Scan barcode
vulcandropout's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This series did a number on me. It is one of the only novels I have actually been able to read and I enjoyed it so much I overlooked so many things it did not prepare me for when I recently rented an audiobook of it. Jason Pargin uses slurs ALOT. For fun. Racist carcicatures also. This was my favorite book for so long I followed closely for less than a year. Coming across his article complaining about the lack of racial slurs in bioshock infinite ruining the expierence. His reasoning being that it was important for the time period. I dont see the excuse for what he did in this book. I also have only finished this one and the second book a long time ago in which every brown person dies or is dead already. What was the resson? WHt WAS THE REASON? BItch? I have been unphased about his alias choice forawhile but knowing that his alias is how he found out racism exists along with everything else. I have struggled to find any book that could have me react the way I did for so long and somehow my brain not even registering the bad things so I could let it make me happy for a brief period of time. Im just reallly sad and exhausted I was so excited to finally get a copy of this again just to now not have a favorite book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Animal cruelty, Racism, Racial slurs, and Drug abuse
Minor: Ableism
acwhite's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I first read this book around 2010 & had fond memories of the thrilling fever dream it is. So revisiting it in 2022 I was surprised to find my brain had edited out some choice language. I had no recollection of the excessive use of r*tard and occasional drops of the n word and f*g. Some of this language can be attributed to the book starting as a blog in the early 2000s but it still put a slight stain on the reread for me.
I’m rating it so middling for the aforementioned language but also because the pacing was rough. Again I think we can blame the blog origins, the whole business seems like three novellas in a trench coat masquerading as a full novel. But I still came out the end having enjoyed it.
The last third is the strongest part of the book in my opinion, Amy is a crucial character and “David” having a slightly different tone improved things.
I have the whole quartet and do intend to read them all.
I’m rating it so middling for the aforementioned language but also because the pacing was rough. Again I think we can blame the blog origins, the whole business seems like three novellas in a trench coat masquerading as a full novel. But I still came out the end having enjoyed it.
The last third is the strongest part of the book in my opinion, Amy is a crucial character and “David” having a slightly different tone improved things.
I have the whole quartet and do intend to read them all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Animal death, Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Excrement, Gore, Racial slurs, and Drug use
Moderate: Bullying, Car accident, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
More...