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almachr's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
marval100's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book is fabulous. Very inappropriate and raw. Has excellent commentary on how various groups of people are treated and how work takes advantage of people.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Classism, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
shan__reads's review
dark
emotional
funny
sad
fast-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
1.5
Other than a raw portrayal of the mundanity of working life under capitalism, I found this book to be lacking. The main character was utterly unlikeable, and his portrayal of and disdain for women made the book almost unreadable. I appreciated the ability to convey a sense of hopelessness around work which made for an incisive critique of our current system, but other than that, I did not enjoy the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic relationship
talaalkamil's review
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“In the morning it was morning and I was still alive. Maybe I'll write a novel, I thought. And then I did.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Rape
nikwui's review
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.75
This book was such a waste of time, I wouldn’t recommend this to my worst enemy
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, and Animal cruelty
flying_monkey's review
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Post Office / Factotum / Women, same review, as they all pretty much the same sort of thing. Bukowski's alter-ego, Chinaski, drinks, fights, pukes, ogles women, gets a job, does his best to do no work, loses his job, meets a woman (or three), fucks, drinks more, loses his woman etc. etc. They would be unbearably depressing were it not for the fact that Bukowski is such a fluid writer and such a distinctive presence. Not in any way a good or nice person, but raw, emotionally honest (whether or not you believe all the stories, especially when it comes to sex, Bukowski certainly wanted to do all the things described - he's unflinchingly open about straight male sexuality) and unmistakable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Addiction
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