kswhite16's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
hedytf's review
1.0
If you're interested in the self-important, arrogant musings of an overprivileged American male, this is a great book. Otherwise, don't bother.
zehroni's review against another edition
3.0
I've never wanted to go to Amsterdam, but I loved reading about Wienir's travels through the city. It was a nice trip and really felt like I was there; the 90s Amsterdam atmosphere the author painted was wonderful to live in. Those moments were about 45 percent of the book and I enjoyed those bits the most. What I didn't like/what I found about this that just wasn't for me was the actual story/plot, I guess. I thought the book was going to be about the Red Light District and the women who worked there. I wanted this to give them names, stories, and to represent them more. What I got was a book about an "innocent" guy trying to write a book about the district and an interview thrown in at the end to justify it all. It's too much about him and not enough about the women or the district.
That said, I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I couldn't put it down. I really wanted him to finally get his story. I'm just disappointed with the lack of a woman's voice here.
I won this in a goodreads giveaway!
That said, I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did. I couldn't put it down. I really wanted him to finally get his story. I'm just disappointed with the lack of a woman's voice here.
I won this in a goodreads giveaway!
jessicamap's review against another edition
4.0
Check out my blog for more about the author and to read an excerpt from the book!
I have never been to Amsterdam, so this was something the piqued my curiosity. I always love reading stories or memoirs about places I haven't been to yet. I love when the authors can place the reader there and really set the scene for the rest of the novel.
These memoirs are always hard to review. It's a part of someone's life and their experiences as they remember and saw it. There are some topics covered in this novel that definitely aren't for everyone and I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers. We go on a journey with the author as he tries to find women in the industry to interview for his book - which was a lot harder than you would have thought! This memoir is equal parts exposé and travel diary, and it definitely kept my interest throughout.
I was impressed with the rules he set in place for himself from the beginning when it came to trying to interview the women in the sex industry of the red light district. I was no expecting the story that I got, and I was pleasantly surprised! I figured this would be a coming of age story of a young man going to the red light district for the first time. Instead we get a detailed look into the world of drugs and prostitution. I find these topics incredibly intriguing and would recommend this to those that feel the same way.
I give this 3.5/5 stars - rounded up for rating.
I have never been to Amsterdam, so this was something the piqued my curiosity. I always love reading stories or memoirs about places I haven't been to yet. I love when the authors can place the reader there and really set the scene for the rest of the novel.
These memoirs are always hard to review. It's a part of someone's life and their experiences as they remember and saw it. There are some topics covered in this novel that definitely aren't for everyone and I wouldn't recommend this for younger readers. We go on a journey with the author as he tries to find women in the industry to interview for his book - which was a lot harder than you would have thought! This memoir is equal parts exposé and travel diary, and it definitely kept my interest throughout.
I was impressed with the rules he set in place for himself from the beginning when it came to trying to interview the women in the sex industry of the red light district. I was no expecting the story that I got, and I was pleasantly surprised! I figured this would be a coming of age story of a young man going to the red light district for the first time. Instead we get a detailed look into the world of drugs and prostitution. I find these topics incredibly intriguing and would recommend this to those that feel the same way.
I give this 3.5/5 stars - rounded up for rating.
bookwormmuse's review against another edition
2.0
I was kindly given an e-ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
It is a very hard book to review, in that, it's just...not going to be everybody's cup of tea. If you are under eighteen and thinking of reading it, just don't. I am not tempting you into reading it, that is not what this is, it simply isn't the book for you.
I think the problem with Amsterdam Exposed is the fact that it all happened quite a while ago. A lot has changed since then. Even if I were to discount that, there's also the matter of the way author went about the whole thing. I just couldn't understand why he went to such lengths to do those things, in the end, all we get is just one story of a person who went through a lot. There is a certain lack of sympathy and understanding of the bigger picture. Or maybe that was how the author intended it to be. A singular focus on the problem.
Overall, I loved the way he wrote? His detailed writing is what drew me in, I always love it when authors write with such detail. I also loved the way he used the Dutch language, I have absolutely no knowledge of the language but a friend helped me out. All in all, this book was an eye-opener and not particularly in a good way but if you are interested in getting know Amsterdam, then go for it, it is worth reading.
It is a very hard book to review, in that, it's just...not going to be everybody's cup of tea. If you are under eighteen and thinking of reading it, just don't. I am not tempting you into reading it, that is not what this is, it simply isn't the book for you.
I think the problem with Amsterdam Exposed is the fact that it all happened quite a while ago. A lot has changed since then. Even if I were to discount that, there's also the matter of the way author went about the whole thing. I just couldn't understand why he went to such lengths to do those things, in the end, all we get is just one story of a person who went through a lot. There is a certain lack of sympathy and understanding of the bigger picture. Or maybe that was how the author intended it to be. A singular focus on the problem.
Overall, I loved the way he wrote? His detailed writing is what drew me in, I always love it when authors write with such detail. I also loved the way he used the Dutch language, I have absolutely no knowledge of the language but a friend helped me out. All in all, this book was an eye-opener and not particularly in a good way but if you are interested in getting know Amsterdam, then go for it, it is worth reading.
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