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ryanjamescooper's review against another edition
2.0
A guy writes for a newspaper column under the name “Miss Lonelyhearts” he receives letters and then he responds to them when he writes the column. Sounds like a fun interesting idea, sounds like an idea that can be funny one moment, sad the next. I suppose that’s why this is novella was described as “dark humor”.
This was anything but humorous. I guess Nathaniel West got the dark right? The idea has so much potential, it would be funnier if it was written today, but it wasn’t. It was written during the depression, and if this is the type of shit going around to read back then, no wonder everyone was depressed!
This also wasn’t “80” pages. This shit was 140, I could’ve read 140 pages of literally anything else and been happier.
This was anything but humorous. I guess Nathaniel West got the dark right? The idea has so much potential, it would be funnier if it was written today, but it wasn’t. It was written during the depression, and if this is the type of shit going around to read back then, no wonder everyone was depressed!
This also wasn’t “80” pages. This shit was 140, I could’ve read 140 pages of literally anything else and been happier.
stephen_coulon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It’s a short and brutal expression of utter empathy for those for whom society has absolutely nothing to offer. It’s about a newspaper advice columnist struggling to respond to letters sent to him from the truly desperate. The voices in these letters are sad and unsophisticated and bleak, as if adding any artistry to their cries would displace the debasement of their misery. There’s no attempt to ennoble their plights with a sense of virtue or beauty, their lives just suck. This feels like the ultimate form of empathy though, to honestly face the grim nature of suffering. Contrasting these letters of prosaic misery are other voices much more rich, Miss Lonelyhearts himself foiled against his editor Shrike. These two are elevated enough in society, are sophisticated enough thinkers, to understand the nihilistic implications of an existence that fosters such random cruelty. Lonelyhearts still hopes for a self-deceiving faith, while Shrike leans fully into a sadistic cynicism. West imbues Shrike’s voice with a sharp brutality, especially in extended monologues when he systematically dismantles of all the possibilities of life’s succor. It’s clever, but damn. As pessimistic as I am, this novel may still be a little too darkly honest to enjoy if it weren't for West’s masterful displays of style. It’s his efficiency that’s most impressive, the simple but powerful transfiguration of a physical object into rich emotion, his hammer-hits of metaphor that strike just at the right time. I need to read more West. There’s beauty in his frankness, though it’s distressing, like being in a room with a black hole.
valkyriekiller69's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tamzy6's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. What a fucked up novella. It's essentially a character study of nature v. nurture. In another sense, how being in a certain environment influences a person and his/her personality and mentality. But at the same time, not exactly. Is a person truly influenced by the situation he/she is in? Is a person 'born' with it?
starness's review
3.0
A cynical sombre and quietly depressing feel amidst some manic ramblings and religious fervour, this is one book that captures the mood of New York City during the oppressive depression era and takes us on a dark tour de force. Witty yet bleak this is definately not a lite book although short in length. A good read if you enjoy something left of centre.
tcg0's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25