thegr1mreader's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Moderate: Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
Minor: Incest, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
meganpbell's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This modern classic is a postmodern puzzle following “you,” the Reader (obviously a dude) and the Other Reader (an attractive woman) on a quest to find a full story, each time finding a book incomplete or misprinted, and thus over and over getting hooked by a series of incipits (openings of texts). A kaleidoscopic examination of reading and writing and storytelling ensues—and a book I found clever, amusing, challenging, a little boring, and frustrating (1970s gender & sexuality 🙄) at times.
Minor: Stalking, Incest, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
jakobvongunten's review against another edition
3.5
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Sexism, Incest, and Racism
sarah984's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I loved the structure of this novel, with the unnamed protagonist going to increasingly bizarre lengths to try and read a complete novel (especially a couple of the twists near the end), but unfortunately most of the novels themselves were not good (they got worse to read as the book progressed) and every woman made me cringe.
Graphic: Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement, Gaslighting, Incest, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Racial slurs, and Racism
cryingcloud's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
probably one of the most painful reads i had the misfortune of experiencing. perhaps it's because i don't have the Right Intellectual Mind to properly enjoy this book. i had friends who warned (and complained) of the contents of this book, and i should've listened to them.
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Incest, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
niktolic's review
adventurous
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I had such high hopes until around the page 200, when the book started being quite upsetting and uncomfortable.
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia
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