Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks

66 reviews

lolovg__'s review against another edition

challenging dark tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

limina's review against another edition

dark tense 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

3.0

This was... something. I was interested enough to read the whole thing but it took me well over a month, despite being 250 pages. At times I just found it dull just reading descriptions of Frank patrolling the island, but then I was also fascinated at his compulsions and rituals.  There was a lot of plain old humdrummery peppered with kernels of plot to keep you hooked. I don't think it really paid off, considering how you think it's going to end and then how it actually ends. 

It really makes me think of the horror movie Sleepaway Camp. Also, Esmeralda's death was CRAZY

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Misogyny, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Mental illness, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

lordofdisorder's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Blood, and Medical content

Minor: Ableism and Racism

deathmetalheron's review against another edition

challenging dark funny mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Sexism, Blood, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Vomit, and Alcohol

Minor: Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Excrement, and Pregnancy

The TW is in itself a spoiler, so click this TW/Spoiler first

Gender Dysphoria

. Then you can read the explanation here:

The twist in this book is that the main character, Frank, is undergoing a forced gender transition without their consent. If you have experienced gender dysphoria, it may feel uncomfortable reading the end of this book.

jully_bean's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

sheeprustler's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

wathav's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Another I want to reread and will occasionally recommend. I still think about it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Mental illness, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Cursing, Deadnaming, and Vomit

kilianisreading's review against another edition

dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, and Medical trauma

jumpingjacksofy's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Murder

sarahweyand's review against another edition

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

This book reminds me a lot of the THE DUMB HOUSE. An interesting but disturbing premise, adequate execution, but no discernable themes? Sometimes I think a book exists just to make you feel kind of gross, and this is one of those books. 

I will say, the narrator really kills it here. He get into character and he has a great accent and he really makes the whole story come to life. There were some story elements that I found interesting, but for the most part I just kind of felt overstimulated for the sake of shock. I can understand why some people might like that, but it's not really for me. The more I think back on it, the more I dislike it.

I think it you like books like THE DUMB HOUSE, or EXQUITISTE CORPSE (haven't read but a gut feeling), then maybe pick this one up at it seems to be in a similar vein. Otherwise, steer clear.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, and Murder