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loesje_kr's review against another edition
2.0
It gets two stars because I was fascinated by the set up and it was really readable. However, Brautigan uses misogynistic and racist language so it deserves a low rating. If that book is a reflection of the male gaze, count me out. I'd love to see a feminist retelling of this book. Also, the premise is really really great. I've been in love with the idea of the library for unwanted books ever since I heard about it on "This American Life" in 2018. Just wish the library had been inhabited by a man that didn't describe the breasts of 12 year olds.
abeeetle's review against another edition
4.0
It would be the exact same book if Vida had been, say, 24. But I enjoy Brautigan’s style.
x0pherl's review against another edition
2.0
For me, [a:Richard Brautigan|7970|Richard Brautigan|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1270930283p2/7970.jpg] has always walked a fine line between simplicity and genius, and this novel may tip too far to the former side. Perhaps this is a generational thing- I suppose in 1971, people talking matter-of-factly about traveling to Mexico for an abortion probably held a deeper meaning than the story did for me today. I can't say I'd recommend this book for anyone, but it did have moments of beauty - phrases that make you stop and re-read them to absorb everything they have to offer; but other works by Brautigan have done this better.
storiesofsilva's review against another edition
5.0
My new favorite book.
The way Brautigan writes is so charming and so tongue-in-cheek humorous. That, along with the wonderfully heart-warming and creative story of a library where anybody can submit their work about anything and nobody is allowed to read it, and the man who works there falling in love with a young woman who is submitting work on how she hates the gorgeous body in which she has been stuck. Men gawk every single place she goes and she cannot stand it, calling her beauty evil. This love story is seriously one for the ages.
The way Brautigan writes is so charming and so tongue-in-cheek humorous. That, along with the wonderfully heart-warming and creative story of a library where anybody can submit their work about anything and nobody is allowed to read it, and the man who works there falling in love with a young woman who is submitting work on how she hates the gorgeous body in which she has been stuck. Men gawk every single place she goes and she cannot stand it, calling her beauty evil. This love story is seriously one for the ages.
heatherwreads's review against another edition
1.0
The single star is for the concept of the Library and that concept ONLY. This book attempts to make a statement about the wrongness of objectifying women’s bodies and completely misses the mark. The comment on an 11- or 12-year-olds breasts really should have been the red flag for me to stop. Also the chapter titles “my first/second/third abortion” from the cis man’s perspective of being in the room next door when people were getting *their* abortions. Yeah the writing style was good, the story interesting I guess and is definitely a product of it’s time but like. We no longer need a story of an abortion told by a cis man who continues to comment on the sexuality of his 19-year-old girlfriend’s body when the first thing she ever told him was that she hated how people view her body. Also he’s 31 soooo also pervy on that level. The narrator is one of those supposed nice guys who don’t commit heinous acts against women but definitely still view women as existing for his pleasure. Not worth the time or effort.
jonathans's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Quick, easy read but while I love Brautigan's impressionistic style of writing, the overall narrative is lacking a bit and I didn't feel as engaged as I did with his other works I've read. I do love the conclusion, though.
cora_the_explorer's review against another edition
lighthearted
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? It's complicated
2.0
shanhautman's review against another edition
4.0
I so wanted this story to be more about the library and the weird and wonderful world within. The abortion story line comes across as dated with the numerous references to Vida's physical beauty and its impact on those around her. I'm all for satire, but this was over the top. Probably flew really well when published but seems like overkill and repetition now.
tophat8855's review against another edition
4.0
It's a short read. Listened via Hoopla. I liked it. Definitely a snapshot in time.