atoyknight's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
tcgarback's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C+
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘(3/5)
Grabbed my attention at the start and the end, lost me in the middle. Altogether too involved in its own symbolism and musings on agony and pleasure. But this is still a bomb of immorality that is as courageous as it is sleazy—as it’s meant to be, so really, they’re the same thing here.
This is fascinating to me as a piece of transgressive literature, but it’s not something that at all moved me or, given the stuff I’ve read in recent years, shocked me.
Critical Score: B
Personal Score: C+
Reading Experience: 📘📘📘(3/5)
Grabbed my attention at the start and the end, lost me in the middle. Altogether too involved in its own symbolism and musings on agony and pleasure. But this is still a bomb of immorality that is as courageous as it is sleazy—as it’s meant to be, so really, they’re the same thing here.
This is fascinating to me as a piece of transgressive literature, but it’s not something that at all moved me or, given the stuff I’ve read in recent years, shocked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Suicide, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Trafficking, Toxic relationship, Rape, Torture, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Death, Violence, Vomit, Gore, Murder, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
tvil's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't read this book for the porn. Luckily. I read it because it's in the public domain and was mentioned in one of my favorite songs, Of Montreal – The Past is a Grotesque Animal:
And grotesque this book is. Yes, there are erotic passages, but there's also gore and murder. I didn't think I was squeamish, but, well, I'm glad I didn't read this book over dinner. I also don't think it's especially high literature. It gave me very little.
I fell in love with the first cute girl that I met
Who could appreciate Georges Bataille
Standing at a Swedish festival
Discussing Story of the Eye
And grotesque this book is. Yes, there are erotic passages, but there's also gore and murder. I didn't think I was squeamish, but, well, I'm glad I didn't read this book over dinner. I also don't think it's especially high literature. It gave me very little.
itouchmaeshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
kingfan30's review against another edition
1.0
I have no idea why this book is on the 1001 list, and to make things worse it is on all three, when some excellent books have been removed! I don't think I can add anything to what other people have said, the saving grace is it is short!
cmcrockford's review against another edition
4.0
Disgusting, blasphemous, and devoid of morality. And it's hilariously funny, philosophically narcissistic, and deeply perverted. I quite enjoyed it.