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esumi's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I think this is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read.The violence against the cat was the hardest thing to read for me, despite all the other gruesome things in this book 🥲
dancingphantoms's review against another edition
3.0
Quick warning that the synopsis on this edition's page at least is slightly misleading. It's a fascinating synopsis, but the book doesn't only focus on the experiment, actually the experiment comes much later on. Because of that, I was expecting something else that I didn't get so that was a disappointment. Other than that, great, great writing. It managed to keep me hooked, even though the main character is a bit disturbing. Careful because it touches a little upon animal cruelty, sexual abuse and violence overall.
I can tell my experience of this book was totally based on the synopsis I had read, because I was expecting the book to be all about the experiment, so I kept waiting for that to appear and sometimes I felt like I was listening to someone who wanted to tell me a story but needed to tell me about all of the unnecessary details first. Part of me felt like the story was being dragged, the other part still wanted to know about all those details (that's the managing to keep me hooked part! It was that good). That's not the writer's or the book's fault though. Again, I was expecting something else. In the grand scheme of things, this book isn't about a fascinating experiment, it's about the obsession of a disturbed man, and it is great at showing us that.
P.S: Totally recommend this to people who either are really interested in language/communication in general, or to Psychology students/psychologists/people who are interested in Psychology.
I can tell my experience of this book was totally based on the synopsis I had read, because I was expecting the book to be all about the experiment, so I kept waiting for that to appear and sometimes I felt like I was listening to someone who wanted to tell me a story but needed to tell me about all of the unnecessary details first. Part of me felt like the story was being dragged, the other part still wanted to know about all those details (that's the managing to keep me hooked part! It was that good). That's not the writer's or the book's fault though. Again, I was expecting something else. In the grand scheme of things, this book isn't about a fascinating experiment, it's about the obsession of a disturbed man, and it is great at showing us that.
P.S: Totally recommend this to people who either are really interested in language/communication in general, or to Psychology students/psychologists/people who are interested in Psychology.
breanda's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
i_b_anoud's review against another edition
You know what? Fuck this book. And fuck booktubers recommendations, too.
I'm not a disturbing book girlie. I tried to be. Didn't work. It all sounds super cool and shit until you're either get triggered or traumatized. Or in this case both + a reading slump.
I've been reading it since last year and it's been staring at me from my nightstand, every night like a creepy totem.
I'm done with this shit. 60% in, DN-fucking-F.
I'm not a disturbing book girlie. I tried to be. Didn't work. It all sounds super cool and shit until you're either get triggered or traumatized. Or in this case both + a reading slump.
I've been reading it since last year and it's been staring at me from my nightstand, every night like a creepy totem.
I'm done with this shit. 60% in, DN-fucking-F.
thebobsphere's review
5.0
I am stunned. Think of The Dumb House as a combination of The Collector and Psycho and you're still not close to describing how disturbing this novel is.
The narrator of the story is a man who wants to find out if isolating babies in a room will lead to the creation of a new language.Unfortunately his obsession becomes unhealthy and leads to dire consequences.
Burnside is an excellent writer, his prose is poetic and the forays into lingiustic philosophy are acessible. Be wary though, if you are sensitive this book should be approached with caution.
The narrator of the story is a man who wants to find out if isolating babies in a room will lead to the creation of a new language.Unfortunately his obsession becomes unhealthy and leads to dire consequences.
Burnside is an excellent writer, his prose is poetic and the forays into lingiustic philosophy are acessible. Be wary though, if you are sensitive this book should be approached with caution.
the_main_character's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
there's something so compelling about discomfiting books with unpredictable plots and alien characters.
elisabeth_julia's review against another edition
4.0
"The Dumb House" is about a man with dissociative personality disorder and a twisted experiment on his own twin children: He wants to find out how language connects to the soul and therefore seeks to determine if it's inherent or learned somehow.
What terrified me the most wasn't that this man did horrible things throughout the entire book, but that I saw the world through his eyes: I desperately wanted to know the outcome of his experiments and I started viewing the people around him as mere tools for his purposes. I didn't care for any of them and didn't feel the need to cry out loud in shock about what was done to them.
It was like for the duration of the book I became him.
The subject matter of his experiments is a fascinating one. I loved reading about the man's philosophical thoughts about humanity, soul and language. The entire book is densely packed with thought-provoking material and great ideas, which is something I value and highly enjoy.
On top of that "The Dumb House" is absolutely stunningly written.
The portrayal of the main character was eerily realistic too. I have the horrifying suspicion that there is more than one person out there who does worse things behind closed doors somewhere right now at this moment.
The only issue I had with this book was that it's too appalling to read most of the time. I had to set it aside every few pages, which naturally made me lose the ability to really get immersed into the story. The narrators dense stream of consciousness added further to that. However, this is a minor complaint.
"The Dumb House" certainly can't be called an easy read, but it is a fantastic book nevertheless!
What terrified me the most wasn't that this man did horrible things throughout the entire book, but that I saw the world through his eyes: I desperately wanted to know the outcome of his experiments and I started viewing the people around him as mere tools for his purposes. I didn't care for any of them and didn't feel the need to cry out loud in shock about what was done to them.
It was like for the duration of the book I became him.
The subject matter of his experiments is a fascinating one. I loved reading about the man's philosophical thoughts about humanity, soul and language. The entire book is densely packed with thought-provoking material and great ideas, which is something I value and highly enjoy.
On top of that "The Dumb House" is absolutely stunningly written.
The portrayal of the main character was eerily realistic too. I have the horrifying suspicion that there is more than one person out there who does worse things behind closed doors somewhere right now at this moment.
The only issue I had with this book was that it's too appalling to read most of the time. I had to set it aside every few pages, which naturally made me lose the ability to really get immersed into the story. The narrators dense stream of consciousness added further to that. However, this is a minor complaint.
"The Dumb House" certainly can't be called an easy read, but it is a fantastic book nevertheless!
tiffanywang29's review against another edition
3.0
Strange, disturbing, chilling yet very oddly enjoyable! I think there's a lot that goes in to writing a piece like this with such a detached point of view for such a strange narrator. It's one of those books where you're not sure where it is going even when you get to the last page yet you find yourself turning page after page trying to figure it all out.
Also it's not a long read at all (contrary to my 18 day reading length), I just got sidetracked after reading 30 or so pages and then finished the rest very quickly.
Also it's not a long read at all (contrary to my 18 day reading length), I just got sidetracked after reading 30 or so pages and then finished the rest very quickly.
readingfromfrance's review against another edition
4.0
This books made me think so much !
I enjoyed but I also hated it. I know it doesn't make sense so let me try to explain.
I obviously hated our main character Luke. There's absolutely nothing to like about him and it's quite obvious the author wants us to hate him. But there's something in Luke's story and the way that Burnside's depicts him that bothered me. We get a lot of "throwbacks" in the book which make us learn a bit more about Luke's childhood. We get to have a glimpse of why he became how he is today. A GLIMPSE. Just a glimpse. I wish I had more informations while reading. I mean if you want me to read about an horrible character, I'd like to know why he became like that.
What also bothered me is the fact that literally none of Luke's twisted mind problems are addressed. We see him torture children. But whatever, it's normal right ? I mean I could have accepted just a glimpse (this time) of a between the lines moral here.
Well in a nutshell after reading this book I had a lot of questions unanswered. Why he is so obsessed with his mother ? Why does he hate is father this much ? Where does all that money come from ? And the list goes on.
But I have to say, my mind wonders back to this book quite often. So if a book leaves a mark, leaves me with a strong opinion then it deserves a 4 stars.
I enjoyed but I also hated it. I know it doesn't make sense so let me try to explain.
I obviously hated our main character Luke. There's absolutely nothing to like about him and it's quite obvious the author wants us to hate him. But there's something in Luke's story and the way that Burnside's depicts him that bothered me. We get a lot of "throwbacks" in the book which make us learn a bit more about Luke's childhood. We get to have a glimpse of why he became how he is today. A GLIMPSE. Just a glimpse. I wish I had more informations while reading. I mean if you want me to read about an horrible character, I'd like to know why he became like that.
What also bothered me is the fact that literally none of Luke's twisted mind problems are addressed. We see him torture children. But whatever, it's normal right ? I mean I could have accepted just a glimpse (this time) of a between the lines moral here.
Well in a nutshell after reading this book I had a lot of questions unanswered. Why he is so obsessed with his mother ? Why does he hate is father this much ? Where does all that money come from ? And the list goes on.
But I have to say, my mind wonders back to this book quite often. So if a book leaves a mark, leaves me with a strong opinion then it deserves a 4 stars.