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btwnprintedpgs's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Huge was a huge (ha!) surprise. Brent Butt is a Canadian screen writer, actor, and creator of Corner Gas - a campy comedy series about living in the middle of nowhere with nothing much to do. The fact that his debut novel was a mystery/thriller was totally out of left field. That it focused on 90s comedy was less of a surprise, but instead a pleasant view into that era of comedy and the three main characters an interesting snapshot of the times.
Dale is a washed up comic from the US in desperate need of a few thousand to fund his daughter's college tuition; Rynn is an up-and-coming comic from Ireland who's on the road up; and Hobie is new to the scene and ready to impress. I found their different perspectives helped build out the world and the times, particularly Dale's experience and jadedness and Rynn's optimism. Hobie, I feel, was more of a mystery at the start, with most of his character being built by Dale and Rynn's POV. That being said, once we're in his head, we're in it and the moving train never stops.
The book does a great job of building a sense of dread. There's an element of mystery to the murder we see at the start, but the perpetrator is fairly obvious. However, where the story goes and how deep into the psychology we get into it gave me the jeebies. If you like the discomfort of stepping into a broken mind, this is definitely the book for you, as it envelops you in the psyche of a killer. Butt did a fantastic job with this aspect of the story, and I'm still trying to shake it off.
Though it plays into some stereotypes and is a bit hokey at times, this was a strong debut by Brent Butt into the literary world!
TW: death, fire injury, torture, injury detail, domestic abuse, violence, parental abandonment, kidnapping, murder, car crash, child abuse; mentions death of an animal
ARC gifted by @penguinrandomca in exchange for an honest review.
Dale is a washed up comic from the US in desperate need of a few thousand to fund his daughter's college tuition; Rynn is an up-and-coming comic from Ireland who's on the road up; and Hobie is new to the scene and ready to impress. I found their different perspectives helped build out the world and the times, particularly Dale's experience and jadedness and Rynn's optimism. Hobie, I feel, was more of a mystery at the start, with most of his character being built by Dale and Rynn's POV. That being said, once we're in his head, we're in it and the moving train never stops.
The book does a great job of building a sense of dread. There's an element of mystery to the murder we see at the start, but the perpetrator is fairly obvious. However, where the story goes and how deep into the psychology we get into it gave me the jeebies. If you like the discomfort of stepping into a broken mind, this is definitely the book for you, as it envelops you in the psyche of a killer. Butt did a fantastic job with this aspect of the story, and I'm still trying to shake it off.
Though it plays into some stereotypes and is a bit hokey at times, this was a strong debut by Brent Butt into the literary world!
TW: death, fire injury, torture, injury detail, domestic abuse, violence, parental abandonment, kidnapping, murder, car crash, child abuse; mentions death of an animal
ARC gifted by @penguinrandomca in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
maddireads13's review
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
soobooksalot's review
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Write what you know, they say.
Well, Brent Butt knows comedy, and he plays it to great form in the fiction thriller Huge.
Thank you to @penguinrandomca and @netgalley for my eARC for review!
For those who don't know, this is the very same Brent Butt who brought us Corner Gas. (As a fan of the show, I couldn't help but have his voice in my head as I read!)
It's definitely not the kind of writing we are used to from him, but it's great stuff.
Stand-up comics Dale Webly and Rynn Lanigan are on tour in random towns in Canada, and new to the stage alongside them is Hobie Huge.
The world of stand-up comedy makes for a surprisingly effective backdrop for some dark and seedy goings-on.
The towns might be like Dog River in demographics, but no such charmingly humorous events. There are some nasty, violent characters about.
I loved the insider views of the comedy road, and Butt's wry writing style made it even better.
I did find the pacing went a bit long by the end, but overall it was most enjoyable.
Recommended!
Released on Oct. 3.
Well, Brent Butt knows comedy, and he plays it to great form in the fiction thriller Huge.
Thank you to @penguinrandomca and @netgalley for my eARC for review!
For those who don't know, this is the very same Brent Butt who brought us Corner Gas. (As a fan of the show, I couldn't help but have his voice in my head as I read!)
It's definitely not the kind of writing we are used to from him, but it's great stuff.
Stand-up comics Dale Webly and Rynn Lanigan are on tour in random towns in Canada, and new to the stage alongside them is Hobie Huge.
The world of stand-up comedy makes for a surprisingly effective backdrop for some dark and seedy goings-on.
The towns might be like Dog River in demographics, but no such charmingly humorous events. There are some nasty, violent characters about.
I loved the insider views of the comedy road, and Butt's wry writing style made it even better.
I did find the pacing went a bit long by the end, but overall it was most enjoyable.
Recommended!
Released on Oct. 3.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
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