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cami19's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jimmypat's review against another edition
4.0
Lowboy, the character, really got under my skin - in a good way. I felt that Wray created a vibrant and real character that revealed much about life.
perfectlymisaligned's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars.
At once beautifully written, and truly disturbing, Lowboy was a reading experience I won't soon forget. The main character of Will Hellar has made a huge impression on me. And it is that fact that makes the ultimate resolution to this dark, dark story so heartbreaking.
Read the full review on my blog:
http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com
More book reviews on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
At once beautifully written, and truly disturbing, Lowboy was a reading experience I won't soon forget. The main character of Will Hellar has made a huge impression on me. And it is that fact that makes the ultimate resolution to this dark, dark story so heartbreaking.
Read the full review on my blog:
http://ravingbookaddict.blogspot.com
More book reviews on my YT channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bookgasmic
sobolevnrm's review against another edition
4.0
As mind-bending as Butcher Boy or Wasp Factory but much more engaging and better written. I had a hard time putting the book down!
thrifty_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
I appreciate the writing here and wouldn't hesitate to read one of Wray's other novels. I also love books that get into unique characters' heads and help us see the world from their perspectives.
However, I struggled to find the point in this and to relate to the characters. I didn't understand the police officer's motivation. And at the end, when Violet's big secret was revealed, I was only surprised that that counted as a secret.
I'm OK with some mystery and unanswered questions, but too much here just didn't make sense.
However, I struggled to find the point in this and to relate to the characters. I didn't understand the police officer's motivation. And at the end, when Violet's big secret was revealed, I was only surprised that that counted as a secret.
I'm OK with some mystery and unanswered questions, but too much here just didn't make sense.
jwmcoaching's review against another edition
4.0
Having read several glowing reviews of this, I decided to spring for the hardcover and give it a chance. I'm reasonably pleased that I did. Yeah; I could have just waited on the library hold list. It's still a highly enjoyable read though and I'm glad to have it around to recommend to others. It's a short read, but it's not an easy one. It's deceptively simple. Read it slowly, as the protagonist's schizophrenia takes a little bit of decoding.
glittery_witch's review against another edition
I started out really enjoying this book. The premise sounded really cool, the stream of consciousness-style of writing is totally up my lane, and I liked the setting and the main character Will, as well as Lateef, the detective who is supposed to track him down, a lot. This book also contains some really cool observations, for example about how much one can read out of the design of the subway system about the people who created it.
However, it goes downhill from there, as the book takes the <“using mental illness for shock value”-route, depicts 15-year-olds not being interested in or comfortable with sexual contact as weird (when really, this is pretty common)>, and unnecessarily uses the n-word (in a throwaway line by a one scene character, in a book by a white author?). <I also found it nonsensical that Lateef falls in love with Will’s mum over the course of the book, when all his impressions of her are that she’s weird and a bit dodgy?> Someone explain, please. For a while I kept reading to see if all of this stuff is somehow explained, but with so many elements that annoy me and that are, to some degree, quite unethical in my opinion, piling up, I decided there’s other books I’d much rather read instead.
chwaters's review against another edition
3.0
most of the characters are at least a little bit crazy in this book, but little is as it seems anyway. fascinating book, very jarring. the voice of will heller is as about as believable as they come.