Reviews

Beyaz Otel by D.M. Thomas

jsalowe's review against another edition

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4.0

Why do I keep reading books that utterly destroy me? I don't know. It starts off tacky and eye-rolly, like REALLY, FREUD, WE'RE GOING THERE, REALLY, and then transition via pomo surrealist folderol to unexpected gutpunch. Anyway somehow I didn't expect it, I lost track of history in all those orgy breastmilk scenes. NB that the train is not really going to Palestine. Gutted. Weeping for the last 40 pages. Share and enjoy!

mr_wyte's review against another edition

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3.0

Reading this book was like peeling an onion, except in reverse. The really pungent parts came first, and then the circumstances and context and were layered on as the book progressed.

whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition

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5.0

Surreal and beautiful. A fantastic book that combines prose and poetry in an intoxicating mixture. Set in a resort style hotel we see people going about a wealthy holiday with seemingly no awareness that the world is changing around them. As the book builds and swirls, however, the enormity of the times and realization that something is wrong becomes inescapable. I am forever indebted to the friend who first gave this to me. Reading it was a thoroughly inspiring and enjoyable experience.

mkaliakin's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 a book that will stick with me for its odd and poignant story. The turn from the beginning to the end is drastic.  Interesting story telling

ggarsi's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

angldst's review against another edition

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3.0

distinctly wierd.

rileyary's review against another edition

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2.0

this felt like three different books thrown in one. if chapters 1-3 were cut out, and then 4-6 were edited to remove the (in my opinion) unnecessary scenes—the insane amount of breastfeeding—it would be so much better. so many disgusting elements for the sake of disgust that could’ve been replaced with meaningful metaphors to actually relate to the commentary of the novel.

marteur's review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mybrilliantbasset's review against another edition

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3.0

Certainly the most breastfeeding of any book I’ve ever read (admittedly I’ve never read a How-To book about breastfeeding but I imagine there’s still more of it in The White Castle).

kkwalu's review against another edition

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3.0

for school - wtf