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kory_is's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
jakewritesbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Back in the day, I’m talking the 20s-50s, writers used to make their bread by writing pulp tales on the side while working on their main works. They would release the former under pseudonyms. Hard boiled mysteries, campy science fiction, erotica, plenty of great writers plied their trade this way. Lawrence Block wrote dozens of trashy erotic novels under a variety of names before transitioning to mainstream mystery fare.
The Serialist is a tribute to that form of writing and for that, I almost love the book. These days, writers still may do that kind of writing for pennies off Kindle but it’s mostly a lost art. David Gordon honors this and I’m grateful.
Unfortunately, that’s the only thing this book has going for it. I really wanted to like to more than I did but its lead character is obnoxious and the supporting cast, majority women, are written pretty thin. It doesn’t help that the premise is something designed to frustrate me: a serial killer (ugh) who preys on models (gah) and comes from the foster care system (ugh) tries to get the writer to write about him. He’s aided by a stripper (c’mon) whose sister was one of the killer’s victims (ick) and a 16-year old girl whom he tutors (yikes, and when he describes her outfits, double yikes). Unfortunately, there is a copycat killer (sigh) who may be the real killer and thus the writer has to find this out.
On top of everything, Gordon’s prose is sorely lacking. This book is desperately overwritten, with the vast majority of it taking place inside the uninspiring protagonist’s head.
It might not be the book’s fault that I didn’t like it but I feel like the humor/satire stuff felt flat. Others wrote that this was a commentary on the NYC populace at the moment (2009) but if so, I missed out on it. The only thing that carried me to the end was the premise, which I found compelling in spite of the execution. But man, this one just ain’t good. I tried to find ways to get it to 3 stars and I just couldn’t.
The Serialist is a tribute to that form of writing and for that, I almost love the book. These days, writers still may do that kind of writing for pennies off Kindle but it’s mostly a lost art. David Gordon honors this and I’m grateful.
Unfortunately, that’s the only thing this book has going for it. I really wanted to like to more than I did but its lead character is obnoxious and the supporting cast, majority women, are written pretty thin. It doesn’t help that the premise is something designed to frustrate me: a serial killer (ugh) who preys on models (gah) and comes from the foster care system (ugh) tries to get the writer to write about him. He’s aided by a stripper (c’mon) whose sister was one of the killer’s victims (ick) and a 16-year old girl whom he tutors (yikes, and when he describes her outfits, double yikes). Unfortunately, there is a copycat killer (sigh) who may be the real killer and thus the writer has to find this out.
On top of everything, Gordon’s prose is sorely lacking. This book is desperately overwritten, with the vast majority of it taking place inside the uninspiring protagonist’s head.
It might not be the book’s fault that I didn’t like it but I feel like the humor/satire stuff felt flat. Others wrote that this was a commentary on the NYC populace at the moment (2009) but if so, I missed out on it. The only thing that carried me to the end was the premise, which I found compelling in spite of the execution. But man, this one just ain’t good. I tried to find ways to get it to 3 stars and I just couldn’t.
mbrevesz's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a fun read! What I liked most about it was the characters. Harry Bloch is a writer who writes genre fiction under a variety of hilarious pseudonyms. He has a 15 year old assistant/manager/tutoring customer named Claire who runs his life and an ex-girlfriend named Jane who runs a literary magazine. When a serial killer named Darian Clay sends him a fan letter asking him to collaborate on a book, things get a little crazy. Note- this is not for the faint of heart- there is a LOT of bloody gruesomeness, but you'll end up rooting for Harry and enjoying all the twists and turns of this darkly humorous mystery.
lil_starz33's review against another edition
3.0
This is not your traditional standard mystery novel. Instead, it is very similar How I Became a Famous Novelist by Steve Hely. It's a (porn) writer writing the story of a serial killer's life. Included are excerpts of the main characters other various writings and stories. It's not as light or funny as Hely's novel, but it was a good story. There were definitely twists and turns that I was not expecting. However, the overall themes are dark and disturbing (we are discussing a serial killer here). Also, since the main character was originally a porn author, there is sex involved. So if gratuitous sex and dismembered bodies turn you off, this is not for you.
zachkuhn's review against another edition
4.0
A great surprise. A serial-killer book with a sense of humor? I guess that's how I'd categorize it.
aundie27's review against another edition
4.0
I listened to the audio version, which I recommend--the narrator is pretty great at doing voices and accents. His voice for the mean old lady lawyer made me laugh so hard when I first heard it!
This book is a bit violent and sexy, sure you can tell by the blood-spattered cover. If you don't mind that, I recommend it. The main character is a good guy, and I liked how he was written. As for the bits of the character's own novels, I just sort of skipped over that. I wasn't too interested in his alien smut novels.
This book is a bit violent and sexy, sure you can tell by the blood-spattered cover. If you don't mind that, I recommend it. The main character is a good guy, and I liked how he was written. As for the bits of the character's own novels, I just sort of skipped over that. I wasn't too interested in his alien smut novels.
turae's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. this is a first novel? Incredible. Usually a first time author has some weak spot, but you can see in a book or two they are going to be outstanding. Gordon is outstanding on his first novel.
At first the book is a fun, funky, darkly comedic book about a never done too well author. Then the murders begin, and the stories go places you never expect.
At first the book is a fun, funky, darkly comedic book about a never done too well author. Then the murders begin, and the stories go places you never expect.
gossamerchild's review against another edition
5.0
People like David Gordon really annoy me. I can't believe he was able to produce a book like this on his first attempt. The main character is a lovable loser, content to waste his writing talent on producing serial science fiction novels, along with the occasional pornography just to balance it out. His latest hit is a series of novels about vampires, written under a fictitious name and wearing his dead mother's clothes for the author picture (I felt there was an implied dig at the new vampire craze sweeping the country-not very subtle, either). He is approached by a man on death row to write his (the criminal's) biography, and soon after 3 women are killed in an identical manner to the way in which the condemned man had killed several young women years earlier, for which he was about to die. Throughout the narrative are snippets of books that Harry (the narrator/protagonist) have written. It's fascinating, twisted, and an elaborate love song to literature and what "art" really is. LOVED it. Intrigued and grossed out simultaneously.