nothingforpomegranted's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
This phenomenal book, best read in one sitting, is inspiring me to read through the Man Booker International Prize winners and the rest of David Grossman's backlist. Set at a two-hour stand-up comedy show in a dive bar in Netanya, Israel, this book reminded me how much I love literary fiction. Splicing between time periods--one, the present; the other, the comedian's childhood--this explores the relationship between Dovaleh and Avishai, hitting on themes of grief, loneliness, friendship, abandonment, humor, and fear.
Avishai received a phone call from Dov, requesting that he come see him. After needing a few prompts to understand who precisely was calling him, Avishai, a retired and disgraced Supreme Court justice, agreed to come to the show and share with Dov what he saw. As the novel progresses, as the show progresses, we discover the history and connection between these two protagonists, an adolescent friendship culminating in a distinct personal trauma.
I cannot wait to purchase my own copy of this beautiful book and come back to it several years from now with a new perspective.
Avishai received a phone call from Dov, requesting that he come see him. After needing a few prompts to understand who precisely was calling him, Avishai, a retired and disgraced Supreme Court justice, agreed to come to the show and share with Dov what he saw. As the novel progresses, as the show progresses, we discover the history and connection between these two protagonists, an adolescent friendship culminating in a distinct personal trauma.
I cannot wait to purchase my own copy of this beautiful book and come back to it several years from now with a new perspective.
hillersg7's review against another edition
3.0
A bit like the audience to the central character, I sometimes found the story gripping and sometimes bemusing and annoying.
flijn's review against another edition
3.0
Well executed (and an execution it is!) but exhausting. It is really good but I can't give more than 3 stars when my first thought after the last page is 'thank god it's finished'.
hattori's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
nele_vds's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
oli4869's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
artemisadam's review
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I am very glad I read the book and in hindsight there were some very important nuggets of insight, I also really liked the premise and the unraveling of the plot but I did find the reading experience very frustrating at times (which was the point in a way) and I did not enjoy that very much.
evvahoo's review against another edition
4.0
great! listened to the audibook. Might have enjoyed it even more if I had read it.
elskeevelien's review against another edition
3.0
A Horse Walks into a Bar is a very well written, well thought out and well executed book. However, it's not easy to read. Whilst reading I felt a constant pressure in my head. The heaviness of the book, whilst being so subtle at first, had a physical impact on me. I don't know how David Grossman did that, but I guess props to him.
I do not like stand up comedy very often, because I feel the humor can be a cheap shot. You can see that in this book as well, but somehow it fits. I didn't laugh at the jokes, but liking those is not necessary for the story. It serves the purpose of showing the unraveling of our main character and it's so well and subtlety done.
The ending I loved. It made the constant struggle worth it. Whilst reading I didn't know that I'd started caring for our main character, but at the end I could definitely feel it.
I do not like stand up comedy very often, because I feel the humor can be a cheap shot. You can see that in this book as well, but somehow it fits. I didn't laugh at the jokes, but liking those is not necessary for the story. It serves the purpose of showing the unraveling of our main character and it's so well and subtlety done.
The ending I loved. It made the constant struggle worth it. Whilst reading I didn't know that I'd started caring for our main character, but at the end I could definitely feel it.