jayden_mccomiskie's review
5.0
JC. This is easily one of the funniest and most bonkers book I've read. I could read it straight away again. The scope is mind blowing. Can't wait for his new book later this year.
dllh's review
4.0
I wrote (and will have another post or two) about this book at some length here. In short, I liked the book a lot. Bits of it are pretty hard to stomach, and it's not your classic narrative novel, but it's not a classically hard book, and it's chock full of humor (and some serious stuff too). It's very much worth a read if you've liked Levin's other work or are into the usual big postmodern type novels.
binstonbirchill's review
4.0
A whacky novel with a strange documentary sequence that stuck out in my mind. Populated with interesting characters Bubblegum is a sci-fi novel of sorts. The world is much like our but instead of the internet, curios abound. What are curios? Why is the book called Bubblegum? Is his real name Magnet Belt? Well no, it’s Belt Magnet, and for the rest you’ll have to get the book. It’s long and strange and worth the time.
binjuice's review
I could already tell I was going to hate this book. It was slow and confusing from the start. I’m not about that so it’s a DNF for me.
bettyvd's review against another edition
4.0
Met plezier gelezen. Dit is een rijk boek met thema’s als de relatie tussen mens en machine, psychische problemen, geweld en liefde. Verweven in de plot zijn talrijke verkenningen van denkstijlen en taalregisters.
chamblyman's review
5.0
4.5 Stars. A doozy! A blast! A challenge! A long, strange trip: Bubblegum is an infuriatingly, thrillingly, DEEP dive into one person's psyche and soul. It's also a neon pink funhouse mirror reflecting and distorting America into a weird, wild alternate world that still feels true. Consumerism, striving for "success", trend and technology obsessions, the haves and have-nots, family and childhood, adulthood and power, it's all here and more. Levin's smart, darkly imaginative satire will appeal to fans of Wallace's Infinite Jest, Delillo's White Noise, and Lethem's Chronic City, while the amazingly immersive narrative voice will remind readers of Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caufield and Confederacy of Dunces' Ignatius J. Reilly. Wowza! P.S. Is it too long? Perhaps, but only half-a-star too long.
stewreads's review
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
chaoticrebxl's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kestetz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5