icarusandthesun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
i picked this up because i saw a youtube short that basically said something along the lines of "i'm halfway through this book and i feel sick" backdropped by a picture of the first page, adorned with the very eye-catching first sentence:
i liked hurting girls.
i was intrigued, because i'm a fan of all things dark, disgusting, disturbing, mental.
and the first third was quite good, actually - funny (the narrator taking the "pith" out of someone's "lithsp" was probably the funniest thing i've read in a book ever) and cynical; the reader absolutely appalled by the narrator and yet being met with smart and relatable quotes, self-aware, realistic observations about life and the relationships we choose to fill it with.
but all of that sort of got lost as the story progressed: the narrator becoming an emblem in AA (alcoholics anonymous), getting a good job, fretting about the future, describing his boring and mid-life-crisis way of living, and tiring everyday life.
halfway through, this turned into some sort of self-pitying self-help book written by a touch-deprived middle-aged man.
and the thing with aisling, right...
the thing we've been waiting for since page one.
Spoiler
it was just silly. i didn't pity the narrator and i also didn't understand what her strategy was supposed to be. it didn't have any impact, wasn't surprising, wasn't brutal at all (which is what i'd desperately hoped for).it was nothing.
infuriating, considering i read 140 slow and excruciating pages to get to this point just to be disappointed like every girl the narrator fooled back in his prime time. (ironic, if you think about it.)
yeah, i just expected something a little different. i wanted disgusting, unhinged. i wanted another humbert humbert (shame on whoever it was who compared this book to lolita in the synopsis).
i wanted so much more than this.
but alas.
Graphic: Addiction, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
Minor: Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
redfieldstars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Addiction
jinx_mars's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Violence, Rape, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Sexism, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Misogyny, Mental illness, and Infidelity
starryybella's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
And honestly? I don't regret reading it, as stomach-knotting as it was.
As the trigger warnings can tell you, it's one of the most vulgar books I've ever read. It's definitely up there with "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis.
I feel like it's safe to compare the narrator/author to Patrick Bateman in some aspects, speaking of "American Psycho", except the narrator is much more in touch with the world around him and doesn't have an urge to *physically* hurt. But he does not have any true emotions like love or compassion for others, as well as struggling with alcoholism. He doesn't have much remorse for his actions either, as he clearly states in the first page.
The book, as people have probably heard, is most famous for its first lines: "I like hurting girls. Emotionally, not physically. I've never hit a girl in my life. Well, once. But that was a mistake. I'll tell you about it later. The thing is, I got off on it. I really enjoyed it." (1)
And news flash: I'm one of those readers who gets either pulled in immediately by the first page or just puts off reading the book until later if it doesn't captivate me or pique interest immediately.
I didn't enjoy the book because of its content. I'd be insane if I did, but not to say you are if you did enjoy the content (kind of…).
The sole reason I enjoyed it was because I'm someone who likes psychoanalyzing characters, even if the character is meant to be horrible. That's what brings fun back into the book for me and makes me be able to stand it. Otherwise, I'd probably be in the category of the faint-hearted that would hate this book because of how awful the content of it is.
It's written well, once you get beyond the fact he's a rotten human being. I also just sat through the sex scenes and read them to get past them.
It is satisfying to get to the ending, although I wish he got more of what he deserved. I did have to read it twice to fully understand it but it left me with more questions - hence, my currently reading the sequel.
It rambles on at times and goes on tangents - it sometimes be difficult to understand or to keep track of the plot. However, insight into his mental state of mind made this book enjoyable and I wouldn't take out anything, except for a couple of churning depictions of hurting women or sex scenes I would have rather not read.
Do not eat if you're reading this book. It churned my stomach at some points and I definitely believe this book is not for everyone.
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, and Cursing
Moderate: Pedophilia
aquaria127's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
julianalynne's review
- 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
Graphic: Mental illness, Addiction, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Body shaming, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual content
nura_aga's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, and Violence
hammy_down's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Violence
sreads's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Alcoholism, and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
cripreadsedinburgh's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Violence