Reviews

Drebar Bas Yang Nak Jadi Tuhan by Sufian Abas, Etgar Keret

mossiscoolerthaniam's review against another edition

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adventurous funny reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

thevocabularian's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny fast-paced

4.25

drifterontherun's review against another edition

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2.0

Short story collections are tricky. Rarely is there a collection where all the stories included are good. At least, not outside of Hemingway, Raymond Carver, and the best of Alice Munro. And I'm sorry to say that most of the stories in "The Bus Driver Who Wanted To Be God" aren't very good at all, just very boring.

Etgar Keret has been getting a lot of attention in light of his recently released collection, [b:Fly Already: Stories|43212798|Fly Already Stories|Etgar Keret|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556360289l/43212798._SY75_.jpg|62138246]. Since I didn't want to plunk down the $27 retail price on the new collection, I decided better to pick up a used copy of this well regarded collection from 2001.

Now, perhaps it's not fair of me to write off a short story writer for a collection compiled almost 20 years ago, but there's so little here that inspires further reading that it's hard for me to think about giving Keret another chance. Keret's stories have got a strange vibe to them, and I do like that. The problem is that they end almost as strangely, which is to say, without much of an ending at all.

The title story is by far the best and from there the stories seem to decrease in value until finally we come to an overly long multi-part story towards the end which, after a few pages, I couldn't help but skim.

What a sad thing shattered hopes are ...

deaceituna's review against another edition

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dark funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

iqraw's review against another edition

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4.0

Although I barely read short stories, this collection was unlike anything I've read before. The stories are strange, surreal, dark, unique and ironic. The book includes 21 short stories with a novella in the end. Etger Keret did a wonderful job reflecting the decisions and mistakes we make and other harsh truths about life in his writing. I took my time reading the book. My personal favorites are : Pipe, Breaking the Pig, Hole in the Wall, A Souvenir of Hell. Each of the stories felt so real and honest that I just had to sit and let everything sink in. And the novella was definitely a cherry on the top. Loved it.

purelykara's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this book for background information on a movie review I was doing. The short story "Kneller's Happy Campers" was the basis for the movie "Wristcutter's: A Love Story" very excellent read and great movie. I'll be sure to post my review when it gets published on the library blog.

thevonp's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective fast-paced

4.5

benji_booksr4looserz's review against another edition

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dark funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

i'm not sure i get it

kilgore_trout's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

cbh's review against another edition

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The "darkness" so as to say, felt predictable and empty, I'd say realistic too. Not the 'delve into something' feeling I was hoping for.