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mirrorbug's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is only my first read through and this is definitely a book I think that gets better as you read it again and again. As I read it, I felt like I understood it more and want to go through the whole book again.
One thing I think should be noted about this book is there are no heroes. You'll very often hear characters say/do something really awful (spoiler:ignatius), but everyone in this book is meant to be awful in their own unique way. This is the least true for the few gay characters in the book. I don't know what to make of them, they're fairly offensive, but there's a reason they're there.
I think this book is enjoyable for everyone, but I think this book would be especially entertaining to those who particularly well-read and/or used to academic environments. The book is structured like "On Consolation of Philosophy," which I have not read, but I wonder how much it having read that would impact my enjoyment of this book.
In the best way possible, Ignatius is unbearable. Side note: I started noting everytime Ignatius says/does something I have seen unironically from some catholic on twitter, it is an incredible experiment.
Burma Jones is definitely my favorite character in the whole story. He was a lot of fun to read and I was very invested in him.
I did not care for the fucking levys and the exercise board.
If I ever come across a soda called "Dr. Nut," I am going to run as far away as possible.
Fantastic book. It is ridiculous and hilarious.
One thing I think should be noted about this book is there are no heroes. You'll very often hear characters say/do something really awful (spoiler:ignatius), but everyone in this book is meant to be awful in their own unique way. This is the least true for the few gay characters in the book. I don't know what to make of them, they're fairly offensive, but there's a reason they're there.
I think this book is enjoyable for everyone, but I think this book would be especially entertaining to those who particularly well-read and/or used to academic environments. The book is structured like "On Consolation of Philosophy," which I have not read, but I wonder how much it having read that would impact my enjoyment of this book.
In the best way possible, Ignatius is unbearable. Side note: I started noting everytime Ignatius says/does something I have seen unironically from some catholic on twitter, it is an incredible experiment.
Burma Jones is definitely my favorite character in the whole story. He was a lot of fun to read and I was very invested in him.
I did not care for the fucking levys and the exercise board.
If I ever come across a soda called "Dr. Nut," I am going to run as far away as possible.
Fantastic book. It is ridiculous and hilarious.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Xenophobia
conman12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What a whirlwind of a story. I was often not certain of where the story might take me! Other than the vaguely racist language of a white male writer from the 70's, it was quite enjoyable and often times laughable ludicrous. The characters largely learn nothing, and yet the book ends in the neat and nicest bow for each one. The last 120 or so pages had me shocked and took up only 48 hours or so of time in the book.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Racism, Alcoholism, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
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