amortristis's review
dark
fast-paced
2.5
I’m having a hard time reviewing Material because, while I can safely say I didn’t like it, it’s hardly egregious. I could talk about the sloppy artwork, the mediocre writing, the disjointed narrative threads. I could talk about the footnotes urging me to read this philosopher’s work or that Wikipedia article, shoehorned into the book instead of being organically incorporated into the fiction. I could talk about the unshakable feeling that I’m supposed to think this book is important because it gestures at heavy subject matter, even though it has nothing insightful to contribute. But these things don’t make the book worth hating. Did it irritate me? Absolutely. But I can’t hate it. I just don’t like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs
Moderate: Kidnapping, Child abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Sexual content, Confinement, Drug use, Torture, Violence, and Physical abuse
Minor: Death, Hate crime, Murder, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, Dementia, Gun violence, Rape, Ableism, Addiction, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Cancer
pixelina's review
2.0
Not my cup of tea this one.
Not a fan of the artwork at all, it feels flat and boring.
The story was rather weak and not a lot happened. I didn't care much for any of the 4 stories in this and some I did't even 'get'
Not a fan of the artwork at all, it feels flat and boring.
The story was rather weak and not a lot happened. I didn't care much for any of the 4 stories in this and some I did't even 'get'
marksutherland's review
3.0
Four stories of post-modern American life told in parallel with no obvious connecting theme. There's plenty to chew on but I'm left feeling alienated and detached rather than drawn into these character's worlds.
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