marginwalker's review against another edition
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This book is loathsome, but I guess deliberately so. Being stuck in the stream-of-consciousness of a character like B is, for the most part, unpleasant. I don't think I would've made it through the print version, but the narrator in the audiobook makes this a lot more palatable. His stilted, dry delivery of B's internal "Ha-ha"s at his own weird jokes is one of the bright points of this book.
Still, B's fetishization, racism, sexual harrassment--I wouldn't fault anyone for putting this book down.
The book has its funny moments. A lot of the social commentary doesn't work for me, but the fixation on clowns, comedy duos, and slapstick is where the book excels. Also any time B starts waxing poetic about his love for Judd Apatow. There's a lot of horror woven into the comedy, which I enjoyed. This is also maybe one of the few instances of Comedy That Involves Donald Trump that is actually funny.
The pieces of this book don't really add up to any sort of worthwhile whole in my estimation (once we enter the apocalyptic wasteland forever war section the book becomes a slog), but there are some pretty entertaining moments that reach a fun fever pitch of absurdity.
I'm probably missing content warnings. Maybe just assume all of them.
Still, B's fetishization, racism, sexual harrassment--I wouldn't fault anyone for putting this book down.
The book has its funny moments. A lot of the social commentary doesn't work for me, but the fixation on clowns, comedy duos, and slapstick is where the book excels. Also any time B starts waxing poetic about his love for Judd Apatow. There's a lot of horror woven into the comedy, which I enjoyed. This is also maybe one of the few instances of Comedy That Involves Donald Trump that is actually funny.
The pieces of this book don't really add up to any sort of worthwhile whole in my estimation (once we enter the apocalyptic wasteland forever war section the book becomes a slog), but there are some pretty entertaining moments that reach a fun fever pitch of absurdity.
I'm probably missing content warnings. Maybe just assume all of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, Racism, Antisemitism, Body horror, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Animal death, and Stalking
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