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bengriffin's reviews
2678 reviews
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
I can't attribute a degree of liking to this book. The are no likeable characters, the events are grim, and the writing is cold. It is powerful though, and it does get under your skin. Whether you want it there is another matter. I didn't, and had to force myself to finish it.
God's Own Country by Ross Raisin
4.0
The Yorkshire dialect is probably going to be the most memorable thing about this book but it was a quick read, enjoyable, and pretty compelling. Darkly comic and sinister, I enjoyed it.
Twelve by Nick McDonell
2.0
For the most part it's quite enjoyable. There's a few sentences and characters that give away the author's inexperience but generally it barrels along and captures the disaffected privileged youth culture nicely. My main problem with the book was that it sets itself up for a dramatic crescendo but actually ends in a pointless messy clatter, undermining most of what came before. It's a quick read, and there's much worse out there, just don't expect too much, and be wary of the hype.
Descent of Man: Stories by T.C. Boyle
4.0
Had this on my shelf for a good few years and finally read it. Enjoyed it. It's dark and fun and worth reading if only for 'Big Garage', 'Second Swimming', and 'Extinction Tales'. Definitely want to read more of his stuff in the future.