Reviews

Liarmouth by John Waters

mementomoriiv's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This is pure John Waters... at times I read in my head with the narrator voice from Pink Flamingos. It's nefarious, hilarious carjacking, wig stealing, talking-penis-having, bouncing chaos that does not let up.

Like many John Waters movies, he does eventually reach a point of screaming hot crassness that jumps some kind of shark... maybe it's just when the reader reaches a point of crystallization within the filth and everything beyond that exists in a fever dream.

Recommended for humor and pure, unbridled ridiculousness. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cursing, Homophobia, and Sexual content

Moderate: Car accident

cailaprincess's review

funny

• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I liked some of the plots lines more than others, overall it’s funny, at times hilarious, but by the end I was over it, might have been better suited to a novella ~ will def watch if it gets a movie 

mediabaron's review

4.0

Strap-in, or strap-on since this is a John Waters novel, for a wild ride.

A lascivious romp filled with botched thievery, a talking penis, an analingus festival, vengeful relatives, close calls, and a yearning for the good crackers.

jasmeaniethebookish's review

4.0

John Waters is a national treasure, and that’s all there is to it. Liarmouth is 100% what you’d expect from a John Waters book. It’s got filth, perversion, and other fun things that make regular folks uncomfortable! You need to either know exactly what you’re getting into or be open-minded with a sick sense of humor. If you aren’t sure if Liarmouth is for you, watch “Pink Flamingoes.” That’s an excellent starting point into Mr. Waters’ work and will give you a decent idea of how this book may play out.

This book is for those that require a less than serious read, though I feel as if that kind of goes without saying.

Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and John Waters for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

tigerlillymelody's review

3.0

John Waters writes a very John Waters novel. If you vibe with John Waters’ campy, obscene style of humor then you will vibe with this book. I’m not quite the vulgarian that Waters is so I only mostly vibed with this book. This is marketed as a feel-bad romance, but I personally found it wholesome in the way that Waters’ characters who connect around and embrace their own and each other’s perverse and absurd natures. Also, I listened to the audiobook, and listening to John Waters in bed at night was like having the filth elder tuck me in before bed.

stitchesnbitches's review

Overdue at library - was getting a bit repetitive in the chaos and lost interest in finishing before the deadline.

voidedlux's review

dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

kdburton's review against another edition

challenging 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

3.25

In a lot of ways, felt like back when I was a teenage Palahniuk fan. Entertaining, but became a slog at times. I don’t know how they will make this into a movie without heavy changes. 

— owned 

gergen's review

4.0

John Waters is back in form

doughboyy's review

adventurous dark funny medium-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

3.75