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brookejessopx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
isoka's review against another edition
zero plot, and the main character has no personality.
sincerelymendacious's review against another edition
The prose is a bit too much. There's a lot of atmosphere but i don't really want to read 800 pages of confusing, plotless pretty prose
megawhoppingcosmicbookwyrm's review against another edition
I defy anyone to explain to me how this is science fiction OR a classic. Boring, rambling nonsense!
nmanclsaxon's review against another edition
I can’t commit to a book this large and this difficult at the moment.
ramsfan1963's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Honestly, what was this book about? I'm at a total loss, it was too surreal and phasmogorical for me, I never knew what was real or what was in the Kidd's mind. I can't say I enjoyed the book, or would recommend it to anyone else, it's a difficult book to listen to.
deathcabforkatey's review against another edition
Boring and rife with sexist/racist tropes.
meanieinspace's review against another edition
Sometimes I just open this book on a random page and start reading. From this I can only conclude that it's a stand up routine about being an extremely repressed gay guy in the 70s. Like the kind of repressed gay guy that needs to use women in order to let himself enjoy sex with men. It's a neat book.
a1ias's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I find that the most common complaint this book draws from readers is that it’s “too slow”, “too dense”, “too boring”, or any combination of the three. And while I can understand why this is an oft-repeated sentiment (it was quite a challenging book for me to finish, and I loved the hell out of it), it is painfully reductive. As a writer myself, this book revolutionized the way I think about myself, my work, and my relationship with the literary medium. It may be meandering, but it is genius in its plodding gait, each step chosen masterfully to create a dark, psychedelic, and awe-inspiring journey through one of the most fascinating settings i’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, guided along by a strikingly unique cast of characters as they consider almost every societal issue one could possibly imagine. If you’re up for the challenge and think you have the patience for a book as confusing as House of Leaves and nearly as dense as Hegel (excuse my hyperbole), do yourself a favor and experience this labyrinthine masterwork.