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lvlarly's review
dark
sad
medium-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
3.0
dmwade's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
arcynical's review against another edition
4.0
It was an okay read for me. It baffles me how arrogant the guy is, based on his journal and inner thoughts while writing it. I think it's important to know that he is pathetic in all aspects, who deem himself worthy of better things when really, he doesn't. He was pretentious, self-seeking, and abominable jerk. I honestly get why Bianca would be disgusted by him (even if he had only thought of it that way, I can see Bianca truly just staring at him and thinking nothing of him from the beginning, but in a gradual pace, I can see the disgust later on). I wasn't exactly entertained while reading this, but that's on me. I get how cryptic and disturbing the narrator's thoughts are, but see no specific "oh, this guy could really kill me if he wanted to." he was moreso a "I'll do it to prove to you that I can" which is pathetic. He's the kind of scum I don't want to associate myself with and it's not because he's disturbing or too dark for me, but he's the typical edgelord wannabe. The book goes on about nothing in particular, just the gradual descent of a man's inner thoughts and how it can go from slight to deranged when provoked by minor inconveniences. Again, he's too pathetic and I don't find the entertainment value in reading someone's pretentious and arrogant inner voice. Still, this is an okay read as it deserves the hype for the author's great writing.
bilanm_c's review against another edition
3.0
NOVEMBER 10
"So, earl, another week has ended. You survived, be thankful. The city of San Francisco stinks with vice. Hypocrisy. Theft & Lies. Hail to the hieroglyph, to the sound of tamping boots. Buildings fall, wild screams, the clanking of religious armour. Could anybody suppose He laboured six days to create This! My mother's labor was more profound. Ask. Ask if life's always been like this. Or are we born in an age when the nature of God is changing?"
3.5 This is a rather intense, philosophical novel. Earl is a distant character even in his own words, his own story. I feel as if I know nothing of him and even less about the woman he shares his life with. Much of his diary focuses on the violence and hypocrisy of the world and the United States in particular. Aside from that, the title of the book isn't explicitly expresses or acted out, unless i was missing something.
The remoteness of the characters and Earl's obvious hatred and anger towards women made this a very uncomfortable read. But having experienced feeling of intense loneliness, discontent and disillusion, I love how this was captured and reimagined within someone. I would love this to be a book club read as I believe much can be taken away from it. I would recommend this to anyone!
"So, earl, another week has ended. You survived, be thankful. The city of San Francisco stinks with vice. Hypocrisy. Theft & Lies. Hail to the hieroglyph, to the sound of tamping boots. Buildings fall, wild screams, the clanking of religious armour. Could anybody suppose He laboured six days to create This! My mother's labor was more profound. Ask. Ask if life's always been like this. Or are we born in an age when the nature of God is changing?"
3.5 This is a rather intense, philosophical novel. Earl is a distant character even in his own words, his own story. I feel as if I know nothing of him and even less about the woman he shares his life with. Much of his diary focuses on the violence and hypocrisy of the world and the United States in particular. Aside from that, the title of the book isn't explicitly expresses or acted out, unless i was missing something.
The remoteness of the characters and Earl's obvious hatred and anger towards women made this a very uncomfortable read. But having experienced feeling of intense loneliness, discontent and disillusion, I love how this was captured and reimagined within someone. I would love this to be a book club read as I believe much can be taken away from it. I would recommend this to anyone!
booksandpaiges's review
4.0
this book shook me to my core. wowza. i wanted to throw up, like, most of the time, but the narrator’s slow and steady descent into madness was so….. intriguing. i could probably talk about this book for hours, but i won’t, because i’d prefer to spend some time AWAY from this one for a bit.
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