Reviews

Big Machine by Victor LaValle

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I can say with confidence that this book is unlike anything I have ever read before. Typically when reviewing a book I can list off a whole slough of others it reminded me of, but Big Machine is unique and stands in a league of its own.

Cults, angels, voices, drug addiction, mass murderers. It's not what I usually read, and you rarely find all these topics in one book. The best part isn't the subject matter, though, it's the incredible voice Victor LaValle has crafted in Ricky Rice. It's funny, it's compelling, it's honest, it's raw. The characters in this book and the plot were both so riveting that I rocketed through this novel.

I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes suspense and weird shit.

zre_rodri's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

judestf's review against another edition

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3.0

i liked the first half, but after that it took a turn that wasn’t really my cup of tea. i loved the writing and the characters tho!

snorlaxative's review

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

deterra's review

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I usually don't like first person (and the other two LaValle books I've read were written in third person) so I was slightly put off by its use at the beginning. However, I got over myself quickly to find a dreamlike, fairy-tale-esque story absolutely roiling with life and fantasy and a touch of horror that I've come to expect from LaValle. I thought the premise was totally goddamn nuts and that was a bit hard to wrap my head around, because I felt that it was just a TAD too far removed from reality. It never quite grounded itself solidly in any kind of sense, but I grew to like that by the end.
The ending was one of my absolute favorite parts of the entire novel, alongside the flashbacks to the cult the narrator grew up in. These are the moments in which LaValle really shines. I liked this book.

balsamfir's review

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adventurous reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

casperzed's review against another edition

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dark funny mysterious medium-paced

5.0

katepowellshine's review

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4.0

Compelling. I could not put this book down, even when I think I truly wanted to.

Now and then I got annoyed at what felt preachy or heavy-handed, only to realize the book itself is about the dangers of blindly following. I think. I'm actually not sure. After so many twists, so many characters who aren't what they seem, in the end, the reader IS finally given something to trust and believe in. Maybe.

I also give extra credit for featuring such an insecure narrator. I can relate.