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motherofallbats's review against another edition
5.0
Finally got around to starting this series after hearing hype about it for months, and the first entry did not disappoint. I read a lot of odd/gross/explicit stuff, so it takes a lot to leave me feeling a palpable urge to shower after finishing a story, but apparently Gregor Xane is one of those elite few who can induce it.
If I were rating this as a standalone reading experience it would probably be a 4/5 just because it takes longer to really get going than I prefer from a novella-length story. But once it goes off in the third act it GOES OFF. I can't remember the last time a first entry in a series hooked me this hard and left me with so many (good) questions and so hype to read the followup entries, so bumping it up to 5/5 based on that.
If I were rating this as a standalone reading experience it would probably be a 4/5 just because it takes longer to really get going than I prefer from a novella-length story. But once it goes off in the third act it GOES OFF. I can't remember the last time a first entry in a series hooked me this hard and left me with so many (good) questions and so hype to read the followup entries, so bumping it up to 5/5 based on that.
paulataua's review against another edition
2.0
Odd little story in which Marion begins to notice a major increase in tool sheds, domes, and even outhouses being built in the back yards in his neighborhood. From this weird beginning, the only way to go is deeper into a surrealistic world, and the surrealistic world chosen was the one of the fleshy blob. I got lost about half way through and never found my way back in. I'm sure there is an audience out there for this. Don't be put off!
jasonsweirdreads's review against another edition
4.0
Twisted, But In A Good Way
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this. It starts off bleak with characters that seemed a little flat and soulless. As the weirdness progressed and certain elements come forth, I realized that ultimately The Hanover Block is truly about the North American human experience. The characters are rather lifeless for a reason, because they ARE lifeless. Life and the lack of true stimulation, whether intellectual or physical, along with some heartbreak and tragedy has broken them down into hollowed, bored, and somewhat desperate shells.
So what do you do when you find something that makes you feel again? Something that recreates when you first felt lust, when you first truly hungered for sustenance?
More importantly, what the heck is this thing?
Great food for thought. Recommended!
Initially, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this. It starts off bleak with characters that seemed a little flat and soulless. As the weirdness progressed and certain elements come forth, I realized that ultimately The Hanover Block is truly about the North American human experience. The characters are rather lifeless for a reason, because they ARE lifeless. Life and the lack of true stimulation, whether intellectual or physical, along with some heartbreak and tragedy has broken them down into hollowed, bored, and somewhat desperate shells.
So what do you do when you find something that makes you feel again? Something that recreates when you first felt lust, when you first truly hungered for sustenance?
More importantly, what the heck is this thing?
Great food for thought. Recommended!
beloved_paperbacks's review against another edition
4.0
This was a strange read... Creative, yet super weird. I will never be able to look at sheds without thinking of this book!
kilosmom7's review against another edition
3.0
i'm not really sure...even...where to begin???
uh, this was weird. i mean, it started off kind of slow like i don't really understand what's happening here. and then all of a sudden it was like...wtf?
when i first found this book and looked at the thing on the cover i was a little disgusted but like eh it just looks like a big ball of nastiness. and in the end that is exactly what it was but...ooo just read it so you can find out the particulars.
anyway, i guess i liked this?? i won't be reading anymore about this weird phenomena but i don't regret picking this one up. i just wish that there would have been a little more added to the end. but, as cliff hangers often do, they left me with little to go on.
Did Buddy do something he shouldn't have? or did he pack up and run with Trevor? I don't know but...weird. all of it.
decent read though. like i said, i wont be going after the other books but i enjoyed this.
uh, this was weird. i mean, it started off kind of slow like i don't really understand what's happening here. and then all of a sudden it was like...wtf?
when i first found this book and looked at the thing on the cover i was a little disgusted but like eh it just looks like a big ball of nastiness. and in the end that is exactly what it was but...ooo just read it so you can find out the particulars.
anyway, i guess i liked this?? i won't be reading anymore about this weird phenomena but i don't regret picking this one up. i just wish that there would have been a little more added to the end. but, as cliff hangers often do, they left me with little to go on.
Did Buddy do something he shouldn't have? or did he pack up and run with Trevor? I don't know but...weird. all of it.
decent read though. like i said, i wont be going after the other books but i enjoyed this.
johhnnyinla's review against another edition
4.0
strange fleshy desires
Short science fiction story… leaves more questions than answers… strange but interesting enough to keep me engaged. Adult sexual themes of the male kind…
I only recently discovered it through a random booktuber's post that was one (1) year old. What made me decide to read it? That's easy, that weird thing on the front cover. Describing what the heck that thing is on the front cover will ruin the story. It's best for you to start the book knowing nothing about it. There is definitely a bizarro genius mindset at work here. I gravitate mostly to science fiction, and there's enough of it here, and this was funny in a seriously warped kind of way.
If you're wondering, Bizarro Fiction is a genre that often uses absurdism, satire, and grotesque elements to create subversive, weird, and entertaining fiction. That describes the Hanover Block perfectly, so approach with an open mind.
And if you need some **SPOILERS** to convince you to pick up the book, the basic premise is those weird fleshy things appear in backyards. Men who encounter them are compelled to stick their penises in them and do nasty things.
Short science fiction story… leaves more questions than answers… strange but interesting enough to keep me engaged. Adult sexual themes of the male kind…
I only recently discovered it through a random booktuber's post that was one (1) year old. What made me decide to read it? That's easy, that weird thing on the front cover. Describing what the heck that thing is on the front cover will ruin the story. It's best for you to start the book knowing nothing about it. There is definitely a bizarro genius mindset at work here. I gravitate mostly to science fiction, and there's enough of it here, and this was funny in a seriously warped kind of way.
If you're wondering, Bizarro Fiction is a genre that often uses absurdism, satire, and grotesque elements to create subversive, weird, and entertaining fiction. That describes the Hanover Block perfectly, so approach with an open mind.
And if you need some **SPOILERS** to convince you to pick up the book, the basic premise is those weird fleshy things appear in backyards. Men who encounter them are compelled to stick their penises in them and do nasty things.
wpsmith17's review against another edition
5.0
I remember reading Gregor Xane's short story "The Ugly Tree," in the anthology, In Darkness, Delight. I found it to be the best of the bunch. And this is even better.
I loved The Hanover Block and devoured it in a night. Everything from the realistic characters stagnating in their own isolation, to the twists and turns of the "invasion." It was just so clever; so seemingly effortless. In a lot of ways, it kind of reminded me of "Universal Harvester" and the slice of life narration, which was something that really vibed with me. I'm excited to continue the story with the next set of installments. Gregor Xane is just a fun author to read and I expect he will soon have quite a following.
I loved The Hanover Block and devoured it in a night. Everything from the realistic characters stagnating in their own isolation, to the twists and turns of the "invasion." It was just so clever; so seemingly effortless. In a lot of ways, it kind of reminded me of "Universal Harvester" and the slice of life narration, which was something that really vibed with me. I'm excited to continue the story with the next set of installments. Gregor Xane is just a fun author to read and I expect he will soon have quite a following.
judetheunbeliever's review against another edition
dark
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
3.5
mrfrank's review against another edition
4.0
I stepped into the neighborhood of Gregor Xane's THE HANOVER BLOCK and had a pleasant visit. The cover of the book mirrors the experience reading the book. You don't know what to make of it but you are drawn to it, there's just something about it that's scary and gorgeous at the same time.
On the outset the story is pretty straight forward. There is a guy having a nighttime with life. Then the guy starts noticing weird things on his walk home from work. And then the weirdness comes to his house and offers him a distraction from his miserable life.
THE HANOVER BLOCK contains just the right amount of weird for a novice to weird fiction to enjoy while also being interesting enough to hold the attention of an old hat who reads weird tales. A curious tale that is sure to drive you to the next book in the series. I can't wait to visit the neighborhood again soon.
On the outset the story is pretty straight forward. There is a guy having a nighttime with life. Then the guy starts noticing weird things on his walk home from work. And then the weirdness comes to his house and offers him a distraction from his miserable life.
THE HANOVER BLOCK contains just the right amount of weird for a novice to weird fiction to enjoy while also being interesting enough to hold the attention of an old hat who reads weird tales. A curious tale that is sure to drive you to the next book in the series. I can't wait to visit the neighborhood again soon.