Scan barcode
flahri's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
beaufour's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating book. I went from 2 stars to 5 stars and back multiple times while reading it. Sometimes the angry long free form rants are too much and so is the sex. But other times it’s fantastic and so are some of the rants. It also touches on some pretty deep topics along the way.
p_t_b's review against another edition
3.0
the cover art had me hoping that vernon might actually turn out to be some kind of monstrous french bulldog-french person hybrid. if that's going to happen it's going to happen in book 2 or 3 of the trilogy. i vaguely enjoyed this but it's not really in my aesthetic erogenous zones or whatever. although also i have no idea whether to take it seriously or not or how seriously, much like the comic relief skinhead who shows up at the very end, who is despised by the other skinhead for being too cynical. i think one vernon subutex is enough for me but i see why people dig this. scuzzy sprawling satire with great energy and a sincere glee in its embrace of the profane. a slightly less acrid houllebecq that manages to invoke the same Social Issues without leaving you wondering if the author is recruiting you for some kind of wounded white male cult
isinglass's review against another edition
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
nixiethepixie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A sprawling tapestry of fascinating characters amidst the backdrop of Paris and the death of a punk rock star. Touches on lots of different aspects of *life* within this current time. For so much of the reading experience, I pondered what was punk about this work, but I realised its state of being, not following any particular rules and expectations, was punk. I enjoyed the way this world unfolded on its own accord and kind of just obsessed with Despentes and want to read more of her work. Definitely a world for those who are happy to sit in an atmosphere and story where not much happens, but every moment we do encounter carries a history with it. This work thrives in this observatory way that gets in the head of the characters, most of whom we only spend a chapter or so with. I enjoyed finding out how different characters were connected and how they experienced different shared encounters. Am definitely curious to continue the trilogy.
revolutionaryletters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
claudia_elisabeth's review
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0