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kutreen's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
About a child who thinks he's a man who deserves love if he tries hard enough. He becomes obsessive about a girl immediately. I was anxiously glued to the page, curious about how he would take it further and how the girl would figure out his intentions and get him to back off. I liked the girl a lot, but found her reactions to him (although very intelligent) underwhelming, because she could tell immediately that he was no good. I wish her character was developed further. She was capable of adding much more to the story. I don't think she was given enough credit. To the informed/female reader, the dark ending which was supposed to be a climax was not surprising and just disappointing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape
cola410's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Stalking
moonbeammckenna's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eeeeUUUGHGHHWWWWEEEEEEE this book made me feel disgusting inside.
it blew boy parts and my year of rest and relaxation out of the water in terms of unreliable narrator
the similarities to Caroline Kepnes' book You are uncanny, though in my opinion this book was much better at exploring the main character as a narcissist, and also class, status, gender politics, and desire.
the one thing is with both of Wayne's books so far, I was able to piece together A Point, a reason he wrote the book, a piece of his little writer's soul in the main character, and I couldn't quite grasp that in this one. there are suggestions scattered around the pages (aforementioned class, gender politics, etc) and I am almost certain I missed it because I was too busy being repulsed by David Federman. I suppose the sake of exploring the brain of someone repulsive would be reason enough, for the mirror this book holds up can't -- and shouldn't -- be ignored.
nevertheless it was wonderfully written and I kinda loved it.
Please check trigger warnings, loves.
it blew boy parts and my year of rest and relaxation out of the water in terms of unreliable narrator
the similarities to Caroline Kepnes' book You are uncanny, though in my opinion this book was much better at exploring the main character as a narcissist, and also class, status, gender politics, and desire.
the one thing is with both of Wayne's books so far, I was able to piece together A Point, a reason he wrote the book, a piece of his little writer's soul in the main character, and I couldn't quite grasp that in this one. there are suggestions scattered around the pages (aforementioned class, gender politics, etc) and I am almost certain I missed it because I was too busy being repulsed by David Federman. I suppose the sake of exploring the brain of someone repulsive would be reason enough, for the mirror this book holds up can't -- and shouldn't -- be ignored.
nevertheless it was wonderfully written and I kinda loved it.
Please check trigger warnings, loves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual violence
kurdt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
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
4.0
American Psycho: The College Years
Deeply unsettling but brilliantly written account of a Harvard freshman, an unpopular loser in high school, who becomes infatuated with a fellow freshman named Veronica. What initially seems harmless quickly becomes a chilling look at toxic masculinity, male entitlement, obsession, narcissism, and manipulation.
Deeply unsettling but brilliantly written account of a Harvard freshman, an unpopular loser in high school, who becomes infatuated with a fellow freshman named Veronica. What initially seems harmless quickly becomes a chilling look at toxic masculinity, male entitlement, obsession, narcissism, and manipulation.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Rape
Minor: Homophobia
moneyispizza's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Stalking
Moderate: Drug use, Alcohol, and Bullying
liahopkins's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
5.0
Loner tells the dark, gruesome story of an unpopular, but academically gifted and socially ambitious teenage boy who becomes obsessed with a fellow student at Harvard University. It is unsettling, disturbing and twisted, but so captivating. I normally find myself not being drawn to novels with unlikable main characters, but still I couldn't put down this one. In the beginning, there were some instances where you could relate to David, like him planning ahead in every conversation and trying so hard to be accepted by the more popular students; but throughout the story, his sociopathic, obsessive tendencies come to light more and more. Having him as a narrator is very intriguing, because he is so unreliable: as a reader, you are struck by the way he so obviously misinterprets and overanalyses Veronica's every move, but David is so self-absorbed and supercilious that he just cannot understand.
When I was starting to read the book, I was scared that the protagonist would be glorified too much (how it is sometimes done with the "sociopathic dark character"), but that's definitely not the case here. You don't root for David, and sometimes I wanted to get into the book, slap him in the face and tell him to TAKE THE GODDAMN HINT.
Overall, Loner was a very good read, even though I didn't love it in the same way I loved some other novels. That's also why I hesitated to give 5 stars, but the writing in the book is just too good and captivating and the whole story definitely left a long-lasting impression on me.
When I was starting to read the book, I was scared that the protagonist would be glorified too much (how it is sometimes done with the "sociopathic dark character"), but that's definitely not the case here. You don't root for David, and sometimes I wanted to get into the book, slap him in the face and tell him to TAKE THE GODDAMN HINT.
Overall, Loner was a very good read, even though I didn't love it in the same way I loved some other novels. That's also why I hesitated to give 5 stars, but the writing in the book is just too good and captivating and the whole story definitely left a long-lasting impression on me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Stalking, Sexual content, and Rape
Moderate: Drug use and Bullying
ladylucy's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Stalking
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