kpdoessomereading's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Incredible! Emotional and funny.
abstract_amber77's review against another edition
3.0
What can I say about this book other than bizarre acid trip in to the life of a very messed up man trying to make amends with his past. It's an interesting story that's moderately entertaining - it just went a little too far over the crazy fence for me to thoroughly enjoy it. It was worth reading, nonetheless, just not worth 4 or 5 stars, imho.
caseykc's review against another edition
4.0
This book is powerful because it causes the reader to consider those people on the fringes of our society - people we think too weird or dirty to really want to remember. The events and the characters in this book are things we don't want to think about and keep swept away in the dark corners of our cities. Even with sparse writing, Mohr brings these characters to life, makes them human, and forces us to recognize those dark places and people in our world.
"Safety" and "home" are not assumed in this world, but the longing for both shows up in sometimes surprising and twisted ways. However, they are only surprising and twisted for those of us who have grown up with a family or life situation that has allowed us to assume both safety and home. For that reason alone Some Things That Meant the World to Me needs to be read by many, many people. You wouldn't find any of these characters on TV, even on an exploitative reality show. Nothing superficial can fix the messes these people have, but the beauty is that they know it... and they tramp on, living their lives, doing the work they need to do to make it right. (Unlike the too-many wannabe celebrities filling our reality-tvs thinking that money and plastic will make it all better.)
I would have liked to give 3.5 stars on this novel simply because it's hard to say I "really like" a book like this or think it's super amazing or something. I don't think books like this are meant to be enjoyed or loved at all, which makes our world based on grades and ratings an unfriendly place for all forms of art.
What makes writing like this special isn't how we rate it but how we respond to it.
"Safety" and "home" are not assumed in this world, but the longing for both shows up in sometimes surprising and twisted ways. However, they are only surprising and twisted for those of us who have grown up with a family or life situation that has allowed us to assume both safety and home. For that reason alone Some Things That Meant the World to Me needs to be read by many, many people. You wouldn't find any of these characters on TV, even on an exploitative reality show. Nothing superficial can fix the messes these people have, but the beauty is that they know it... and they tramp on, living their lives, doing the work they need to do to make it right. (Unlike the too-many wannabe celebrities filling our reality-tvs thinking that money and plastic will make it all better.)
I would have liked to give 3.5 stars on this novel simply because it's hard to say I "really like" a book like this or think it's super amazing or something. I don't think books like this are meant to be enjoyed or loved at all, which makes our world based on grades and ratings an unfriendly place for all forms of art.
What makes writing like this special isn't how we rate it but how we respond to it.
loveallthis's review against another edition
2.0
What an incredibly weird book.
Joshua Mohr's Some Things that Meant the World to Me is a drug trip of an adventure that follows Rhonda, a grown man suffering from depersonalization, as he drifts around San Francisco following a young imaginary-friend version of himself, in an attempt to come to grips with the abuse he suffered as a child. I didn't discern a plot or particularly interesting narrative arc. The prose and imagery are certainly evocative, and Rhonda's relationship with his neighbor is touching.
Two stars for the cojones it took Mohr to write and get published such a disturbing and off-putting first novel. I wish him lots of success.
Joshua Mohr's Some Things that Meant the World to Me is a drug trip of an adventure that follows Rhonda, a grown man suffering from depersonalization, as he drifts around San Francisco following a young imaginary-friend version of himself, in an attempt to come to grips with the abuse he suffered as a child. I didn't discern a plot or particularly interesting narrative arc. The prose and imagery are certainly evocative, and Rhonda's relationship with his neighbor is touching.
Two stars for the cojones it took Mohr to write and get published such a disturbing and off-putting first novel. I wish him lots of success.
wubledoo's review against another edition
1.0
Ick. Disliked this so much that i stopped reading after 30 pages. Too weird for me.
mstracho's review against another edition
4.0
I believe much of a book's emotional potential lives in its ability to surprise you with things more--in this case horrible--than what you imagine will happen. Its difficult for books to do that to me, but Mohr has succeeded. This book was devastating. And devastatingly beautiful.
His prose was everything I aspire to be. Both poetic and very real. The characters were unique. The world was dark and weird and both confounding but simple. He took a lot if simple things we all understand and put them together in a new and colorful way. (Which I guess is all writing ever attempts to be)
Mohr created a really good balance of questions asked and answered. A juxtaposition of humor and sadness. Great metaphors and suspension of disbelief. Will definitely be checking out his other books.
His prose was everything I aspire to be. Both poetic and very real. The characters were unique. The world was dark and weird and both confounding but simple. He took a lot if simple things we all understand and put them together in a new and colorful way. (Which I guess is all writing ever attempts to be)
Mohr created a really good balance of questions asked and answered. A juxtaposition of humor and sadness. Great metaphors and suspension of disbelief. Will definitely be checking out his other books.
corpuslibris's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what a book! Mohr pulls off two equally intriguing story lines: How did a boy named Rhonda end up in a mental hospital talking to a psychiatrist fifteen years ago? And will he finally be able to move beyond his past in the here and now? The boy Rhonda seems so full of innocence and resilience (and coping mechanisms), and the grown Rhonda brings some innocence and much chagrin but you find yourself rooting for him anyway. The sessions with the psychiatrist who he calls Angel-Hair resemble Faulknerian stream-of-consciousness, like Benjy in The Sound and the Fury. I'm not gonna lie and tell you this book isn't heartbreaking. But it's also beautiful and unforgettable.
strasda8's review against another edition
4.0
Weird, heartbreaking, difficult...this is a lovely little novel that will kick you right in the teeth. I'm not sure how much of this Mohr imparted from his own life experiences, but I pray it's not a large amount. There is some extremely sad shit going on between these pages, not at all for the faint of heart. For those who can stomach it, there is a shocking amount of intimacy and warmth between the crippling psychotic breaks Rhonda experiences constantly.
I want to add a special shout out to Two Dollar Radio, who sent this to me as part of their "Blind Date Sale", essentially a dealers choice on two books from their catalogue. Thanks for introducing me to an author and a voice I probably never would have experienced otherwise.
I want to add a special shout out to Two Dollar Radio, who sent this to me as part of their "Blind Date Sale", essentially a dealers choice on two books from their catalogue. Thanks for introducing me to an author and a voice I probably never would have experienced otherwise.
jct_35's review
5.0
Brilliantly weird and heartbreaking.
I just finished reading this , and seriously need to compile my thoughts before trying to write a proper review-this was just one big emotional rollercoaster for me. But, I will say I loved this book, and need to read more by Mohr.
I just finished reading this , and seriously need to compile my thoughts before trying to write a proper review-this was just one big emotional rollercoaster for me. But, I will say I loved this book, and need to read more by Mohr.