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sgraw269's review
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
captainfez's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-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
the_enobee's review
2.0
This is the first book I've read that I cannot imagine recommending to a single person. In fact, I'm loathe to admit that I read the entire thing for fear of being required to explain myself. What, exactly, is wrong with me?
A word count summary of The Woodwitch (240 pages):
Stinkhorn - 146
Badger - 85
Maggots - 46
Eggs (we're not talking chickens here, folks) - 45
Erect - 35
Pupae - 22
Phallus - 21
Spores - 16
Putrefaction - 6
(Numbers thanks to the search function on my kindle)
Okay, so now you know what you're getting into. I think the author is just messing with us. I have a theory on the writing of this novel.
I once had a girlfriend that found certain words intolerably disgusting. I kept a tally, and whenever she would let a new one slip, I would combine them all in a soup of hideous word play that would give her the shivers and leave us both laughing. She pretended to hate it, but deep down, I think we both found it an enjoyable pastime.
My theory is that something similar happened here. Gregory wrote this for someone on some kind of dare against writing the most horrid, disgusting tome ever devised by the mind of man. I think Gregory and his audience are still laughing about this one.
Was The Woodwitch incredibly well-written? Without a doubt. Was it worth reading? Only if you find a bowl full of maggots pleasant.
That being said, I gave this two stars instead of one because Gregory's writing was so intriguing I will have to try another one of his books. And for being in a near vomitous state for frighteningly large portions of time, I whipped through this pretty fast. Also, I have to say, the the ending left no doubt one was in the hands of a master.
A word count summary of The Woodwitch (240 pages):
Stinkhorn - 146
Badger - 85
Maggots - 46
Eggs (we're not talking chickens here, folks) - 45
Erect - 35
Pupae - 22
Phallus - 21
Spores - 16
Putrefaction - 6
(Numbers thanks to the search function on my kindle)
Okay, so now you know what you're getting into. I think the author is just messing with us. I have a theory on the writing of this novel.
I once had a girlfriend that found certain words intolerably disgusting. I kept a tally, and whenever she would let a new one slip, I would combine them all in a soup of hideous word play that would give her the shivers and leave us both laughing. She pretended to hate it, but deep down, I think we both found it an enjoyable pastime.
My theory is that something similar happened here. Gregory wrote this for someone on some kind of dare against writing the most horrid, disgusting tome ever devised by the mind of man. I think Gregory and his audience are still laughing about this one.
Was The Woodwitch incredibly well-written? Without a doubt. Was it worth reading? Only if you find a bowl full of maggots pleasant.
That being said, I gave this two stars instead of one because Gregory's writing was so intriguing I will have to try another one of his books. And for being in a near vomitous state for frighteningly large portions of time, I whipped through this pretty fast. Also, I have to say, the the ending left no doubt one was in the hands of a master.
garrity23's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
etakloknok's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
draighean's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was the most disgustingly horrific book I think I have ever read. It was repulsive, yet I kept reading so it takes skill for an author to bring so far out of your comfort zone and yet compel you to go even further.
marigoldsol's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Sexism, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
kittyshep's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gareth_alan's review
5.0
This is a weird one. It's about a guy named Andrew who gets with one of his female workmates and he fails to get a boner. She laughs at him so he punches her out. His boss sends him away to a cottage in the Welsh countryside to get his act together. There, he discovers a stinkhorn mushroom that looks like a willy, which he becomes obsessed with.
There's some heavy stuff to get through in this book. Animal mistreatment, vivid detail of animal decomposition, sexual moments with a potential minor, sheep poo, dog diarrhoea... Jesus, that slimy dog diarrhoea was disgusting. I could almost smell it!
Speaking of almost being able to smell it, Stephen Gregory's descriptions made me feel dirty. Like I was actually in Andrew's damp cottage, surrounded by mould and erect penis mushrooms and smelly decomposing beasts. The copy of my book is also an old, second hand copy and it feels a bit manky and smelly, which only added to the putrid atmosphere of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was proper weird, dark and original. You'll probably need a strong stomach to be able to appreciate it. I tell you what, it's made me scared of getting a flop on in the future in front of a woman. I don't want to have to go shaking maggots out of dead animals in order to grow stinkhorn mushrooms!
I think I've discovered a great author here, I shall check out more of his work in the near future.
There's some heavy stuff to get through in this book. Animal mistreatment, vivid detail of animal decomposition, sexual moments with a potential minor, sheep poo, dog diarrhoea... Jesus, that slimy dog diarrhoea was disgusting. I could almost smell it!
Speaking of almost being able to smell it, Stephen Gregory's descriptions made me feel dirty. Like I was actually in Andrew's damp cottage, surrounded by mould and erect penis mushrooms and smelly decomposing beasts. The copy of my book is also an old, second hand copy and it feels a bit manky and smelly, which only added to the putrid atmosphere of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was proper weird, dark and original. You'll probably need a strong stomach to be able to appreciate it. I tell you what, it's made me scared of getting a flop on in the future in front of a woman. I don't want to have to go shaking maggots out of dead animals in order to grow stinkhorn mushrooms!
I think I've discovered a great author here, I shall check out more of his work in the near future.