Reviews
weird
Updating this Review. This book is still a 5 star for me. When I read this book, it was at a time in my life where the novel made such an impact on my reading. It was one of the first of many novels I've read, and it sparked a young love of reading inside me. If it wasn't for Going Bovine and a couple other novels, I wouldn't be reading like I am today. I still love Cameron, and I still think about him, and I think about the emotional rollercoaster and the joy I experienced in reading this one. I hope to reread it again sometime this year (2016) and will update my rating if I've changed my mind.
This book was really hard for me to get through. I didn't hate it conceptually, I just think the narration wasn't 100% my style. In addition, some of the situations Cam found himself in were so farfetched that it completely pulled me out of it. I will say, that the ending definitely contextualized some of the issues I had with the plot and I did really enjoy the way it wrapped up. It's just unfortunate that it took so long for me to get there. All in all, it was just ~fine~
maybe it's 2,5 but I really can't round it up to 3... The book just dragged and dragged for ages, each chapter, each scene seemed just too long, as if we already got all the information, the feel of it, but the author just kept us in place, reading it felt like I was held by the hand, almost tagged back, and someone kept telling me "...no, but listen..." The story bored me, I really just wanted to wake up from this bad dream; can't give more stars even for the (sometimes) funny characters. I liked the first few chapters of the book, before we learn about Cameron's disease.
I haven't seen many good reviews on this book, nor have I seen any youtubers praise it. I picked this book up at a used bookstore for $4.95 expecting nothing and was surprised at how much I actually kinda sorta liked it. I hated Cameron. There were maybe a collected total of 4 times where I did not hate him. Gonzo was sort of obnoxious, too. Balder, on the other hand, was the best Norse god gnome thing EVER. This book was ... I can't explain it. I didn't love this book, however, it gets four stars because I seriously wanted to know what was going to happen, and it was the quickest read I've had for a while, despite it's 480 pages. My best description of it is that it's "Trippy" If you are bored on a rainy summer day, knock yourself out. It will keep you entertained, so you can close the book at night and go "WTF did I just read".
3.5
Great plot but she had to fall into the ever so disgusting magical negro trope. So sick of it, it's not even funny or clever it's just offensive.
If I could give this novel 6 stars, I would. Even before the novel started, Libba Bray's acknowledgements made me want to give it 5 stars already. She is just a master of words. This book was hilarious and philosophical and heart breaking and everything you could think of. The story was mighty original, too. I feel like everyone could relate to Cameron, the main character (except for maybe having a fatal illness). I liked the ending especially; it is not what you would've expected. All of the characters in this book were amazing and unique and wonderful to read. This novel is a MUST READ!! One of the best.
