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ellathelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
So grim, easily the most grim book I've read. It made me gag several times.
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Unusual second person narrative, sometimes distasteful but somehow fascinating
Set in a bar, narrated through the bartender, talking about bar customers, it's completely alcohol and barfly focused. Ive only ever seen the 'you' perspective used once before, for a novel giving a psychopath's perspective, which worked brilliantly. Here it felt strange, though I did come to like it, as the bartender is just as much a character as any of those he's fascinated by.
The book starts with the server observing his customers, describing their foibles and quirks, of which there are many. Gradually, we also see his own life and body disintegrating, through alcohol, as his marriage, physique, morals even, are affected.
There are a few rather distasteful scenes of sex/partying, but the humour is very dark and I quite liked the descriptions of the barflies ranging from gay teachers to transvestites, child actors to 'well endowed' customers.
I read this as I enjoyed 'The Sisters Brothers' and wanted to try an early work by the author. It's not going to be for everyone, some may find it a little too 'out there' in its style and setting, but it is quite a novel little book to try.
The audio version is well read and brings the narrative voice to life. One to try if you like the author, if you like contemporary tales of the 'seedier' side of urban life.
Set in a bar, narrated through the bartender, talking about bar customers, it's completely alcohol and barfly focused. Ive only ever seen the 'you' perspective used once before, for a novel giving a psychopath's perspective, which worked brilliantly. Here it felt strange, though I did come to like it, as the bartender is just as much a character as any of those he's fascinated by.
The book starts with the server observing his customers, describing their foibles and quirks, of which there are many. Gradually, we also see his own life and body disintegrating, through alcohol, as his marriage, physique, morals even, are affected.
There are a few rather distasteful scenes of sex/partying, but the humour is very dark and I quite liked the descriptions of the barflies ranging from gay teachers to transvestites, child actors to 'well endowed' customers.
I read this as I enjoyed 'The Sisters Brothers' and wanted to try an early work by the author. It's not going to be for everyone, some may find it a little too 'out there' in its style and setting, but it is quite a novel little book to try.
The audio version is well read and brings the narrative voice to life. One to try if you like the author, if you like contemporary tales of the 'seedier' side of urban life.
bmahaffy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Vomit
sunforsavannah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
nicovreeland's review against another edition
5.0
This Patrick deWitt cat can write. another great read. http://chamberfour.com/category/great-reads/
mustafa_marwan's review against another edition
5.0
A masterful work of noir and trasgressive fiction. Highly recommended to anyone interested in tales of the human condition and beautiful writing.
sneezypenguin's review against another edition
dark
funny
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
christajls's review against another edition
3.0
Ablutions takes us into the life of a small town (or what I assume is a small town) bar tender. But it does so in a unique way.
The book is set in second person, making you the reader the bar tender. You're not watching him, listening to him. You are seeing things through his eyes as he sees them. It's an interesting method and one that I enjoyed (once I got used to its different feel).
However, where this book began to lose me was that at a certain point I just didn't care about the bartender any more. His life is tragic, and dreary and he's a disaster of his own making. And for the first half the situations he finds himself are entertaining, bizarre and interesting. But then it's just more of the same and nothing ever seems to change and you wonder why you're still reading about this sad little man.
I love Patrick deWitt's writing but this just wasn't for me.
The book is set in second person, making you the reader the bar tender. You're not watching him, listening to him. You are seeing things through his eyes as he sees them. It's an interesting method and one that I enjoyed (once I got used to its different feel).
However, where this book began to lose me was that at a certain point I just didn't care about the bartender any more. His life is tragic, and dreary and he's a disaster of his own making. And for the first half the situations he finds himself are entertaining, bizarre and interesting. But then it's just more of the same and nothing ever seems to change and you wonder why you're still reading about this sad little man.
I love Patrick deWitt's writing but this just wasn't for me.
joelkarpowitz's review against another edition
2.0
I loved DeWitt's The Brothers Sisters, and a coworker lent me this (apparently his first effort) and it didn't really work for me. Maybe it's the second person narration, maybe it's not liking the characters (fitting, since they are all filled with self-loathing also), maybe it's that I don't really want to spend 164 pages reading about an alcoholic's descent to rock bottom, even if it has the DeWitt tendency for dark humor and absurdity still. I'll still read his next book, but this one really missed the mark for me.