Reviews

The Death of Francis Bacon by Max Porter

emilyastr's review

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-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

3.0

bub_9's review

1.0

As if Porter's style isn't oblique enough to render highly emotive topics like grief somewhat bland, here he tackles ... the title. Oh dear.

brambresseleers's review

challenging dark 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

1.0

quinndm's review

2.0

I loved Max Porter’s previous two books. I just didn’t understand this one. But, I LOVE how his mind works.

lafee's review

5.0

Quite the departure for Max Porter, this tiny little tome is an unflinching look at the last days of the life of the artist Francis Bacon. It is raw and brave and bold, and difficult, as if the end of the life of such a man could be anything else.

joaodrm's review

2.0

There were often moments of potential brilliance, but the overly experimental and fractured prose made this book quite an unpleasant and indecipherable read. Maybe my deep ignorance for who Francis Bacon was had a factor in it.

becstewart's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

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

3.0

serenalawless's review

1.0

It pains me that I don't like this book. Grief is one of my all-time favourite books and will always have a special place in my heart, but this is beyond confusing. It's just a collection of garbled words, like reading a foreign language upside down and backwards, so hard to make sense out of. And honestly I don't think I'd trust anyone who said they loved it, because it feels like it is complicated for complicated's sake.

mother_slug's review

dark reflective fast-paced

4.25

jasminawithab's review

this was definitely a book.

maybe i just didn't know anything about Bacon, but i spent the majority of this just confused. there were absolutely parts i liked -mainly certain parts get repeated throughout and i think it tied it together nicely- and porters writing is always an absolute experience (if you read his books physically like me, i'd highly recommend reading out loud) but i genuinely don't know what i would rate this so i wont.