kaylorcoons's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
nwreader's review against another edition
3.0
Since I am in love with Jo Quenells novella, The Mud Ballad..she recommended this book to me since it inspired her story. I can see some similarities with the vibe and atmosphere but really...The Mud Ballad is much better imo.
This is a story about a young man who is in need of money so he plans to rob a fireworks stand. Things go rogue and he ends up coming across a "side show" where they take him in to aid him.
For the first half of the book, it had some awkward moments that were not fun to read. Granted this was released in 1999 timeframe so society wasn't the most pc back then but jeez..being in the main characters head was frustrating. Lots of crude descriptions and slurs. At one point though, another character shuts him down and corrects his language. I appreciate that Lansdale atleast did that but I get it.. The MC is unlikable but does have some character growth which was nice.
The spicy scenes caught me off guard..lol some sex scenes seemed so random. The thing that lost me was the end. It was a bit predictable and it wasn't satisfying for me. I wanted a few more pages because it just felt incomplete. The first half of the book is so strong that the ending had to balance it out but it didn't for me.
Overall, an enjoyable plot, decent delivery with a lackluster ending. This is my first Lansdale so I look forward to reading more from him. I am glad I read this and listened to Jo's recommendation.
3/5
This is a story about a young man who is in need of money so he plans to rob a fireworks stand. Things go rogue and he ends up coming across a "side show" where they take him in to aid him.
For the first half of the book, it had some awkward moments that were not fun to read. Granted this was released in 1999 timeframe so society wasn't the most pc back then but jeez..being in the main characters head was frustrating. Lots of crude descriptions and slurs. At one point though, another character shuts him down and corrects his language. I appreciate that Lansdale atleast did that but I get it.. The MC is unlikable but does have some character growth which was nice.
The spicy scenes caught me off guard..lol some sex scenes seemed so random. The thing that lost me was the end. It was a bit predictable and it wasn't satisfying for me. I wanted a few more pages because it just felt incomplete. The first half of the book is so strong that the ending had to balance it out but it didn't for me.
Overall, an enjoyable plot, decent delivery with a lackluster ending. This is my first Lansdale so I look forward to reading more from him. I am glad I read this and listened to Jo's recommendation.
3/5
qu073179's review against another edition
5.0
Reluctant 5 Stars.
In all honesty, it deserves 5 stars. Begrudgingly; however, because it is somewhat shadowed by excessive sexual content.
This, to me, is Lansdale's best; nevertheless, for reason of credibility of the characters, and believable plot (which he's been known to slight). Some of the carnival freaks were a stretch in a couple of cases. But this in order to create that fantastic, eerie, noire, freakish feel. Other than that, you can truly imagine each character behaving exactly the way they do, and the plot progressing just as it did. But the twists are subtle, so he retains foreknowledge and suspense at the same time. Well done.
In all honesty, it deserves 5 stars. Begrudgingly; however, because it is somewhat shadowed by excessive sexual content.
This, to me, is Lansdale's best; nevertheless, for reason of credibility of the characters, and believable plot (which he's been known to slight). Some of the carnival freaks were a stretch in a couple of cases. But this in order to create that fantastic, eerie, noire, freakish feel. Other than that, you can truly imagine each character behaving exactly the way they do, and the plot progressing just as it did. But the twists are subtle, so he retains foreknowledge and suspense at the same time. Well done.
jrpoole's review against another edition
3.0
Freezer Burn is about what you'd expect from a Joe Lansdale novel: it's a pulpy, fast and dirty little book that has a bit more soul than it wants to let on. It's not his best book, but it's solid.
livrekitty's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
dlwchico's review against another edition
2.0
I really like Joe R. Lansdale. I love his Hap & Leonard series of books. I didn’t really like this book though.
Parts of it were ok but there a few scenes I wish he had cut out completely because I just don’t want em in my head and the end wasn’t really satisfying to me.
Basically the story of a complete loser who finds himself at loose ends after his mother dies and he can’t forge her signature to keep cashing her checks. He attempts a robbery that goes horribly wrong and takes it on the lam, where he ends up hiding out in a carnival full of freaks.
He falls for the carnival owner’s hot wife and she leads him down a dark path that ends badly.
Parts of it were ok but there a few scenes I wish he had cut out completely because I just don’t want em in my head and the end wasn’t really satisfying to me.
Basically the story of a complete loser who finds himself at loose ends after his mother dies and he can’t forge her signature to keep cashing her checks. He attempts a robbery that goes horribly wrong and takes it on the lam, where he ends up hiding out in a carnival full of freaks.
He falls for the carnival owner’s hot wife and she leads him down a dark path that ends badly.
trin's review against another edition
2.0
This one's got a lot of great ingredients -- interesting characters, outrageously pulpy elements, some great set pieces, Lansdale's usual sharp writing, dark humor -- but it doesn't really go anywhere interesting, or add up to much. Lansdale lays out the gothic/noir tropes with panache, but doesn't subvert them in any real way, or make from them something new.
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