minniepauline's review against another edition
3.0
If I could give it a three-and-a-half I would. I wanted to want to devour this book, but I was okay with snacking. I will read more by Ms. Homes, though.
metalwork_as_poetry's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bundy23's review against another edition
DNF. 14%. Hated the characters, story didn't interest me, writing was passable though.
additionaddiction's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very fast-paced book. Not to say that it's an "action-packed" story, but the writing style makes the entire story feel very frantic. Like a disaster is waiting around every corner. The characters all seem to speak quickly in short bursts of sentences.
I've read The End Of Alice (also by A.M. Homes) and I think I enjoyed this book better. This is certainly not going to win any "feel good story of the year" awards, but it seems to ring true in a very modern Stepford-wives sort of way.
I feel like every sentence of this book had a double meaning, as if every choice the characters make is a parable for life. I think I'll probably need to read this again at some point just to take notes, there's lots of good stuff here.
I've read The End Of Alice (also by A.M. Homes) and I think I enjoyed this book better. This is certainly not going to win any "feel good story of the year" awards, but it seems to ring true in a very modern Stepford-wives sort of way.
I feel like every sentence of this book had a double meaning, as if every choice the characters make is a parable for life. I think I'll probably need to read this again at some point just to take notes, there's lots of good stuff here.
3gully's review against another edition
4.0
Alternate Title:
Cook, Order Take-Out, or Burn Our Own House Down
Cook, Order Take-Out, or Burn Our Own House Down
sawyerbell's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. While compelling and darkly funny, the overall story suffers somewhat from unlikeable characters whose unvarying state of near hysteria becomes tedious toward the end.
zimlicious's review against another edition
5.0
http://zimlicious.blogspot.com/
In addition to being a master of her craft, A.M. Homes always manages to shock me. In Music for Torching, she takes a regular, married suburban couple with two kids, puts them in unusual yet believable situations, takes your hand and walks you through it.
If you've read Homes's story collection Safety of Objects, you'll remember the main characters Paul and Elaine. They used to be in love but now they're just annoying hell out of one another, they wanted to have everything and now that they do they're bored with it. They have friends from their neighborhood where they all want to throw the perfect party, which includes serving AND consuming sufficient amounts of alcohol.
One day while the couple is starting a barbecue in their yard, they think the same thing and agree upon it without having to use words: Elaine pushes the barbecue over and it catches on fire. What follows, in general, is them trying put their house and life back together. However, what makes it worth reading is all that happens during, and, of course, the unexpected, kind of "ohnoyoudidn't" kind of ending.
I must also add that I disliked every single character in this book, even the kids. Yet it's already made its way into my "favorites" shelf. Even though it was written more than ten years ago, it pretty much sums up what we're going through today. And, as always, Homes's ability to tell what usually goes untold is both disturbing and fascinating at the same time.
In addition to being a master of her craft, A.M. Homes always manages to shock me. In Music for Torching, she takes a regular, married suburban couple with two kids, puts them in unusual yet believable situations, takes your hand and walks you through it.
If you've read Homes's story collection Safety of Objects, you'll remember the main characters Paul and Elaine. They used to be in love but now they're just annoying hell out of one another, they wanted to have everything and now that they do they're bored with it. They have friends from their neighborhood where they all want to throw the perfect party, which includes serving AND consuming sufficient amounts of alcohol.
One day while the couple is starting a barbecue in their yard, they think the same thing and agree upon it without having to use words: Elaine pushes the barbecue over and it catches on fire. What follows, in general, is them trying put their house and life back together. However, what makes it worth reading is all that happens during, and, of course, the unexpected, kind of "ohnoyoudidn't" kind of ending.
I must also add that I disliked every single character in this book, even the kids. Yet it's already made its way into my "favorites" shelf. Even though it was written more than ten years ago, it pretty much sums up what we're going through today. And, as always, Homes's ability to tell what usually goes untold is both disturbing and fascinating at the same time.
drewbios's review against another edition
An uncomfortable cross between Lionel Shriver's 'We need to talk about Kevin' and 'The Slap' by Christos Tsiolkas. Kinda fun, but the ending felt rather abritrary.