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jblago's review
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A book to more absorbed than read. When I started I was understandably challenged just comprehending each sentence as I read it, sometimes rereading the same paragraph multiple times simply to understand the words themselves let alone any semblance of deeper meaning or overall plot. But as I read more I became more comfortable with the style of this book. A literal Diary of a Madman. Junk-sick and mostly disgusting, yet proud and satirical on a level I have yet to see in any other book, film, or other art piece.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Medical trauma, Alcohol, and Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Trafficking, Abortion, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Minor: Homophobia, Pedophilia, Islamophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
The satirical nature of the book makes it HEAVY with content warnings, but within context everything has its purpose. Each word serves its raison d’etre perfectly, in spite of its outward appearance.nickreallylovestoread's review against another edition
I gave this book two chances and I just can’t do it. Read Junky before this and enjoyed the gritty realism mixed with Burroughs’ black comedy, but the vignettes in this book were jagged and incredibly hard to follow. Burroughs must have challenged himself to see how obnoxiously crude he could make depraved sex sequences. Enjoyed dark authors like Bret Easton Ellis, Martin Amis, and Hunter S. Thompson who I realize owe their writings and successes to Burroughs (Amis is debatable) but this goes on too far. I’ll read Queer or Junky if I go back to this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, and Murder