onbewimpeld's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
billybookmark's review against another edition
5.0
one of my favourite books of the year, loved the language and story straddling
also he may be blindboy, but he's definitely seen this lads style of writing
also he may be blindboy, but he's definitely seen this lads style of writing
ichirofakename's review against another edition
3.0
Waiting For Godot rewritten by Marguerite Duras. On a bad day.
fa_biene's review against another edition
4.0
"But yes Ireland closes in like a motherfucker. It turns its crooked mouth in the darkness and whispers of the bad things. It picks its moment and shows the hornèd claws."
Gorgeous prose.
GORGEOUS!
And:
- Carefully crafted plot that reveals the past, layer after layer.
- Truly original metaphors and similes. At times bordering on pathos, but they work.
- Some of the best dialogue I've ever read.
"But if he has nothing else to his name, he has his regrets, and these are not without value to the martyr's self-portrait displayed in his mind's eye.
We come into the world on the top of a scream and the wave of our poor mother's roaring.
She had a smile like a home-made explosive device."
Gorgeous prose.
GORGEOUS!
And:
- Carefully crafted plot that reveals the past, layer after layer.
- Truly original metaphors and similes. At times bordering on pathos, but they work.
- Some of the best dialogue I've ever read.
"But if he has nothing else to his name, he has his regrets, and these are not without value to the martyr's self-portrait displayed in his mind's eye.
We come into the world on the top of a scream and the wave of our poor mother's roaring.
She had a smile like a home-made explosive device."
bethd2828's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
daenwaels's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kfrig's review against another edition
3.0
Many readers and critics alike rave about this book. So I was thrilled to find it at our local "Second Chapter" used book store. I've thought about reviewing this book several times now but I'm simply not quite sure what I read. It was pleasant prose with an agreeably propulsive storyline but it just didn't have the emotional and hard hitting (to others) poignancy seen by others.
hart887's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-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
1.0
kookikrissie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
emeroc's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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
3.75