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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? No
2.0
I decided to read this book because I brought a poster with 100 books to read in your lifetime. This was the sixth book on the list, and it was boring. It was so confusing - I didn’t get it and I had such high hopes for this book just from the summary, yet I was so disappointed with this book.
This book is based around Samson Young who is a writer staring death in the face. He is out of ideas and on the verge of terminal decline, Samson’s dash to a decaying, degenerate London has brought him through the doors of the Black Cross pub and into a murder story just waiting to be narrated. At the centre of this story is the doomed Nicola Six and she is destined to be murdered on her thirty-fifth birthday. Around her are a lot of dodgy men and one of them might be the killer. All Samson has to do is to write Nicola’s story as it happens and savour this one last gift that life has granted him.
I thought I would get the British ‘humour’ side of it but I just didn’t - I thought the book was going to be intriguing from the summary and the cover and it was slow and disgusting and confusing. I barely understood the plot and I still don’t actually know who killed her or if she is dead. It was full of stereotypes that weren’t even pushing into the stereotypes. I was just confused.
This book was really difficult for me personally to understand and get into and the ending was shocking. I probably won’t read another book by Martin Amis again. It got 2 stars because it was a bland story line but it did find it quite slow and boring. The reason why it got 2 stars is because the summary is literally the only thing that made the book decent. But six books down, ninety-four to go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Infidelity, and Murder
minidilla's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Murder, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, and Violence
Minor: Rape
this book WILL make you depressed while you’re reading it.
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