Reviews

A Graveyard for Lunatics by Ray Bradbury

authoraugust's review

5.0

I've hoped to never by disappointed by Bradbury, and sure enough, though I had my doubts about this book, he has not let me down. This reads like one giant hallucinogenic-fueled trip through a naive 30-some-year-old's childlike headspace: it's metaphors, it's exaggeration, it's rip-roaring adventure with a terrifying edge. Though the mystery is not mind-boggling, it's definitely a stellar framework on which to hang a symbolic fictionalized autobiography, especially one so full of quotables, memorable one-liners and crazy characters as A Graveyard for Lunatics.

eletricjb's review

2.0

Ugh. This was so disappointing.

luisasm's review

4.0

Everything Ray Bradbury writes is great. Honestly I enjoyed this mystery better than the one before it. It was a little more cohesive I think. It was also pretty funny, with so many wild characters. There was just enough horror and suspense, the return of some old characters, introducing new ones, plot twists (although one I actually predicted, which makes me proud) and I loved the standpoint and focus on filmmaking. A noir-ish mystery set on a scandal ridden film set can't really go that wrong.

crummeyforthewin's review

1.0

I was pretty disappointed with this book, especially considering I have really enjoyed other books by him (Martian Chronicles, esp). This book is considered a mystery, but I can't remember the last time I read a mystery where I cared so little about the characters or the "reveal." I found the dialogue boring, the writing style overdone and irritating, and his tendency to pile on metaphors tiring. All in all, not an enjoyable read.

thegoodmariner's review

5.0

October with Ray 2014

kdog's review

adventurous dark funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

jarichan's review against another edition

4.0

Welch wahnsinnige Nacherzählung von Dickens "A Tale of Two Cities". Man muss das Original jedoch nicht kennen, um dieses Buch geniessen zu können. Was man jedoch mögen sollte, sind verrückte Geschichten, chaotische Handlungsstränge und Bücher, die man teilweise nicht versteht. Denn auch ich hatte im Grossen und Ganzen keine Ahnung, was hier abgeht.

Und genau darin liegt der Spass bei diesem Werk Bradburys. Eben genau darin, dass man nicht weiss, was vor sich geht. Das ergeht unserem Drehbuchautoren nämlich gar nicht anders. Aber keine Sorge, am Schluss wird alles aufgeklärt.

Bradbury dekonstruiert hier Hollywood. Reisst es nieder, baut es wieder auf, nur um es erneut zu zerstören. Wir befinden uns in einer Traumwelt einer Traumwelt. Gehen dem schönen Scheinen auf den Leim, reissen uns los, nur um in dunkle Abgründe zu fallen. Das oben genannte Chaos ist gewollt, denn Bradbury ist ein kluger, umsichtiger Autor, der ganz genau weiss, was er tut.

Mochte ich den ersten Band der Crumbley-Reihe bereits sehr, so habe ich dieses Buch hier geliebt. Jede Seite, jede Begebenheit. Ich hatte riesigen Spass, habe mich auch gegruselt und bin erschaudert. Habe mich gewundert, mich gefragt. Hier konnte ich voll und ganz in die Geschichte eintauchen und Hollywood mal von unten betrachten.

Grossartige Literatur eines umso grossartigeren Autoren.

jamiezaccaria's review

3.0

The story was fun and the plot well laid out while I loved the Old Hollywood setting. Bradbury's writing style could be a bit excessive, especially when used as dialogue though. The pacing at the end was a bit rushed too, with some explanation needed IMO.

Overall, a fun read and I would definitely read the others in the series: 3.5 Stars

the_other_coraline's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

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

4.75

chlkvnck's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated