Scan barcode
apk98's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-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
4.5
jomzjomzjomz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Utterly disturbing in a most fascinating way. I wish Mirabeau hadn’t skipped straight from the decision to follow Clara to two years later, but this was never meant to be a plot or character driven piece. It’s morality driven and message driven. Philosophical. Horrifyingly descriptive.
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
lampe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hpstrangelove's review
1.0
Yes, it really did take me 8+ years to finish this book. I didn't like it from the start. I kept hoping there might be something I'd find interesting about it, but nothing ever appealed to me. I stopped reading in August, 2010, with just a chapter left but wasn't able to mark it DNF since I was so close to the end. I finished, finally, but it simply wasn't for me.
directorpurry's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
swarley's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
acubens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
cmcrockford's review against another edition
5.0
Some of the most horrifying images in literature, backed by a Decadent philosophy that sees the title location as only the tip of the iceberg. Also deeply racist and Orientalist - Clara's idealization of China is reflected in the book's own prose, ironically. The likes of Hellraiser, "In The Penal Colony", and Genet were able to rifle through this novel without simulating it's ignorance. Still an invaluable work.
szeglin's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.0