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kaaatieball's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
jung's review
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Knew I was in good hands once he mentioned Maggie Nelson.
This book reminds me of all the things that I felt and thought (and even spoke) when I was 19. Some of the things written in this book would have come out of my mouth word for word. Even today i might say some of this stuff. Reminds me of texting my dude friends. [Insert Sean comparing the masculine qualities of tobacco to the feminine qualities of weed lol]. There are some super interesting ideas and a great exploration into masculinity, racial identity, and shame in the post-capitalist world we live in. So much of Sean I see in who i used to be, who I genuinely hated. Even though I've mostly grown out of that phase of my life (i suspect that I have less shame, but also am just less "bro-y" (maybe---at least I feel that way)), there's a deep fearlessness that I seriously respect Conroe for having, for being unafraid to put what he thinks and feels onto the page (even when it's ugly) and also fit it into a larger narrative about loneliness and the production/consumption of art.
kind of reminded me of like "Bright Lights, Big City" and Brett Easton Ellis "Less than Zero" vibes but millennial. a comparison which I am even more incentivized to make having learned McInerney liked the book.
It's also interesting that Conroe tries to occupy the space of shunning the high-fiction world, see for instance -
This book reminds me of all the things that I felt and thought (and even spoke) when I was 19. Some of the things written in this book would have come out of my mouth word for word. Even today i might say some of this stuff. Reminds me of texting my dude friends. [Insert Sean comparing the masculine qualities of tobacco to the feminine qualities of weed lol]. There are some super interesting ideas and a great exploration into masculinity, racial identity, and shame in the post-capitalist world we live in. So much of Sean I see in who i used to be, who I genuinely hated. Even though I've mostly grown out of that phase of my life (i suspect that I have less shame, but also am just less "bro-y" (maybe---at least I feel that way)), there's a deep fearlessness that I seriously respect Conroe for having, for being unafraid to put what he thinks and feels onto the page (even when it's ugly) and also fit it into a larger narrative about loneliness and the production/consumption of art.
kind of reminded me of like "Bright Lights, Big City" and Brett Easton Ellis "Less than Zero" vibes but millennial. a comparison which I am even more incentivized to make having learned McInerney liked the book.
It's also interesting that Conroe tries to occupy the space of shunning the high-fiction world, see for instance -
“More literature means more insulated, masturbatory bullshit completely irrelevant to the culture. I’m tryna write for people who don’t read. who don’t give a shit about books,” and yet in doing so inadvertently occupies it, or at least high-fiction ideas. lIke it is clear that Sean is a literary guy, and it almost seems like an attempt to grab at street cred to claim otherwise. Generally it seems to be with good intentions though. I don't know if this will ever become pop fiction, so there's certainly something interesting to be said about this self-aware position of the text. I am, as always, a supporter of reflexivity being used to bolster the emotional value of the text (see practically all of my writing). Honestly, though, I can't be bothered to analyze right now. [insert an idea by DFW / Calvino / Barth / Etc.].
That being said, some of the writing is a bit hard to follow, and the slang on occasions distracting. Seriously, I could not keep any of the characters straight in my head, especially because he refers to every female as "bae??". Also, it does verge on some funky like men's rights-level stuff, not to the point of being outright distasteful, but certainly had me raise my eyebrows at some points. But then again, I suppose perhaps that is the point: to face some of these ideas head-on and say them. and it was interesting to see how another man experienced the world (him worrying about like scaring females by walking behind them is something that i don't think abt. much because i am a mid-sized Asian man lol). Even if it was arguably more "masculine" than mine.
Love that Sheila Heti was in this book. love her for that. I will 100% be picking up a copy of "How Should a Person Be" soon. Feeling like a 4.3-rounded down.
That being said, some of the writing is a bit hard to follow, and the slang on occasions distracting. Seriously, I could not keep any of the characters straight in my head, especially because he refers to every female as "bae??". Also, it does verge on some funky like men's rights-level stuff, not to the point of being outright distasteful, but certainly had me raise my eyebrows at some points. But then again, I suppose perhaps that is the point: to face some of these ideas head-on and say them. and it was interesting to see how another man experienced the world (him worrying about like scaring females by walking behind them is something that i don't think abt. much because i am a mid-sized Asian man lol). Even if it was arguably more "masculine" than mine.
Love that Sheila Heti was in this book. love her for that. I will 100% be picking up a copy of "How Should a Person Be" soon. Feeling like a 4.3-rounded down.
nivedd's review
5.0
this book is so so so good i'm kinda in awe... cannot wait to process it and pick it up all over again
grassandrogers's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
faulkneribarelyknowher's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
unique. like talking to a friend you haven’t talked to in years
daneosaur's review
1.0
Well-to-do bae pretends to be a poor grifter. The End.
Was that a spoiler?
Bro — like would I do that t'cha?
Omg.
No.
Book sucked.
Puked in my mouth.
A lot.
YOU TINK IT'D B PROFOUND?
Naw.
Screamed no.
"So fkng..." I said
"Just bad."
Don't wste cha'time, bae.
Was that a spoiler?
Bro — like would I do that t'cha?
Omg.
No.
Book sucked.
Puked in my mouth.
A lot.
YOU TINK IT'D B PROFOUND?
Naw.
Screamed no.
"So fkng..." I said
"Just bad."
Don't wste cha'time, bae.
gianni_francis's review
2.0
Sam Pink put it best: "If you can imagine Eminem as the main character in Dawsons Creek, you can imagine Fuccboi."
For personal reasons I violently rebuked this type of stuff years ago, destroyed Liveblog, sold all my Sam Pink books etc, but I gave this a try for old times sake. See how far the scene has fallen, how far I have come. After all, that is the point of this style of writing; to compare yourself to someone who is making the (romantic) argument that they are living worse. First person POV makes it a relatable trick, but Sean was just not a sympathetic person, even with this POV. (I instinctually never liked/trusted/befriended people that talked the way this book is written...its like when gay men talk with an affect. I know this is learned, not natural...zeitgeist makes is "normal," but it is not; it is manufactured by "late stage capitalism." Capitalism makes people into NPCs...)
At first I thought Sean was a dumbass, superficial thinker. Then as he started giving his little book reports about Sheila Heti and weed flowers I thought, 'Hm, this guy thinks about stuff.' But that was just page count filler. Unfinished thoughts that didn't creatively tie in, so he just dumped some half-ass research onto the page. (I notice that trend with millenial "novelists" like Lauren Oyler.)
My problem with these types of books is that they drag. Nothing happens plot wise, or character wise. Sean rightfully regrets an abortion, growing in his despair, but then he reads Sheila Heti's Motherhood and...feels better? Such a cop out. I wanted some 'come-to-Jesus' moment, but that is the problem with these "novels": they are over-edited diaries. No resolution, no conflict, just drifting aimlessly....these writers are so bored/boring that they have to be performative to be creative. That's fine, but don't call it a novel, call it a diary. It is a diary. There are dates and times when things happen!
I can criticize Sam Pink similarly, but at least Sam Pink is authentic...he doesn't do stuff in his life just so he can write about it. He lives, he thinks, he learns, he just also happen to write, and his books are not long enough to drag. Fuccboi is three books in one. Not a good thing. Took me a week to read it because I felt there wasn't going to be resolution, just more fuckshit...and I was right.
(Btw, how many alt-lit writers walk across the country? I know that one guy that did it was killed, I forget his name. RIP)
For personal reasons I violently rebuked this type of stuff years ago, destroyed Liveblog, sold all my Sam Pink books etc, but I gave this a try for old times sake. See how far the scene has fallen, how far I have come. After all, that is the point of this style of writing; to compare yourself to someone who is making the (romantic) argument that they are living worse. First person POV makes it a relatable trick, but Sean was just not a sympathetic person, even with this POV. (I instinctually never liked/trusted/befriended people that talked the way this book is written...its like when gay men talk with an affect. I know this is learned, not natural...zeitgeist makes is "normal," but it is not; it is manufactured by "late stage capitalism." Capitalism makes people into NPCs...)
At first I thought Sean was a dumbass, superficial thinker. Then as he started giving his little book reports about Sheila Heti and weed flowers I thought, 'Hm, this guy thinks about stuff.' But that was just page count filler. Unfinished thoughts that didn't creatively tie in, so he just dumped some half-ass research onto the page. (I notice that trend with millenial "novelists" like Lauren Oyler.)
My problem with these types of books is that they drag. Nothing happens plot wise, or character wise. Sean rightfully regrets an abortion, growing in his despair, but then he reads Sheila Heti's Motherhood and...feels better? Such a cop out. I wanted some 'come-to-Jesus' moment, but that is the problem with these "novels": they are over-edited diaries. No resolution, no conflict, just drifting aimlessly....these writers are so bored/boring that they have to be performative to be creative. That's fine, but don't call it a novel, call it a diary. It is a diary. There are dates and times when things happen!
I can criticize Sam Pink similarly, but at least Sam Pink is authentic...he doesn't do stuff in his life just so he can write about it. He lives, he thinks, he learns, he just also happen to write, and his books are not long enough to drag. Fuccboi is three books in one. Not a good thing. Took me a week to read it because I felt there wasn't going to be resolution, just more fuckshit...and I was right.
(Btw, how many alt-lit writers walk across the country? I know that one guy that did it was killed, I forget his name. RIP)
erint251's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
I don't know if the author would see himself — or the semi-fictionalised Sean — this way, but I think this book gives an insight into a certain archetype of guy. The sort of guy who feels left behind by the culture war. The guy who everyone is quick to make their own snap judgements about. The guy who can see clearly through everyone else's bullshit, but doesn't always notice when he's filling the gaps with bullshit of his own. The Joe Rogan fan.
I wasn't unsympathetic to the main character. I appreciated the author's willingness to describe things warts and all, to examine his own dark thoughts. Having the physical medical struggles play out alongside his philosophising worked really well.
I did get used to the author's unique use of slang, but my god calling every woman [adjective] bae was so cringe. Otherwise I actually really liked his use of language, pacing etc. Between the writing style and the subject matter I did see a bit of Irvine Welsh in there.
I can see all the comparisons to Knaussgard and Kerouac, and I do think this book fits into a long tradition of what is easy to dismiss as edgy male navel-gazing. But it was nice to read something that felt refreshingly honest.
(P.s. The mention of a "Sus" Scottish author had me frantically googling some names to make sure they'd never taught in London, aha)
I wasn't unsympathetic to the main character. I appreciated the author's willingness to describe things warts and all, to examine his own dark thoughts. Having the physical medical struggles play out alongside his philosophising worked really well.
I did get used to the author's unique use of slang, but my god calling every woman [adjective] bae was so cringe. Otherwise I actually really liked his use of language, pacing etc. Between the writing style and the subject matter I did see a bit of Irvine Welsh in there.
I can see all the comparisons to Knaussgard and Kerouac, and I do think this book fits into a long tradition of what is easy to dismiss as edgy male navel-gazing. But it was nice to read something that felt refreshingly honest.
(P.s. The mention of a "Sus" Scottish author had me frantically googling some names to make sure they'd never taught in London, aha)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion and Drug use
liv_withbooks's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
annabelle42688's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm not fully sure I understood what I was reading. It was well written, but I feel like I might have not have understood all the messaging.