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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
If any book defines tragicomedy, it must be this. It's a brilliant satire of the absurdity of war whose emotional notes also land perfectly.
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I honestly have no idea what to think about this book. I’m stuck between thinking that it takes a certain level of genius to write such an interconnected story and thinking that the book is absolute trash.
For several pages, I struggled to understand the story. Midway, it all started to come together but then it dragged on and I became further and further annoyed by the author’s decision to write such a wacky and convoluted novel.
This is one of those books that many people consider to be a great American classic. And to find out why, you’d have to read the book. However, once you’ve read it, I’m afraid you’ll still be at a loss as to why this book is lauded by many. What can I say, it’s a Catch-22.
For several pages, I struggled to understand the story. Midway, it all started to come together but then it dragged on and I became further and further annoyed by the author’s decision to write such a wacky and convoluted novel.
This is one of those books that many people consider to be a great American classic. And to find out why, you’d have to read the book. However, once you’ve read it, I’m afraid you’ll still be at a loss as to why this book is lauded by many. What can I say, it’s a Catch-22.
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Takes a while to get going, almost DNFd because of that. Some witty passages and vivid imagery, but a lot of banter between characters that ends up feeling kind of samey from chapter to chapter. The subtler themes of the book peek through from to time, but get lost in a slow-to-build plot line bogged down by repetition.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Alcohol, War
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Police brutality, Medical content
Got to the point I was just skimming or using it as melatonin so I quit.
dark
funny
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
The first chapters are brutal to get through - so many character names, non linear story. It’s just dense. Swapping out to the audiobook was key to finishing this story; Jay O Sanders does a really fantastic job narrating.
All in all, a very funny and absurd book. It was like Alice in Wonderland meets the terrors of war. To note, the portrayal and treatment of women in the story is truly awful, but I can’t say that the objectification is far from the truth of the time and situation.
All in all, a very funny and absurd book. It was like Alice in Wonderland meets the terrors of war. To note, the portrayal and treatment of women in the story is truly awful, but I can’t say that the objectification is far from the truth of the time and situation.
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated