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the_sunken_library's review against another edition
1.0
That was officially the longest 2 weeks of my life. Never has a book stretched out for so long, seemingly never-ending, and I have read the LOTR trilogy!
Honestly? I hated this book. I didn't like Susan (the narrator) - I felt she was smug, even after excavating her crappy life with her adulterous husband. I found her parts particularly boring. I just didn't care.
The manuscript by Edward (Susan's ex-husband of the past 25 years) was somewhat more interesting. I like a good crime novel. However, it didn't blow me away and in the end I didn't care what happened - whether those criminals received a swift and merciless justice or the victim suffered indefinitely.
I also disliked the writing "style". The "literary technique" of either not finishing sentences logically or typing them out like Yoda might speak. It was forced, a desperate attempt at making this novel about how one writes and reads rather than how we associate a books narrative with our own lives in order to understand or contextualise a characters actions/situation. I didn't buy it and nothing interesting was revealed to me.
Don't bother. Honestly. After I was about half way through I started skipping whole pages in order to move on with my life.
It gets one star because for some reason I didn't just toss the damn thing away, clearly something about it intrigued me enough that I wanted to know what happened.
Honestly? I hated this book. I didn't like Susan (the narrator) - I felt she was smug, even after excavating her crappy life with her adulterous husband. I found her parts particularly boring. I just didn't care.
The manuscript by Edward (Susan's ex-husband of the past 25 years) was somewhat more interesting. I like a good crime novel. However, it didn't blow me away and in the end I didn't care what happened - whether those criminals received a swift and merciless justice or the victim suffered indefinitely.
I also disliked the writing "style". The "literary technique" of either not finishing sentences logically or typing them out like Yoda might speak. It was forced, a desperate attempt at making this novel about how one writes and reads rather than how we associate a books narrative with our own lives in order to understand or contextualise a characters actions/situation. I didn't buy it and nothing interesting was revealed to me.
Don't bother. Honestly. After I was about half way through I started skipping whole pages in order to move on with my life.
It gets one star because for some reason I didn't just toss the damn thing away, clearly something about it intrigued me enough that I wanted to know what happened.
bywell's review
4.0
Totally engaging, superbly written, unique premise... missing the last star because of the ending. It left me engaged and thinking but in the end, the behavior of some of the characters was a little hard to fathom.
bibliobrandie's review
1.0
It's like Wright wrote two different books and just smashed them together. There’s no connection between what occurs in Susan’s world and in the world of the book within the book, Nocturnal Animals. And what the heck was that ending?! ugh. I want my life back.
tanukino's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Probably the best book that I've read so far this year! Emotional, intense, and unique in its storytelling. I don't think that the movie could accurately capture the prose and intensity and human feeling that was described across this book.
It's a dark book, and it tackles a lot of very intense human feelings, but I think it does so in such a realistic, yet artistic way. While the characters are all written to be incredibly unlikeable, they are also incredibly relatable.
-0.25 stars for the weird penis fixation, another -0.75 for the slow pace of Susan's actual life between reading chapters of Edward's book. Could have paced that better.
It's a dark book, and it tackles a lot of very intense human feelings, but I think it does so in such a realistic, yet artistic way. While the characters are all written to be incredibly unlikeable, they are also incredibly relatable.
-0.25 stars for the weird penis fixation, another -0.75 for the slow pace of Susan's actual life between reading chapters of Edward's book. Could have paced that better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Minor: Rape
mmc6661's review against another edition
2.0
started out very well and fast paced. I was excited to read it but then it came to a slow drag. Not really sure about the ending. Not very redeeming and I was hoping for a whole lot more. Rather disappointing.
milly_in_the_library's review against another edition
5.0
thank you, Holly- a great book & v.enjoyable
despite the fact it took me ages to read (sometimes my tired eyes only manage to stay open for a couple of pages!)...!
there are some very well written sections and i really enjoyed the frame narrative which was different to anything i've read recently& helped the tension and intrigue of the story, i felt.
despite the fact it took me ages to read (sometimes my tired eyes only manage to stay open for a couple of pages!)...!
there are some very well written sections and i really enjoyed the frame narrative which was different to anything i've read recently& helped the tension and intrigue of the story, i felt.
pussinbooks's review
2.0
Believe it or not, I prefer the movie. The performances in Nocturnal Animals bring forth emotion and themes not all that evident or exciting in the text. The movie tells a cleaner story, though not a less complicated one.
eamwilliams504's review
2.0
Started off really strong but then totally fizzled out and was a real struggle to finish.
I picked this up because I read Tom Ford is directing a movie version. I will probably see the movie but do not recommend the book.
I picked this up because I read Tom Ford is directing a movie version. I will probably see the movie but do not recommend the book.