Reviews

The Beast God Forgot to Invent by Jim Harrison

henry_wallison's review against another edition

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5.0

This was another wonderful collection from Harrison. The three novellas were quite ranging in their content, but there was enough continuity between the three to make me believe they truly belonged together in some sense. The first novella, "The Beast God Forgot to Invent" was interesting in how it decentralized its most interesting character, creating a sense of mystery in a Great-Gatsby-kinda-way. The second, "Westward Ho", was an obvious success. I am eternally infatuated with the character of Brown Dog, as his many flaws and lack of aspirations work to create one of the most interesting characters in literature for me. While I found "I Forgot to Go to Spain" to be the least captivating of the three, this story was still enjoyable as it provided an interesting narrative about adjusting one's life late in the course to match their values.

gabguerin's review against another edition

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

4.25

tabacstag's review against another edition

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4.0

I would give this trio of novellas 3.5 stars if I could. I really liked the first story - a really different way to think about someone who has had a closed head injury. I liked the middle story less, and the last one even less than that.
I'd still recommend the book, but try to find it at a discount.
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