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jsdrown's review against another edition
4.0
This is not easy reading, so if you're looking to be entertained strictly on a surface level, look elsewhere. It's a densely packed piece of literature that shifts narrative style from chapter to chapter. I actually preferred the stream of conscious sections in the novel, because they read like poetry and I found myself reading certain line over when they struck me.
This is simultaneously a book of beauty and hatred. Sometimes I found myself in awe of the descriptions of nature or something like a forge on the page. I would later find myself shocked by the cruel, putrid rage presented at later moments in the book. I plan n giving this one another read one day . I think it would benefit from rereads.
I finished reading this earlier in the year but I've been thinking about it since.
This is simultaneously a book of beauty and hatred. Sometimes I found myself in awe of the descriptions of nature or something like a forge on the page. I would later find myself shocked by the cruel, putrid rage presented at later moments in the book. I plan n giving this one another read one day . I think it would benefit from rereads.
I finished reading this earlier in the year but I've been thinking about it since.
novabird's review against another edition
4.0
“What good was a wall that did not blind and deafen?” Gass effectively tears down any such wall between good and evil. At first he portrays Omensetter and Furber as bearers of these roles and then carefully sets about throwing our understanding of these two polarities into question.
The bulk and middle of the book focuses on a stream of consciousness,’ told mainly through the perspective of Furber. I enjoyed the flow and texture of unusual word combinations and phrasing. However, what I found nauseating was the continual spew of degradation from the mind of Furber and at times, I was overwhelmed by the vileness of the prose so much so that I had to take a break from it. It almost had the sense of disgust that one has when one knows that there is a horrible contagion nearby, with the accompanying sense of fear of ‘catching it,’ or for example, not wanting to live in the house where the murders happened.
The last chapter unravelled the inherent philosophical questions posed: those of luck vs. goodness, and bad intentions vs. actions. Henry’s actions were then understood as an inability to reconcile the relativity of goodness and evil. This was an ‘ah-ha,’ moment for me, when I recognized that the postmodern concept of relativity placed within a historical context deepened my understanding of the longstanding battle between good and evil and this in turn led me to:
Which also resulted in my adding Hayden White’s, ‘The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation,’ to my to-read list.
Almost five.
The bulk and middle of the book focuses on a stream of consciousness,’ told mainly through the perspective of Furber. I enjoyed the flow and texture of unusual word combinations and phrasing. However, what I found nauseating was the continual spew of degradation from the mind of Furber and at times, I was overwhelmed by the vileness of the prose so much so that I had to take a break from it. It almost had the sense of disgust that one has when one knows that there is a horrible contagion nearby, with the accompanying sense of fear of ‘catching it,’ or for example, not wanting to live in the house where the murders happened.
Spoiler
Fortunately, Gass gives us an antidote to Furber’s ranting mind, as it loses its power to influence and becomes increasingly irrational and maddened.The last chapter unravelled the inherent philosophical questions posed: those of luck vs. goodness, and bad intentions vs. actions. Henry’s actions were then understood as an inability to reconcile the relativity of goodness and evil. This was an ‘ah-ha,’ moment for me, when I recognized that the postmodern concept of relativity placed within a historical context deepened my understanding of the longstanding battle between good and evil and this in turn led me to:
Hayden White argued that historical writing mirrors literary writing in many ways, sharing the strong reliance on narrative for meaning, therefore ruling out the possibility for objective or truly scientific history. White has also argued, however, that history is most successful when it embraces this "narrativity", since it is what allows history to be meaningfulWikipedia
Which also resulted in my adding Hayden White’s, ‘The Content of the Form: Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation,’ to my to-read list.
Almost five.
brackettomensetter's review against another edition
5.0
Shockingly good. So good, in fact, I decided to do a review rather than leaving this empty, because I wanted to distinguish it from my other ratings. It has a beautiful prosody, an amazing flow and rhythm that, once you enter into the second section (The Love and Sorrow of Henry Pimber), you get "into" it and the issues of stream of consciousness (namely, that it can be inaccessible) disappear. I once heard someone describe Beckett as electrifying, and I feel that this word captures Omensetter's Luck. I intend to read The Tunnel in the near future.
ericfheiman's review against another edition
4.0
I’d say around 3.5-3.75. It’s a tour de force of conception and style that I appreciate more than I love. (See Beckett’s Watt for a similar sentiment, though I liked this more.) Basically, I wanted a lot more Omensetter and Henry Pimber, and a lot less Reverend Jethro.
josh_paul's review against another edition
3.0
Reverend Furber's sermon near the end of the book sent a chill down my spine, but otherwise I just felt like I was missing the point.
rocketiza's review against another edition
1.0
I'm made three attempts to read this based on the recommendation I received, but just can't stand it. There's not enough payoff for how hard it asks the reader to work.
goroakechi's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
reallivejim's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I suspect I may give this one a higher mark after a re-read one day. Gass is an entrancing, vexing author, and though I'm still relatively new to him, I find his mode and spirit incredibly compelling, while admittedly a fair portion of what I've read of his thus far falls somewhat askew from the mark. As for Omensetter's Luck, this is a work replete with incendiary, memorable passages that build into a fever dream. As many will point out, a considerable portion of the book is borderline incomprehensible, but this is clearly intentional that makes the action itself far greater than the sum of its parts. How much one might enjoy this book inspite of or because of this I suppose is contingent upon one's tolerance for deliberate chaos in tandem with one's capacity for joy on a simple sentence-to-sentence level.
dllh's review against another edition
3.0
I started Gass's The Tunnel a few years ago and stalled. I decided to try Omensetter's Luck as a shorter entre into Gass's work. It's not an easy book. It's often called "impressionistic," and for much of it, I thought it was much like Joyce at his (non-Wake) hardest (but thankfully briefer). I began to doubt my fitness to read such a book. But then it began clicking, and the last half or so goes down more smoothly. It's a book that needs rereading, and it's worth picking up for the afterword if nothing else.