nancywif's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't finish this book, so i can't really say I read it, but I tried. I just could not get into it. I think the author was trying to write a philosophical book, but it just wasn't speaking to me. I'm sure there are people out there who really love this book. It's just not me.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
5.0
This book deserves a better review than: amazing, amazing, amazing, amazing.
superfamoustia's review against another edition
3.0
There are things that I really liked about this book--the Eastern spirituality, the ancient myths.... I cannot say I enjoyed the sum total that is this bewildering little novel, however. But I can't put my finger on why. I just know that I had to force myself to stick with it. I'll be interested to read Pelevin's full-on myth, The Helmet of Horror. Perhaps I can enjoy him more when he goes all the way with a single genre? (Though I have been known to love a good genre-bender...Cloud Atlas employs a different style every chapter, and it is one of my favorites! The difference might be in a coherent package, however...?)
Hm.
The cover of this edition is fantastic, though, isn't it? :)
Hm.
The cover of this edition is fantastic, though, isn't it? :)
jessicafee86's review against another edition
4.0
‘In this world there is nothing but dust. But when a heavenly being sees the dust, she remembers the light that makes the dust visible. While a tailless monkey only sees the dust on which the light falls. That’s why, when a heavenly being dies, she becomes light. But when a tailless monkey dies, he becomes dust.’
randomchino's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
escalelly's review against another edition
1.0
Als je een spannend boek met actie zoekt waar ook weerwolven in voorkomen moet je zeker niet dit boek gaan lezen. In plaats van leuke actie en een goed verhaal, zat het vol met pretentieuze filosofische gesprekken die echt totaal bij mij niet aankwamen. En dan heb ik het nog niet eens gehad over de vele misogyne opmerkingen die in het boek voorbijkwamen.
yash590's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
From the titles and the first few pages, I thought this was going to be a silly book which will be funny as well. But as the novel progressed, some of the arguments in the book were so challenging that I had to move on with an imperfect understanding of what is being discussed.
Throughout the book, it discusses the idea that language is what limits our thoughts (sort of like an anti-Sapir-Whorf view) and towards the end, it mentions that language is what makes us stupid. It is interesting to read about philosophy which lies outside the realm of language, but I found it difficult to understand (is it meant to be understood?).
The book and the plot was funny, extremely caustic and engaging but the philosophy of the were-creatures is a little tough to grasp and I don't know whether to believe that it was an elaborate joke on the reader by the author.
Throughout the book, it discusses the idea that language is what limits our thoughts (sort of like an anti-Sapir-Whorf view) and towards the end, it mentions that language is what makes us stupid. It is interesting to read about philosophy which lies outside the realm of language, but I found it difficult to understand (is it meant to be understood?).
The book and the plot was funny, extremely caustic and engaging but the philosophy of the were-creatures is a little tough to grasp and I don't know whether to believe that it was an elaborate joke on the reader by the author.
steveatwaywords's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This is my first Pelevin, and it will hardly be my last read by him. Fresh and ironic, even while playing with old myths and themes, Pelevin finds a surreal space to critique Russian politics and culture with vulgar abandon, all while speculating (sometimes ham-handedly) on human behavior with psychology and Buddhism.
If I am to critique the read, it is only in its closure, which works overhard to relate a "thematic secret" out loud to the reader and to which too little groundwork had been laid. This is not an awkwardly surprised Life of Pi-esque epiphany, but one that--were the novel to have been built from the concept, might have found the narrative moving differently. The opening Prologue, to apologize for this, seems glued on as an afterthought.
Nevertheless, the reading was fresh enough--its subjects and language "naked" enough--that read as political satire or as straight (adult) fantasy, it was satisfying, and even at times engrossing.
If I am to critique the read, it is only in its closure, which works overhard to relate a "thematic secret" out loud to the reader and to which too little groundwork had been laid. This is not an awkwardly surprised Life of Pi-esque epiphany, but one that--were the novel to have been built from the concept, might have found the narrative moving differently. The opening Prologue, to apologize for this, seems glued on as an afterthought.
Nevertheless, the reading was fresh enough--its subjects and language "naked" enough--that read as political satire or as straight (adult) fantasy, it was satisfying, and even at times engrossing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual assault and Violence
Minor: Torture