Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

4 reviews

mirandyli's review

funny reflective fast-paced

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

2.75

I'm not sure how this book won a Pulitzer, but who am I to judge. I'm not one of the people who give out Pulitzers. This book was painfully mediocre. There were some funny parts thrown in I guess. Some parts were pretty racist. You're not missing out if you decide not to read this book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Racism, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Drug use

spineofthesaurus's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, and Medical content

Moderate: Confinement, Drug use, Self harm, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Grief, Racism, Sexual content, and Abandonment

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

mostlyvoidpartiallystars's review

adventurous lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I liked this book both more and less than I expected, somehow! I thought it would be more of an outright comedy - think Hitchhiker's Guide - but it was more lighthearted and amusing than laugh out loud funny. The tone was much more reflective than I expected. Honestly, it felt like a very gentle satirization of contemporary literature - I felt like it both had a lot of love for the genre, while also pointing out the many ways it can be elitist, privileged, and out of touch. 

And, for my recurring section: Do they bury their gays?

no. The main character does not die, and there are many other queer characters who do not die. A lot of relationships do end, some more sadly than others, but none are outright tragic, and there are interesting reflections on queer happiness and love throughout. Neither primary romance of the story ends in tragedy or death.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Homophobia, Sexual content, Vomit, and Grief

Minor: Death of parent, Child abuse, Death, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Fatphobia

rockyroadbutch's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This is getting a one star review because it is a book, and I did, in fact, finish reading it (due to peer pressure). This book is awful. The main character is deeply unlikeable, does not grow, and thinks his life is awful, even though it isn’t. The level of detail is absurd and unnecessary, making this book about four times longer than it needs to be. It’s poorly written and thinks too highly of itself. It feels homophobic, despite being written by a gay man. It’s racist, sexist, classist, ableist, and fatphobic. I don’t know what the Pulitzer Prize people were on, but unless you have some, don’t read this. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Ableism, Alcoholism, Terminal illness, Sexism, Racism, Medical content, Infidelity, Homophobia, Fatphobia, Cultural appropriation, and Body shaming