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rj_owen's review against another edition
4.0
Boy, was this book an adventure. I really felt like I was right there with Gabriel on his whole journey from London, to Tokyo, to Berlin. The author made me feel like only I was "in-the-know" and privy to all the psychotic ramblings he had to share. The fact that this book starts off in a mental institution pretty much sets the tone for the whole book. Yeah, Gabriel's effed up, but he doesn't care. He's going to kill him self, ha ha. No worries.
Gabriel isn't really a likable guy though. He's mostly a prick and likes to say "bourgeois" more than Ayn Rand. The footnotes are numerous and, for the most part, irrelevant (I just finished [b:House of Leaves|24800|House of Leaves|Mark Z. Danielewski|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CV88E7WQL._SL75_.jpg|856555] so I sure know about irrelevant footnotes. *cringe*)
If only I could get my hands on some panda paw or koala leg, I could try out some of his recipes for my own Bacchanalian feast.
Gabriel isn't really a likable guy though. He's mostly a prick and likes to say "bourgeois" more than Ayn Rand. The footnotes are numerous and, for the most part, irrelevant (I just finished [b:House of Leaves|24800|House of Leaves|Mark Z. Danielewski|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CV88E7WQL._SL75_.jpg|856555] so I sure know about irrelevant footnotes. *cringe*)
If only I could get my hands on some panda paw or koala leg, I could try out some of his recipes for my own Bacchanalian feast.
karenschiavelli's review against another edition
4.0
Constant switches of emotion and interludes of action kept me engaged throughout the book. It was only at the end that I truly wanted to know what was to happen next. The ending left a bit to be desired - slightly vague and hollywood-esque but overall an enjoyable read.
grahamclements's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the previous two novels of his I have read, but they were stellar reads, so perhaps I am being a bit harsh with just three stars. It is about a 25 year-old English man who escapes from rehab to go on one last binge before he kills himself. And what a spectacular binge of decandance it proves to be, taking place in three different countries, with lots of grog and drugs. It was hard to like the progtagnist or even emphasise with him, even though his prime beef with the world was its consumerism and profit over morality. One brief section of the book, really hit home though for this reader, and it might even have me changing a life time of waste.
harrydargavel's review against another edition
Shit pretentious unreadable bollocks
rocketiza's review against another edition
5.0
Written like Hunter S. Thompson if he was more heady/literary and instead of anger had the helpless malaise of our current culture against trying to stop the bourgeois from fucking over everyone. It was to hard to keep with the author in parts and I'm sure there was a lot that sailed over my head but I enjoyed it.
elaineruss's review against another edition
5.0
2nd time reading this. I gave it 4 stars originally but on 2nd read through it truly deserves 5. Just brilliant. Loved every moment. Unique, vibrant, inspiring and surprisingly joyous.
Also, some amazing descriptions of Berlin
Also, some amazing descriptions of Berlin
vanessar's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a rant about capitalism and how it is basically rogering the masses and benefiting very few. But it is also a heartfelt story of a young man that has lost his way and for most of the book chooses to stay lost. I loved DBC Pierre's use of language in Vernon God Little and loved it here too. It's clear this man really relishes words; any book that has the phrase 'neo-Californian ano-extremists' 6 pages in has me convinced.
whatsatajahism's review against another edition
5.0
The debauchery. It was done well. And it really made me think about some philosophical Q's - am i just a cog in a machine? Do I know when to quit? Does any of this even matter? DBC Pierre spitting fire as usual.
tessaays's review against another edition
2.0
I’ve been torn over this review for a while now. While this book is hopelessly enveloping and I genuinely enjoyed reading it, it was ultimately let down by some flaws that became harder and harder to overlook.
The footnotes - awful, pretentious, added nothing. I skipped them after making an effort for the first couple of chapters.
The absolutely outlandish ending - solved nothing, thematically inconsistent, and didn’t redeem or even challenge any of the characters.
The overall aim of the book - it didn’t work as a satire, and neither was it a meaningful indictment of any of the things that the protagonist claimed to hate so much. It was a rollicking good read but ultimately felt hollow and like it had very little to say.
The footnotes - awful, pretentious, added nothing. I skipped them after making an effort for the first couple of chapters.
The absolutely outlandish ending - solved nothing, thematically inconsistent, and didn’t redeem or even challenge any of the characters.
The overall aim of the book - it didn’t work as a satire, and neither was it a meaningful indictment of any of the things that the protagonist claimed to hate so much. It was a rollicking good read but ultimately felt hollow and like it had very little to say.