officepants's review against another edition
challenging
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
zensien's review against another edition
Colección muy buena para empezar con este autor. Mezcla relatos experimentales con otros más normales. Mis favoritos han sido los que dan el título al libro y "The Depressed Person".
adamz24's review against another edition
3.0
"Brief Interview #20" is one of the finest pieces of recent American writing, period. "Adult World (I&II)" are pretty terrific, too. "The Depressed Person" is exhausting but valuable. "A Radically Condensed History of Postindustrial Life" is worth committing to memory. The other Brief Interviews are mostly worthwhile.
The rest of the collection I'm not too sure about. There's no pardoning "Octet" or "Datum Centurio."
So, pretty seriously uneven and problematic as a whole, this book, but indispensable as it contains some of DFW's finest work. As far as the story collections go, this is better than Girl with Curious Hair, and significantly worse than Oblivion.
The rest of the collection I'm not too sure about. There's no pardoning "Octet" or "Datum Centurio."
So, pretty seriously uneven and problematic as a whole, this book, but indispensable as it contains some of DFW's finest work. As far as the story collections go, this is better than Girl with Curious Hair, and significantly worse than Oblivion.
wildpaleyonder's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
leilatre's review against another edition
3.0
Ok, I didn't completely finish this one, but since it is a short story collection, I'm not going to delay reviewing until it is done (in case that should happen). There were some stories that I enjoyed and I thought the theme worked well as a whole. On the other hand, the last two stories I read were either completely beyond me or were too clever for their own good. So yeah, I quit. I think there are 2 or 3 left to read.
schylermartin's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not smart enough to understand most of this book, but I know genius when I see it.
colleenbee's review against another edition
2.0
So here's my take. The author is talented. But. This book was really difficult to read. Some sections were almost unreadable, though I forced myself to slog through. He is writing about ugliness in all its human forms. He uses ugly language, which I don't like at all. There were moments I enjoyed, and parts that made me laugh. But it wasn't worth it for me. I think it all comes down to what kind of reader you are. I read to find beauty. Beauty in lovely phrases, in stories that move me. There is enough of ugliness in the world. I don't want to spend my time focusing on it in this much detail. I wouldn't recommend this book.
tashaw's review against another edition
3.0
Many of these men were simply *too* hideous, especially when discussing rape. I continue to prefer Wallace as a non-fiction writer.