Reviews

Music for Torching by A.M. Homes

bayerwithme's review against another edition

3.0

I did not like this book but than again, I didn't like American Psycho yet still consider it a modern classic. Music for Torching is basically a grotesque and provocative modern-day Revolutionary Road. Be afraid of the suburbs, be very afraid.

boti's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

While being a bit outrageous, this book is an interesting entertaining and realistic look at the human experience, and the relationships we form. The characters felt real, especially in moments where they acted on impulse or when we saw how they behaved in private, purely human. Through the characters we see the failure and want to abandon the idea of the American Dream. The marriage between the two main characters is complicated, layered and messy but there is still clear  that they love each other despite everything, just perhaps not in the traditional idea of love, or the way they think they should love each other. 

elliemcc11's review against another edition

5.0

Loved this. Love this author anyway and wasn't disappointed with this book.

Fav characters had to be Pat & George - leading such perfect lives but with cheeky secrets :)

Ending was a bit sudden and drammatic and totally unexpected.

joejoh's review against another edition

4.0

If you've read The Safety of Objects, this is a must read. If you haven't, this is still a highly recommended book. It's equally strange and familiar characters are beautifully drawn, and the situations, no matter how odd, feel as intense as a disaster and a family Thanksgiving dinner all rolled into one.

girlgeekcyclist's review against another edition

2.0

Kind of a mess. A quick but very dark read and strange book.

minniepauline's review against another edition

3.0

If I could give it a three-and-a-half I would. I wanted to want to devour this book, but I was okay with snacking. I will read more by Ms. Homes, though.

metalwork_as_poetry's review against another edition

dark funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

heathernj9's review against another edition

4.0

Dark, but funny

bundy23's review against another edition

DNF. 14%. Hated the characters, story didn't interest me, writing was passable though.

additionaddiction's review against another edition

4.0

This is a very fast-paced book. Not to say that it's an "action-packed" story, but the writing style makes the entire story feel very frantic. Like a disaster is waiting around every corner. The characters all seem to speak quickly in short bursts of sentences.

I've read The End Of Alice (also by A.M. Homes) and I think I enjoyed this book better. This is certainly not going to win any "feel good story of the year" awards, but it seems to ring true in a very modern Stepford-wives sort of way.

I feel like every sentence of this book had a double meaning, as if every choice the characters make is a parable for life. I think I'll probably need to read this again at some point just to take notes, there's lots of good stuff here.