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angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
2.0
Sort of a futuristic dystopian novel before that was all the rage. Usually I’m not much of a fan of this type of book, and this time was no different. It had some plucky parts and made me chuckle a few times, mainly with outlandish dialogue, however evaluating the book as a whole left me with very little passion one way or another. Just average for me.
flakeysnakey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elctrc's review against another edition
5.0
Finally got around to this one after staring at it for 10+ years. Worth the work you must put in to decipher the mockni, The Book of Dave is at times hilarious, terrifying, grotesque, and beautiful.
scheu's review against another edition
4.0
A bigoted, misogynist bastard of a London cabbie buries his angry manifesto, and 500 years later the book becomes the basis for a new society after the fall of civilization. This was a very interesting book, and Self builds an interesting future world. This is NOT, however, an easy book to read. Present and future chapters alternate, and the Daveists speak in decayed phonetic Cockney English. In fact, I had a lot of trouble with the unfamiliar British slang, although I probably pieced together most of it. (reading Riddley Walker helped!)
constantlorelai's review against another edition
3.0
Most certainly not for everyone. The evolution of the plot and the discovery journey from one temporal plane to another is cool and the substance and originality of this book is indisputable. But it's not an easy read, even if your are into weird storytelling techniques and made-up dialects any day of the week. Not sure if it was the best way to start off reading Will Self. I still have My idea of fun in my library and I'll see when I'm ready for that one.
Unfinished - Solid 3/5 out of what I could stomach
Unfinished - Solid 3/5 out of what I could stomach
tsharris's review against another edition
4.0
Derivative and yet highly original, this book was not easy to read. Make sure you read the glossary first - it will save you a lot of headaches. Although it took me a long time to get into it, once I did I finished it in a couple of days, though I had to go back and read the first two chapters again. There's a powerful idea at the heart of the novel: what do we leave to the future? Self draws a parallel between the climate change that devastates London, Dave's haphazard burial of his lunatic rant, and the act of parenting (the basis for Dave's religion). Whether as bearers of ideas or shapers of our children, Self suggests we have a tremendous responsibility to the future, which demands humility and sensibility (perhaps more of both than human beings are actually capable). There's also a strong Houellebecqian streak when it comes to describing the modern world.
barkingstars's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not going to lie, I found this to be a bit of a slog.
The concept for this book is brilliant and is by far the best thing about it. But you pretty much know the concept once you read the blurb.
The problem is that the book splits into alternating chapters: in the future and in the present (about 2001). The chapters in the present are very readable and enjoyable. The chapters in the future are absolute torture to read. Partly because of the way the dialogue is written and partly because the future story line is so boring.
If you’re intrigued then this is definitely worth a go, but just ready yourself for some dull quasi sci-fi twaddle in between all the good bits.
The concept for this book is brilliant and is by far the best thing about it. But you pretty much know the concept once you read the blurb.
The problem is that the book splits into alternating chapters: in the future and in the present (about 2001). The chapters in the present are very readable and enjoyable. The chapters in the future are absolute torture to read. Partly because of the way the dialogue is written and partly because the future story line is so boring.
If you’re intrigued then this is definitely worth a go, but just ready yourself for some dull quasi sci-fi twaddle in between all the good bits.
gigglesbanana's review against another edition
3.0
Very interesting look at religion and how it shapes society, and also a dissection of our inner-twistedness. Sometimes hard to read (thank goodness for the glossary!) and mostly dark and disturbing. I was a bit disappointed in the lack of closure. Overall, a good read.
skybalon's review against another edition
2.0
Any time a book requires a glossary to read, I'm automatically less interested. This book appears to be an updated version of "A Canticle for Leibowitz" by Miller. There only interesting thing is how he makes the "current day" dialog almost as incomprehensible as the "post-apocolyptic" dialog. Couldn't finish it.