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aquaria127's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
andrew_t's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
To put it in as few words as possible the book is okay, it's not horrible or by any means great. It can pretty much be summed up by the opening line with that happening to the main character instead. It's just the main character because I refuse to call them a protagonist because they are hard to sympathize with. Maybe that was the author's goal, they wanted the reader to hate them but it doesn't make the book any better, you just don't feel anything for the main character at all which makes the book hard to read at times. Luckily the book is mercifully short which is about the only thing it has going for it. If you want to read it tread carefully because it's barely worth its weight as kindling for a fire, much less a piece of literature.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexism, and Misogyny
Honestly, don't read it unless you have literally nothing else and are getting on a short bus ride, because at least once you're done you can throw it away in a nearby trash can.nymnphi's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
i always like to extend benefit of the doubt to books that try their hardest to touch upon a niche genre, but this one was not it (and when this opinion is the popular one, you know something is up with the book).
to compare Diary of an Oxygen Thief to Lolita is like comparing a slice of cake to a charred cookie. yes, they are both baked goods in their own right, only one is enjoyable and a masterpiece in its own right.
never once did i ever find myself sympathizing with the narrator. he is a pretentious, hypocritical asshole who seems to think that a) acknowledging his faults makes him less of an asshole (it does not) and b) what happened to him at the climax + conclusion justifies the slew of women he psychologically tortured (it did not).
the phrase "hurt people hurt people" is used so much as a way to justify these misgivings that it ends up being an excuse rather than an explanation.
the ending fell flat for me. when the events at the bar concluded, i was genuinely left wondering what else was going to happen in the next five pages for me to feel even a sliver of remorse. i suppose there's another book for that, but the plot and characters were all just so bland and unlikeable there is zero chance anyone would pick up the next one. i remember laughing out loud at all the times he mentions the chance of the book being published. seriously, who approved this book?
tldr; this book is a romanticized account of a manipulative and abusive person who hurts people without remorse and paints himself as the victim (bullshit).
this is not a story of a damaged soul who needs to find love and heal and move on in a world that is against him, this is the story of a person that chooses to hurt people in retaliation for being damaged, and he wants you to feel sorry for him even though he never changes or shows an ounce of genuine remorse.
at least the title is accurate. this truly was the diary of someone who is stealing oxygen from those who deserve it.
to compare Diary of an Oxygen Thief to Lolita is like comparing a slice of cake to a charred cookie. yes, they are both baked goods in their own right, only one is enjoyable and a masterpiece in its own right.
never once did i ever find myself sympathizing with the narrator. he is a pretentious, hypocritical asshole who seems to think that a) acknowledging his faults makes him less of an asshole (it does not) and b) what happened to him at the climax + conclusion justifies the slew of women he psychologically tortured (it did not).
the phrase "hurt people hurt people" is used so much as a way to justify these misgivings that it ends up being an excuse rather than an explanation.
the ending fell flat for me. when the events at the bar concluded, i was genuinely left wondering what else was going to happen in the next five pages for me to feel even a sliver of remorse. i suppose there's another book for that, but the plot and characters were all just so bland and unlikeable there is zero chance anyone would pick up the next one. i remember laughing out loud at all the times he mentions the chance of the book being published. seriously, who approved this book?
tldr; this book is a romanticized account of a manipulative and abusive person who hurts people without remorse and paints himself as the victim (bullshit).
this is not a story of a damaged soul who needs to find love and heal and move on in a world that is against him, this is the story of a person that chooses to hurt people in retaliation for being damaged, and he wants you to feel sorry for him even though he never changes or shows an ounce of genuine remorse.
at least the title is accurate. this truly was the diary of someone who is stealing oxygen from those who deserve it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Alcoholism
Minor: Rape
chouchou's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-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
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Rape
maddyisnotilliterate's review against another edition
reflective
fast-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
2.0
Bro I went into this knowing it wasn’t gonna be good but I didn’t realise what it was even about. The first chapter was gross but entertaining. After that I didn’t care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism and Sexual harassment
cal_bert's review against another edition
dark
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Cursing, Misogyny, Sexism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
nomey's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Violence
kayleiighh's review against another edition
dark
reflective
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
3.75
It angered me but I did enjoy the book at least a bit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
mariegrip's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
The only good thing about this book is the title
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Bullying
maddisaysmeow's review against another edition
dark
slow-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
1.0
If you have read the infamous first page of this book, congratulations! You have read the best part of this book. The story drags on from there with the main focus of it only happening in the last third of the book.
The fact that the narrator questions whether or not this book will even be published multiple times says it all. I understand why this book was published anonymously: being a sniveling misogynist and a coward go hand in hand. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
The fact that the narrator questions whether or not this book will even be published multiple times says it all. I understand why this book was published anonymously: being a sniveling misogynist and a coward go hand in hand. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcoholism and Rape
Minor: Violence