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I hated this book. I would have never read it if I had read the blurb on the cover or if it wasn't listed on the 1001 books to read list. I had to force myself to finish.
It is about a man named Ballard (yes, another author who fictionalizes himself for his book) who is involved in an automobile accident in which another man is killed. And this is where the book gets bad. Ballard is sexually aroused by the accident! He fantasizes about it. He becomes obsessed with car crashes. He befriends anothe ...more
It is about a man named Ballard (yes, another author who fictionalizes himself for his book) who is involved in an automobile accident in which another man is killed. And this is where the book gets bad. Ballard is sexually aroused by the accident! He fantasizes about it. He becomes obsessed with car crashes. He befriends anothe ...more
Ballard is obviously an interesting writer, although his gluttonous use of over-analyzed descriptions caused many an eye roll on my side. The premise itself is brilliant and it's possibly the most famous book featuring paraphilia. However, the endless repetition of violence and sex (itself probably a technique used to highlight how easily we become dulled to graphic imagery/thoughts/experiences) made this such a chore to read. It's a fairly short book that seemed to drag on forever, and I was ne
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terrible (0), it truly was terrible but I will give it 1 star as I think the author is a good writer, I wish this hadn’t been the first book I read by him.
REVIEW: To say I don't get it, really sums up my experience reading this...... Here is an example I don't get. "By terrifying paradox, a sexual act between us would be a way of taking her revenge", this is said about the wife of the man that he killed in an auto accident. And what is the sci fi part of this book. It is the excessive reference ...more
REVIEW: To say I don't get it, really sums up my experience reading this...... Here is an example I don't get. "By terrifying paradox, a sexual act between us would be a way of taking her revenge", this is said about the wife of the man that he killed in an auto accident. And what is the sci fi part of this book. It is the excessive reference ...more
Urrgh. I cannot rate this book because on the one hand it is powerful and original and amazing in a horrible way, and on the other, I did not enjoy reading it at all. I once made the mistake of reading some in the evening and couldn't sleep afterwards. After that had to restrict to pre-6pm reading.
I remember when my father was teaching me to drive, I did something that seemed safe, assuming predictable road use by other drivers, and he said, "Yes, but you don't know who is driving the other car. ...more
I remember when my father was teaching me to drive, I did something that seemed safe, assuming predictable road use by other drivers, and he said, "Yes, but you don't know who is driving the other car. ...more
Awful book. Not recommended.
Sep 26, 2014
Ashley Husemoller
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
1001-before-dying
Nov 15, 2014
Kallie
marked it as to-read
Jun 17, 2017
Yvonne
marked it as to-read
Jan 13, 2018
Sorobai
marked it as to-read
Feb 19, 2018
Sabrina
marked it as to-read
Jan 07, 2021
Kayla Tocco
marked it as to-read
Jul 29, 2022
Soscha
marked it as to-read
