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jessicapeach's review
dark
slow-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
1.0
westonheartswords's review
3.0
Although James Franco obviously cares about writing and about fiction as a literary form, Palo Alto didn't exactly blow me away. Stylistically, I do very much like these stories, and the voice and tone Franco is able to adopt in them. However, that voice is one that occasionally sounds like it's TRYING to be transgressive, and in terms of the thematic questions Franco takes up, I feel very much the same way. And, in the end, there was only one or two or three stories that I still occasionally revisit today (nearly two years after my first read). All said, though, this collection has actually proved to be be a significant (if subtle and oftentimes unnoticed) influence on my own approach to writing, both fiction and poetry. That's certainly worth a 3/5.
bookswithshayydeniece's review
5.0
People really seem to hate this book. Mostly because it's about fucked up teenagers who have sex, do drugs, and drink alcohol at parties...
Uhm hello people! Do you know who James Franco is??? If so then the topics and way of writing in this book would not surprise or upset you! I expected nothing less from Franco, and I have to say I absolutely loved these stories as fucked up as you may find them to be. Because if you know and understand Franco you know that this is what he does. He is fucked up and hilarious!
Uhm hello people! Do you know who James Franco is??? If so then the topics and way of writing in this book would not surprise or upset you! I expected nothing less from Franco, and I have to say I absolutely loved these stories as fucked up as you may find them to be. Because if you know and understand Franco you know that this is what he does. He is fucked up and hilarious!
takecouragelover's review
3.0
3.5
I loved the realism.
The writing isn't my favourite but it was diverse from what I've read so far.
The characters were shown not for their good sides but for all of their flaws.
Which is important and what made me have a strong liking for this book.
I loved the realism.
The writing isn't my favourite but it was diverse from what I've read so far.
The characters were shown not for their good sides but for all of their flaws.
Which is important and what made me have a strong liking for this book.
sofiemk's review
2.0
The book was ok, but I couldn't finish it. I though the book was boring and lacked a good plot. Not awful, but I would not recomend it.
liamdrane's review
2.0
I wanted to like this, however Franco can't write even when trying to riff off of Hubert Selby Jr. His characters were all unlikeable to the point that I only kept on reading to see if they ended up getting their comeuppance. Sadly not.
todayimreading's review
2.0
It was bad. Good enough to finish because I had already started it, but like, it was bad.
creeklover's review
5.0
I want to have a copy of my own to reread and then reread again. lovely and in love with the biting cruelty, of the characters lives and their utterly real actions.