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ebcooper's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
scottjp's review against another edition
4.0
This weird novelette by the much-loved Doctor Who actor chronicles the life of a teenaged sociopath called Robert who has a fixation on kicking pigs, or anything pig-related. After a particularly embarrassing public incident, Robert decides he hates the entire human race, and sets about enacting his vengeance. From that point on it is almost literally a train wreck as one thing leads to another. Half the book consists of pen-and-ink illustrations that are rather like a cross between Edward Gorey and Chas. Addams. If you have a sick (and British) sense of humor you will love this story.
debralewi's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
j_r_bennett's review against another edition
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anacatnascimento's review against another edition
4.0
Tom Baker e Tim Burton deviam ter um tête-a-tête. Porque o resultado ia ser francamente assustador na mesma medida que seria épico.
Negro, muito negro, e por isso, profundamente britânico - com direito a piadas pythonescas e tão senseless que é impossível não sorrir com a história de um rapazote de 13 anos...
...que por acaso é um sociopata de primeira categoria.
Já estava a espera de uma coisa grotesca e full of horror, bem ao estilo de Burton. E não me enganei.
Baker - que trabalhou nas obras e foi Pastor antes de dar o salto para o National Theatre e, mais tarde, para Doctor Who - é exímio na arte de escrever Robert Caligari, um aparentemente normal pré-adolescente, como uma mastermind criminosa, que planeia as mortes de toda a gente à sua volta.
Ao início é difícil perceber porque é que o pequeno Robert faz essas coisas terríveis, mesmo que ele nos indique à partida que odeia toda a gente. Mas à medida que as coisas vão ficando mais senseless, paradoxalmente, tudo faz mais sentido.
Negro, muito negro, e por isso, profundamente britânico - com direito a piadas pythonescas e tão senseless que é impossível não sorrir com a história de um rapazote de 13 anos...
...que por acaso é um sociopata de primeira categoria.
Já estava a espera de uma coisa grotesca e full of horror, bem ao estilo de Burton. E não me enganei.
Baker - que trabalhou nas obras e foi Pastor antes de dar o salto para o National Theatre e, mais tarde, para Doctor Who - é exímio na arte de escrever Robert Caligari, um aparentemente normal pré-adolescente, como uma mastermind criminosa, que planeia as mortes de toda a gente à sua volta.
Ao início é difícil perceber porque é que o pequeno Robert faz essas coisas terríveis, mesmo que ele nos indique à partida que odeia toda a gente. Mas à medida que as coisas vão ficando mais senseless, paradoxalmente, tudo faz mais sentido.
thebooklender's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, Tom Baker! One of the most gruesome books I have ever read. The unpleasantness builds and builds to a disgusting climax. Fortunately, the book is also very silly and funny, too. But definitely not for the squeamish.
rhidee's review against another edition
4.0
This book is distressing. Severely distressing.
It's all well and good at the start, all fun and frolics. This boy, Robert Caligari, does stuff like kicking pigs and causing havoc and making prank calls. It's all good fun, all a bit of a laugh. But then Caligari goes a bit too far and starts to cause deaths. Lots of them. And then... this is almost too horrific to mention.
He gets eaten alive by rats!!
Great pictures teemed with a funny little story that at first appears to be for kids but is in fact for the discerningly twisted mind. Recommended.
It's all well and good at the start, all fun and frolics. This boy, Robert Caligari, does stuff like kicking pigs and causing havoc and making prank calls. It's all good fun, all a bit of a laugh. But then Caligari goes a bit too far and starts to cause deaths. Lots of them. And then... this is almost too horrific to mention.
He gets eaten alive by rats!!
Great pictures teemed with a funny little story that at first appears to be for kids but is in fact for the discerningly twisted mind. Recommended.
cressthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
Wow....
I'm a Doctor Who fan so when I saw one of the doctors wrote a book I went ahead, and downloaded it without reading what it was about. This is a super quick read, but super weird, gross and disturbing.... So freaking disturbing!
I'm a Doctor Who fan so when I saw one of the doctors wrote a book I went ahead, and downloaded it without reading what it was about. This is a super quick read, but super weird, gross and disturbing.... So freaking disturbing!
gimpyknee's review against another edition
4.0
A short, grotesque, and enjoyable read. I loved the happy ending.
violetturtledove's review against another edition
dark
funny
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
4.5
A very creepy, darkly funny book. It's gruesome, unhinged and gleefully wicked. A schadenfreude fairytale.
The actual pig-kicking was less of a plot point than I expected (pork-based products take the brunt of it). The illustrations are great and there are plenty of them.