Reviews

I really enjoyed most of this book but I am still speechless at the graphic rape scenes!! (and the misogyny, but this made sense to me as both the narrotors seemed misogynistic.)

On a smaller note, the side plot with the ussr athletes was so bizarre and really took me out of things? Hated that.

The fact that it still might be one of the best books I’ve read this year is a real testament to the humour and the engrossing plot. (Sorry women 😞) would be 5 stars without the graphic sexual assault

Content Warnings

gonza_basta's review against another edition

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4.0

Che dire? è divertente se ti piace il genere e se fossi capace di smettere di aspettarmi qualcosa di più dall'autore di "Ti prendo e ti porto via", ma insomma...non è facile! Comunque non è sempre possibile scrivere un capolavoro, lo dice anche uno dei protagonisti del romanzo quindi chiudo un occhio e aspetto il prossimo

kats05's review against another edition

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3.0

Niccolo Ammaniti first came into my life through the superb, thrilling novel "I'm not scared" a couple of years ago. The writing was clever, suspenseful and exquisite, the storyline intriguing and surprising.

So, as soon as I heard that his latest book had been translated I got myself a copy (this time, on audio, read by the absolutely outstanding Rupert Degas, whose accents and intonations are flawless). Well, if anyone told me that there was a misprint on the cover, and it's in fact written by a different author I'd believe it! It couldn't be more different to "I'm not scared" if it tried!

The writing is still clever, but much wittier with lots of absurd dialogue and inner thought processes. The story is told from various people's perspectives in the third person, predominantly by a hen-pecked, spineless accountant who runs a satanic cult behind his wife's back, and secondly by a vain, egocentric writer who is a manipulative strategist in every situation. The book is full of wackos and weirdos, and whilst this is very entertaining, it does get a bit tiring when even as far as chapter 77 (out of about 82) we are introduced to someone else, still.

If you enjoy satire, crazy situational comedy, shock value violence and a bunch of flawed but fascinating characters, I'd recommend this to you!

marta_125's review against another edition

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4.0

Questo romanzo è un vero spasso! Ammaniti sa giocare con personaggi e situazioni, talvolta grottesche, farti fare una grassa risata e subito dopo una faccia schifata.
La prima parte del romanzo mi ha ricordato tantissimo i film comici moderni italiani (non i cinepanettoni, intendo film come: Smetto quando voglio; La casa di famiglia).

La trama è scoppiettante, giri la pagina e non sai cosa aspettarti perché è un romanzo ricco di capovolgimenti di trama e continui colpi di scena.

inconsequential_perplexities's review against another edition

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0.25

Una schifezza ridicolosissima che non vale la pena!
It's not a satire, it's a misogynist fantasy of sex and over the top violence without any message or bite. No female characters, just a lot of scantily clad bodies who fuck (mainly our protagonist-writer) or fat matrons who cook - in one instance a body who fucks our protagonist-writer while cooking for him. Raped women fall in love with their rapists, one rapist is very sad and tender while raping the woman he falls in love with.
An all aroud offensively bad book!

Content Warnings

alicecice's review against another edition

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funny mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

nebulous_tide's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Fairly well written and funny in parts. The narrator did a good job of the voices. However, the misogyny/sexism was too much to bear.

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