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erika023's review
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
There’s nice little lines in there but I hate gross and overly flawed characters that absolutely do not develop over the course of the story
bellasgonemissing's review
5.0
I can't even really explain why I loved this book so much. it's just that Dunn's writing is the exact kind i love, she has an absolute mastery of language and her writing feels so intentional and satisfying. her characters are full and real and unique and some things that would normally bother me (a lot of long descriptions of things that have already happened, women having breakdowns to do with men) she just did with so much care and genuineness that they felt really necessary. i'm also impressed by the editor, naomi huffman's, ability to make the two perspectives and different time periods feel so cohesive, yet disorienting in a way that really brought the whole book together. will definitely be reading more of Dunn's work.
wackycoolcat's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
caroisreading's review
I don't think I'm in the mindset for this book. It's incredibly depressing, and doesn't hold back on describing terrible, filthy people. The writing has its own personal style and eloquence, but I just can't get into it right now.
0802kelley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book was very interesting to me. As someone with a Bachelors in Creative Writing and Literature, this read like something that I would read for class-- that is to say, it makes you think about the process of writing, of humanity, of mental illness. This was a very different read for me and I have MANY trigger warnings that I will list. But overall, this book is gritty, dirty, at times absolutely disgusting. It shows the lives of those who want to live more freely, but also are under capitalism. Can I say I "enjoyed it" per say? Not really, but its not a book that I believe is meant to be "enjoyed" I did however feel like I got a peak into a life that I never would have seen and I feel different because of it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Body shaming, and Self harm
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Violence
Minor: Child death
fschulenberg's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
AGH- really weird. This hook hopped around a LOT which didn’t really work as well as it could have. Really bizarre plot that is well written but not entirely direct or comprehensible.
windbreak's review
3.25
gross and initially very funny but HARD for me to follow - but i think this is the first time ive hated a pretty likeable character
wildgurl's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Toad
by: Katherine Dunn
2022
Farrar Straus
3.6 stars
Previously unpublished, this is a loosely told fictionalized version of Dunn's time as a student at Reed College in the late 1960's. The story of Sally Gunnar, a strange reclusive women who spends her days alone, at home. Her only friends or companions are a vase of goldfish, a garden toad, and door to door salesmen.
Sally broods over her regrets, her inability to ever feel good in her own body, and having never find that great romance. Sally observes others lives: Carlotta, a free spirit with a troubled nature; Rennel- self-avsorbed philosophy student; and the tragedy that tore their friendship apart.
Strange, bizarre and daring, Sally is easy to like. She's different, she reminds you of someone you use to know. Her complexity is crass and convoluted. The fresh writing reminds why I am such a fan of Katnerine Dunn. Her characters and quirky worlds are inviting, and somehow always seem familiar.
Good read. A fun wild story.
by: Katherine Dunn
2022
Farrar Straus
3.6 stars
Previously unpublished, this is a loosely told fictionalized version of Dunn's time as a student at Reed College in the late 1960's. The story of Sally Gunnar, a strange reclusive women who spends her days alone, at home. Her only friends or companions are a vase of goldfish, a garden toad, and door to door salesmen.
Sally broods over her regrets, her inability to ever feel good in her own body, and having never find that great romance. Sally observes others lives: Carlotta, a free spirit with a troubled nature; Rennel- self-avsorbed philosophy student; and the tragedy that tore their friendship apart.
Strange, bizarre and daring, Sally is easy to like. She's different, she reminds you of someone you use to know. Her complexity is crass and convoluted. The fresh writing reminds why I am such a fan of Katnerine Dunn. Her characters and quirky worlds are inviting, and somehow always seem familiar.
Good read. A fun wild story.
synapticneuron's review
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I've recently become a fan of books that bring stories, characters, and unique perspectives to light, and thusly stumbled into Toad.
This book certainly fills all those roles, but not in the way I had hoped. The more I read this dark, intriguing, slice-of-life/memoir, the more I hated it.
The characters all are unsightly people who make sure the world knows how bitter or blind they are to it. I felt almost no pity or remorse for the plight that they constantly dove into. They make decisions that want to make you rip your hair out, close the book, and perhaps even burn it.
That being said, I kept reading.
Moreso to hold alight this morbidly interestingly life that the late Kathrine Dunn procured in her brain. A story once lost, but unearthed post-death to live a new life. She has such a way with words, and it's captivating power would keep taking me by surprise with it's intricate and intimate prose.
But more often that power was used to twist the reader's vision into the mud. You get to know it's taste and textures, and who's boot has last been in it. Maybe too familiar.
I think that gritty familiarity, as bitter as it is, just may help you understand the people you pass by, and world you walk in.
I felt torn in the usefulness of the tagged content warnings. How these elements were used, and is a driving reason I would not recommend this book.
This book certainly fills all those roles, but not in the way I had hoped. The more I read this dark, intriguing, slice-of-life/memoir, the more I hated it.
The characters all are unsightly people who make sure the world knows how bitter or blind they are to it. I felt almost no pity or remorse for the plight that they constantly dove into. They make decisions that want to make you rip your hair out, close the book, and perhaps even burn it.
That being said, I kept reading.
Moreso to hold alight this morbidly interestingly life that the late Kathrine Dunn procured in her brain. A story once lost, but unearthed post-death to live a new life. She has such a way with words, and it's captivating power would keep taking me by surprise with it's intricate and intimate prose.
But more often that power was used to twist the reader's vision into the mud. You get to know it's taste and textures, and who's boot has last been in it. Maybe too familiar.
I think that gritty familiarity, as bitter as it is, just may help you understand the people you pass by, and world you walk in.
I felt torn in the usefulness of the tagged content warnings. How these elements were used, and is a driving reason I would not recommend this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Child death, Animal cruelty, Fatphobia, Animal death, and Self harm
Moderate: Gore, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, and Excrement
Minor: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
aeriecircus's review
dark
sad
slow-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
2.0