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tellsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this was a well-written story rooted in so much reality it was wild. I thought the development of the story took the main character from a place of abuse/abused to empowered/still traumatized. Somewhere in the middle of this novel I got a little bored and put it down for a while to read something else. There's an undercurrent of miserable mundanity at times, or maybe coming from what some would also deem an unreal life, I just wasn't that surprised by certain things.. but the story regardless is well worth the read.
I think the main character's attitude was a highlight of the novel. I enjoyed his curiosity and outrage over the ridiculousness around him (bicycling confederate guy), his quippy, twitteresque cynicism towards the disparities of life around him and his quiet humble nature, really learning to stand on his own two feet working the dishes in the restaurant. I loved that he had this resilience in the face of just an unreal, unfair life. He wasn't going to let himself get played out by those who are supposed to be older and wiser, the teachers, his uncle's girlfriend, his uncle, etc. He took the opportunity to get a job, secure his place and be an adult - but not without some trouble and some storytelling. I really loved the remote/naming-the-days of the week bit. It was tragically beautiful and insanely unique. Brian Allen Carr really slam-dunked that literary device.
It's a great coming of age novel. I really enjoyed the observations on being young and sometimes dumb and how writer Brian Allen Carr captured the experience of young life in bummy towns with shitty family and sometimes wack friends.
I think the main character's attitude was a highlight of the novel. I enjoyed his curiosity and outrage over the ridiculousness around him (bicycling confederate guy), his quippy, twitteresque cynicism towards the disparities of life around him and his quiet humble nature, really learning to stand on his own two feet working the dishes in the restaurant. I loved that he had this resilience in the face of just an unreal, unfair life. He wasn't going to let himself get played out by those who are supposed to be older and wiser, the teachers, his uncle's girlfriend, his uncle, etc. He took the opportunity to get a job, secure his place and be an adult - but not without some trouble and some storytelling. I really loved the remote/naming-the-days of the week bit. It was tragically beautiful and insanely unique. Brian Allen Carr really slam-dunked that literary device.
It's a great coming of age novel. I really enjoyed the observations on being young and sometimes dumb and how writer Brian Allen Carr captured the experience of young life in bummy towns with shitty family and sometimes wack friends.
stacynalley's review against another edition
4.0
I think I liked this book more than some other reviewers.
First, it is meant to be a week in the life of a 17-year-old in Bumfuck, Indiana. We are not talking an Austen novel here. Second, it is about the shit that is real for millions of Americans -- just making it to the next day with what little they have.
All-in-all, I could figure out how Riggle's life will end up. It isn't too hard to figure out because the author allows us to connect the dots of N unambitious teen who just lets life happen. And it is damn sad, because Riggle has potential if he reads, understands and likes philosophy, and connect meaning to his own life and current culture. He just has no mentors or cultured friends except Chef, who will teach him what she needs him to know and not what could rise him above and allow him to leave this shitty little town.
First, it is meant to be a week in the life of a 17-year-old in Bumfuck, Indiana. We are not talking an Austen novel here. Second, it is about the shit that is real for millions of Americans -- just making it to the next day with what little they have.
All-in-all, I could figure out how Riggle's life will end up. It isn't too hard to figure out because the author allows us to connect the dots of N unambitious teen who just lets life happen. And it is damn sad, because Riggle has potential if he reads, understands and likes philosophy, and connect meaning to his own life and current culture. He just has no mentors or cultured friends except Chef, who will teach him what she needs him to know and not what could rise him above and allow him to leave this shitty little town.
paigemorfitt's review against another edition
This book was simply okay (it was the Opioid, Indiana of books). What made it so hard to start reading was the descriptions in the beginning. I mean, the norm of books in the US is that they are written with a Straight, White, Male perspective (hopefully one day that will change). However, it was unnecessary for the author to point that out (specifically in a pseudo-racist skimming the surface way).
That said, this book reminds me of a book trying to be more about character development than plot (like Faulkner). If that was the case, I would really enjoy this book. I think if it focused more on what a teenager in the 21st century was going through, it would be really good. But I don't know if that was the intent. There were a lot of "train-of-thought" conversations that I got lost in a lot , and the explanation of days of week which, in all honesty, did nothing to anything. There was the whole finger puppet thing which was odd (do 17 year old's really not know other people make finger puppets?). But I think it is a good book to start the reveal of how easily kids slip through DHS/how it fails them, and how drugs impact kids.
That said, this book reminds me of a book trying to be more about character development than plot (like Faulkner). If that was the case, I would really enjoy this book. I think if it focused more on what a teenager in the 21st century was going through, it would be really good. But I don't know if that was the intent. There were a lot of "train-of-thought" conversations that I got lost in a lot , and the explanation of days of week which, in all honesty, did nothing to anything. There was the whole finger puppet thing which was odd (do 17 year old's really not know other people make finger puppets?). But I think it is a good book to start the reveal of how easily kids slip through DHS/how it fails them, and how drugs impact kids.
d_nice_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
smarieg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
meesh_lawreesh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
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? Yes
3.5
eldritchreader's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 2.5
Trigger warnings:
I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Some of them are good. Some of them not so much. And some I just don't know?
Opioid, Indiana follows a week in the life of 17-year-old Riggle. He lives in a small town in Indiana, in the presidential-era of Donald Trump. Riggle is an orphan who is now living in a household of his drug-using uncle. On top of this, he is living in an America which is riddled with drugs, school shootings and confederate flags.
I want to note here that I do not live in America, so I have very little lived-in experience of this national climate.
Overall, the story is a dialogue of Riggle's thoughts throughout this week. Quite often, these thoughts are incredibly crude. While this may be a dictation on how a society effects the way a teenager views the world, it quite often seemed unnecessary and crude just for the sake of being crude. This begins very early on, and had this not been an ALC, it may have very quickly caused me to DNF the story.
The story is also intertwined with folk-type tales that Riggle used to be told by his late-mother. While these were an interesting element to the story, I didn't really understand the reason for their inclusion?
The audio and narration of the story was something that I did enjoy. Had this story been matched with a different narrator it could quickly have become something that was difficult to slog through, when paired with the crude commentary and seemingly unnecessary story-telling.
Despite everything that I struggled with, Carr presents us with a very unique narrative of life in modern America. The disagreeable protagonist was an interesting element, as the reader is forced to consider their situation and how they feel towards the character because of their circumstances. The writing style throughout was incredibly good as well.
And so I'm settling on a 2.5/5. Right in the middle. I don't think I'll pick this up again but the book does have some merit. Just be aware of the trigger warnings if you want to pick this one up.
Trigger warnings:
Spoiler
racial slurs, misogyny, substance abuse, underage drinking, domestic abuse, deathI have a lot of thoughts about this book. Some of them are good. Some of them not so much. And some I just don't know?
Opioid, Indiana follows a week in the life of 17-year-old Riggle. He lives in a small town in Indiana, in the presidential-era of Donald Trump. Riggle is an orphan who is now living in a household of his drug-using uncle. On top of this, he is living in an America which is riddled with drugs, school shootings and confederate flags.
I want to note here that I do not live in America, so I have very little lived-in experience of this national climate.
Overall, the story is a dialogue of Riggle's thoughts throughout this week. Quite often, these thoughts are incredibly crude. While this may be a dictation on how a society effects the way a teenager views the world, it quite often seemed unnecessary and crude just for the sake of being crude. This begins very early on, and had this not been an ALC, it may have very quickly caused me to DNF the story.
The story is also intertwined with folk-type tales that Riggle used to be told by his late-mother. While these were an interesting element to the story, I didn't really understand the reason for their inclusion?
The audio and narration of the story was something that I did enjoy. Had this story been matched with a different narrator it could quickly have become something that was difficult to slog through, when paired with the crude commentary and seemingly unnecessary story-telling.
Despite everything that I struggled with, Carr presents us with a very unique narrative of life in modern America. The disagreeable protagonist was an interesting element, as the reader is forced to consider their situation and how they feel towards the character because of their circumstances. The writing style throughout was incredibly good as well.
And so I'm settling on a 2.5/5. Right in the middle. I don't think I'll pick this up again but the book does have some merit. Just be aware of the trigger warnings if you want to pick this one up.
Note: Review copy (audio) received via Libro.FM. This does not impact opinions within this review.blog • trigger warning database • more links
Happy reading! ❤
nwilliams96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.0
deceasedscribe's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
howesj's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25