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fleeceknots's reviews
12 reviews
Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A challenging read both content wise and structurally.The writing style has an almost arhythmic at times. The book lacks a plot in the conventional sense. Much of the plot is centered around unspeakable violence. A lot of times I wasn’t sure if I was even really enjoying the experience of reading this book.
And yet as soon as I put it down I couldn’t stop thinking about it. In a literal sense the story is very focused on the truly despicable violence that follow the U.S.-Mexico war, but in most other senses it’s about the unrelenting creep of evil.
I’m not usually one for something so blatantly nihilistic, but McCarthy’s writing style matches with the book’s meandering plot to envelop you. In the final stretch of the book I could feel its grim outlook really wrap around me even as the plot only ever strolls to its climax.
I think that’s why I was most engaged with the book after I’d finished it. The crust had finished forming around me and the dark, blunt truths McCarthy wanted to impart were as clear as they’d ever been.
Definitely not for everyone, but if something like this interests you I’d highly recommend it.
And yet as soon as I put it down I couldn’t stop thinking about it. In a literal sense the story is very focused on the truly despicable violence that follow the U.S.-Mexico war, but in most other senses it’s about the unrelenting creep of evil.
I’m not usually one for something so blatantly nihilistic, but McCarthy’s writing style matches with the book’s meandering plot to envelop you. In the final stretch of the book I could feel its grim outlook really wrap around me even as the plot only ever strolls to its climax.
I think that’s why I was most engaged with the book after I’d finished it. The crust had finished forming around me and the dark, blunt truths McCarthy wanted to impart were as clear as they’d ever been.
Definitely not for everyone, but if something like this interests you I’d highly recommend it.
White Noise by Don DeLillo
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a book with very in-your-face pretensions.
It’s an exploration of consumer and media culture, middle class identity and the fear of death. That being said, it remains fairly grounded from the most part. While there’s a lot of lofty and strange stuff going on, much of the book feels surprisingly grounded.
The book has a strong satirical slant. The world of White Noise is the 90’s through a funhouse mirror. Characters and dialogue have an unrealness to them that was slightly off putting at first but eventually came to charm me. The central family in particular exemplifies this dynamic. It felt like no one ever talked to anyone else in a way a real person ever has, but at the same time their dynamic as a family felt very lived in and real. This is exactly how real families act. In a ridiculous world, the book’s beating heart is the family and it was easily the part that kept me coming back to it. Also, the writing. I really didn’t expect DeLilo, for all his loftiness, to write such straightforwardly beautiful prose.
It’s not a flawless book. The stuff focused on death in particular has a habit of becoming ephemeral from time to time. The plot all the charming characters live in is a bit lopsided. Still it’s very easy to overlook given its strengths. Not for everyone, but if you buy in I think you can get a lot out of it
The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program That Shaped Our World by Vincent Bevins
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Very well researched, efficiently told. Intriguing. Deeply upsetting.
Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson
adventurous
challenging
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Neuromancer by William Gibson
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-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
3.5
Mumbo Jumbo by Ishmael Reed
challenging
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I came to this book looking for more heady, weird (maybe postmodern?) fiction but with more of a black perspective and this book mostly delivers.
The unique voice and writing style combine with the conspiracy theory-as-plot narrative to create a really one of a kind reading experience.
Reed’s choice to focus on the 1920’s while writing during a very paranoid 1970’s really let’s him explore a wide analysis of Black peoples in the U.S. He touches on our cultural products in relation to white people, the pros and cons of various social movement approaches, how historical narratives shape current outcomes and all sorts of interesting ideas through this fast moving story with a surprising range of characters.
I have a lot of really positive things to say about my reading experience and the only major complaint I have is that about 70% of the way through he indulges in an alternate history take on Egyptian mythology that completely halts all narrative momentum. The stuff in this section has a lot of interesting implications both for the narrative and the commentary inherent in it but it takes up 30 pages of a 250 page book and it quickly starts overstaying it’s welcome like 10 pages in. Things pick back up at the close of the book but I couldn’t overlook this but given how much space it takes up.
Still, everything before and after gives you so much to dig into and wrap your head around that it’s impossible not to recommend if you’re looking for a remarkably unique take on Black history and culture.
The unique voice and writing style combine with the conspiracy theory-as-plot narrative to create a really one of a kind reading experience.
Reed’s choice to focus on the 1920’s while writing during a very paranoid 1970’s really let’s him explore a wide analysis of Black peoples in the U.S. He touches on our cultural products in relation to white people, the pros and cons of various social movement approaches, how historical narratives shape current outcomes and all sorts of interesting ideas through this fast moving story with a surprising range of characters.
I have a lot of really positive things to say about my reading experience and the only major complaint I have is that about 70% of the way through he indulges in an alternate history take on Egyptian mythology that completely halts all narrative momentum. The stuff in this section has a lot of interesting implications both for the narrative and the commentary inherent in it but it takes up 30 pages of a 250 page book and it quickly starts overstaying it’s welcome like 10 pages in. Things pick back up at the close of the book but I couldn’t overlook this but given how much space it takes up.
Still, everything before and after gives you so much to dig into and wrap your head around that it’s impossible not to recommend if you’re looking for a remarkably unique take on Black history and culture.
Libra by Don DeLillo
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Did not finish book. Stopped at 15%.
Bit off more than I could chew. Want to retry knowing it’s Ty as heavy as it is
Americana by Don DeLillo
Bit off more than I could chew. Want to retry knowing it’s as heavy as it is
100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
challenging
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5