Scan barcode
A review by villainizer
Diary of an Oxygen Thief by Anonymous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
everyone keeps talking about how there’s no ‘hopeful’ ending for this book, or no tragic-hero-comes-and-saves-the-day outcome. what they fail to realise, however, is that book (which is somewhat an autobiography) was meant to show the ways & perspectives of a fucked-up mind. it was never supposed to be ‘pretty’.
sure, it’s misogyny piled on top of each other, and maybe even something born from a particularly bad case of paranoia (which the author himself keeps repeatedly mentioning he has), but my interpretation of this book says that there isn’t supposed to be a sad or a happy ending. just an ending. revenge & retribution. tit for tat. a story about a man who faced karmic justice for all his wrongdoings.
i gave it a 3.5 because at the end, the protagonist is so comedically unlikeable that you can’t stop reading the book. it’s one satirical, fucked-up ride, which is what i think makes it such an interesting read.
sure, it’s misogyny piled on top of each other, and maybe even something born from a particularly bad case of paranoia (which the author himself keeps repeatedly mentioning he has), but my interpretation of this book says that there isn’t supposed to be a sad or a happy ending. just an ending. revenge & retribution. tit for tat. a story about a man who faced karmic justice for all his wrongdoings.
i gave it a 3.5 because at the end, the protagonist is so comedically unlikeable that you can’t stop reading the book. it’s one satirical, fucked-up ride, which is what i think makes it such an interesting read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting