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fribbitgua's review
3.0
To be honest, I didn't understand any of the words, but I understood what the author was trying to achieve with writing in the way one paints, particularly Francis Bacon. It's grotesque, fast, harsh, and sad.
noahisgood's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
willjacks's review
3.0
Went into this having read Lanny, which I thoroughly enjoyed. This book is another Max Porter-style piece where the descriptive language is hypnotically engaging. I would’ve found it more engaging if Max maybe prefaced the story(?) with some historical context or even just a blurb of background information. Before going into the book, I already knew a lot about Francis Bacon’s hellish upbringing in Ireland, but this book definitely paints a picture of his deathbed which I didn’t know anything about.
Overall, it’s worth a read if you’re a Porter or Bacon fan, but I just wish it was longer or had a bit more depth. Most people reading this would finish the book within an hour. For me, I could read Porter for weeks on end if he wrote a 1500 page book. But hey, his writing style definitely takes him a long time to conceptualise; to make the poeticism as perfect as possible. A flash of brilliance, and we’re left wanting more.
It’s quality over quantity, which is fair enough, but when will we see Porter’s magnum opus?
Overall, it’s worth a read if you’re a Porter or Bacon fan, but I just wish it was longer or had a bit more depth. Most people reading this would finish the book within an hour. For me, I could read Porter for weeks on end if he wrote a 1500 page book. But hey, his writing style definitely takes him a long time to conceptualise; to make the poeticism as perfect as possible. A flash of brilliance, and we’re left wanting more.
It’s quality over quantity, which is fair enough, but when will we see Porter’s magnum opus?
giralka's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ezrasupremacy's review
4.0
i love absolutely anything porter puts out, and i only enjoy it more with every work that i read, as i understand his writing better.
entirely irrelevant, of course, but my personal analysis of this is that it’s the story of a gay artist dying of aids.
as always i fucking love porter’s unique and surreal style of writing, the way that you have to really *think* to understand what is going on, the way it feels equally like reading poetry and reading a novella.
entirely irrelevant, of course, but my personal analysis of this is that it’s the story of a gay artist dying of aids.
as always i fucking love porter’s unique and surreal style of writing, the way that you have to really *think* to understand what is going on, the way it feels equally like reading poetry and reading a novella.
rubyics's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
I definitely enjoyed this, and I love his writing style. It’s complete incoherent prose/poetry/whatever the hell. I love it. Though, this text takes a lot for you to just sit with the book and imagine exactly what he’s describing. You can’t really pick apart the words, you have to create the image in your head yourself. I do like Max Porter, this is the second book of his I’ve read, I can’t wait to get into more.
brubin's review
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
2.5
icanread17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thejhg83's review
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5