciate the disconnect between the meditative practices and a Bigfoot attempting to follow them. Me, I was looking for something closer to Shambling Towards Hiroshima or The Madonna and the Starship, where I better understood the satire because I understood the real world events that carried the satire.
The story has the sense of humor, depth, and wisdom one would expect if you're already familiar with Morrow's work. I just don't have much interest in Buddhism for it to keep my interest, and I found myself glazing over long portions of the story. Maybe that's Morrow's point, that Buddhism won't work for people who don't accept it, but it felt like a much longer work than it was (43 pages) because I kept checking out.
This might be best read by people who have an understanding of Buddhism, as they may better appreciate the disconnect between the meditative practices and a Bigfoot attempting to follow them. Me, I was looking for something closer to Shambling Towards Hiroshima or The Madonna and the Starship, where I better understood the satire because I understood the real world events that carried the satire.
cgoiris's review against another edition
1.0
This short story manages to clash with itself in every way possible, and not in a good way. Trying to explore philosophical concepts, political happenings and human suffering through bad comedy and James Bond references just doesn't do it for me, the whiplash of going from jokes to stories of the worst possible forms of human torture back to jokes. I wouldn't have finished this if it hadn't been so short, but now I can safely say that neither journey nor conclusion were worth my time or money.
braunmagrin's review against another edition
4.0
Fun read and interesting idea.
It's really interesting to see the thoughts of a brain eating yeti as he tries to grasp and follow buddhist practices. He absorbs something from each brain he consumes, so it's cool to see that the vocabulary and writing style matches someone who is well educated and eloquent, or at least, has consumed the brain of several educated people throughout his life.
It's really interesting to see the thoughts of a brain eating yeti as he tries to grasp and follow buddhist practices. He absorbs something from each brain he consumes, so it's cool to see that the vocabulary and writing style matches someone who is well educated and eloquent, or at least, has consumed the brain of several educated people throughout his life.