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rodhunt's review against another edition
2.0
A classic outsider on the make, angry young man fuelled study of English working class consciousness, marred by shocking misogyny and images of domestic and sexual violence.
leahfigiel's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
Am sosit la Warley intr-o dimineata umeda de septembrie, cu un cer cenusiu ca gresia de Guiseley. Eram singur in compartiment. Tin minte ca-mi spuneam: „Gata, Joe, ai scapat de momaile, de cadavrele alea ambulante". Stomacul imi chioraia de foame. In ajun bausem cam multisor, si in nari inca imi mai staruia o senzatie intepatoare de sifon. In dimineata aceea deosebita, insa, pana si aceste mici neplaceri imi sporeau incantarea. Eram un Orator distrat — distrat, asemeni unui gentleman care se gandeste la baia fierbinte de acasa, la cafeaua neagra si la halatul de matase in care va picoti, lenevind. Ma imbracasem in cele mai bune haine ale mele: un costum usor gri, care ma costase paisprezece guinee, o cravata tot gri uni, ciorapi gri si pantofi cafenii. Pantofi mai scumpi nu purtasem niciodata. Aveau un luciu orbitor, batand in negru. Impermeabilul si palaria nu erau de aceeasi calitate: dupa trei luni fulgarinul se botise de tot si mirosea a cauciuc, iar palaria, putin imbacsita de briantina, se deformase in partea din fata.
teen_moth's review against another edition
3.0
Took me a bit to get into this book, but I was pretty glued to it by the end. I found reading it simulated the sort of sweaty, anxious, condemning journey Joe Lampton goes on, and the ending left me really disoriented and panicked, much like Joe.
cdcsmith's review against another edition
3.0
I really want to know why David Bowie had this on his top 100 list. The thing is, I do think it redeemed itself (for me) by the end, but not enough to make it even a 4 star book.
It reminded me of a lot of other things I've read, not in its entirety, but seemed to have shades of other books as inspiration. The two in particular being The Great Gatsby and An American Tragedy. I'm not as familiar with the social hierarchy in England, but it seems that both sides of the pond were similar.
For the most part, I disliked most of the people in the story. Not all of them. Some of the lesser characters were decent, but mostly it seemed that everyone was very selfish.
It reminded me of a lot of other things I've read, not in its entirety, but seemed to have shades of other books as inspiration. The two in particular being The Great Gatsby and An American Tragedy. I'm not as familiar with the social hierarchy in England, but it seems that both sides of the pond were similar.
For the most part, I disliked most of the people in the story. Not all of them. Some of the lesser characters were decent, but mostly it seemed that everyone was very selfish.
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