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chillcox15's review
4.0
The Clerk is a deeply misanthropic novel that counterbalances the external decomposition of society with the internal rot of a midlevel functionary who has a fling with a woman in his office, who also happens to be sleeping with their boss. It's basically a cautionary tale of what happens when you sleep with an incel. The main issue I have is that it's told from the incel's perspective, with all the toxic viewpoints found therein. Its not that these awful perspectives shouldn't be written from, but I'm not sure Saccomanno *really* goes in an interesting direction with it, so we get stuck within a chauvinist perspective with no way out for quite a while. 3.5 stars.
marthaweeze's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ricochets's review against another edition
Musste es zurück zur Bücherei geben,
Schreibstil nicht mein Ding
Schreibstil nicht mein Ding
claudia_is_reading's review against another edition
5.0
Bueno, este es un libro no solo difícil de categorizar, sino también de comentar.
Es turbador, deprimente, irónico y poblado de fantasmas del pasado en un futuro? distópico de nuestro país, invadido por perros clonados, bombas y ataques terroristas.
En este paisaje deambula el oficinista; cobarde, mezquino, culpando al universo entero por su infelicidad y regodeandose en su 'amor' por su hijo más débil, el 'viejito'. Aunque ese 'amor' no le impide fantasear con matarlo con el resto de su familia, claro.
Es una historia perturbadora, que te deja pensando y se queda dando vueltas en tu cabeza.
Muy buena.
Es turbador, deprimente, irónico y poblado de fantasmas del pasado en un futuro? distópico de nuestro país, invadido por perros clonados, bombas y ataques terroristas.
En este paisaje deambula el oficinista; cobarde, mezquino, culpando al universo entero por su infelicidad y regodeandose en su 'amor' por su hijo más débil, el 'viejito'. Aunque ese 'amor' no le impide fantasear con matarlo con el resto de su familia, claro.
Es una historia perturbadora, que te deja pensando y se queda dando vueltas en tu cabeza.
Muy buena.
jennahoch's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
zachwerb's review
4.0
more like a 3.5-3.75, but I enjoyed this book. The shortest of Saccomanno's translated novels it is a fun read. The clerk is a pathetic loser, but the world around him is interesting enough for a novel this small.
angel_kiiss's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Saccomanno being likened to Dostoyevsky in the author's blurb should have been a red flag. You read enough about men going crazy, you get really bored of watching their psychological downfall. The protagonist was boring, a little trite too, and the supporting characters were more interesting. The women are othered and far more compelling than any of the men. I would have preferred to read this story from the secretaries point of view.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Ableism, Body shaming, Child death, Classism, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Blood, Domestic abuse, Transphobia, and Child abuse
Minor: Violence, Stalking, War, and Torture
wilsonmj's review
challenging
dark
sad
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
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