Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

70 reviews

kilianisreading's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, and Medical trauma

danipowl's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, and Murder

jumpingjacksofy's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder

sarahweyand's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book reminds me a lot of the THE DUMB HOUSE. An interesting but disturbing premise, adequate execution, but no discernable themes? Sometimes I think a book exists just to make you feel kind of gross, and this is one of those books. 

I will say, the narrator really kills it here. He get into character and he has a great accent and he really makes the whole story come to life. There were some story elements that I found interesting, but for the most part I just kind of felt overstimulated for the sake of shock. I can understand why some people might like that, but it's not really for me. The more I think back on it, the more I dislike it.

I think it you like books like THE DUMB HOUSE, or EXQUITISTE CORPSE (haven't read but a gut feeling), then maybe pick this one up at it seems to be in a similar vein. Otherwise, steer clear.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Murder

gawdz0rz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

unsettling and dark. unfortunately, the wasp factory had me feeling left behind on a few things for a while, and even now i’m still a little confused on their relevance, but maybe that’s my fault. the plot twists were interesting, and i think the book overall is an interesting critique of gender and toxic masculinity. it’ll be interesting to read this again in the future knowing how the book ends. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder

autarch's review against another edition

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

petepilgrim's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

This has been on my radar for years, and finally  it up has been such a disappointment.

Perhaps it would have been shocking once, but the writing around the child murders is not strong enough to support the lack of characterisation or plot. 

A book like this shouldn't be boring, and my god it's a drag.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, and Murder

leiaslizzy's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Medical content, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Misogyny

This book is utterly insane from start to finish.

moonmoonsun's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

animal deaths and torture: dogs, rabbits, mice, sheep wasps

ab1gail_g's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail