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Zuky the BookBum (15 KP) rated Lullaby in Books

Mar 15, 2018  
L
Lullaby
Chuck Palahniuk | 2003 | Fiction & Poetry
8
8.4 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
I’ve never read a Palahniuk books before but I actually really enjoyed this one. I can understand why some people find his writing annoying, but personally I like it’s wit, brutality and shockingness.

Palahniuk is always trying to make a point in his writing… I know this from reading other people’s reviews… but if it’s not right there in front of me, and instead hidden behind cryptic messages, I usually miss the whole point. Which is what I feel happened with this book. I mean I got it thanks to self explanatory lines like “Power, money, food, sex, love. Can we ever get enough, or will getting some make us crave even more?” but I also feel like a lot of it went over my head, so excuse my bland review!

This book is definitely difficult reading at some points, with it’s grotesque descriptions and imagery, but for the most part it’s quite a quick read. I found the story easy enough to follow, although at moments there are whole chapters that appear out of nowhere and make no sense until the end, which threw me off a little! I wasn’t expecting this novel to have a kind of twisty-turny outcome, but it does and I loved that about it! How the story joins up and concludes is very clever. It exceeded my expectations in that aspect.

I really enjoyed getting to know the characters in this story. There are 4 main characters, and it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book where we get to know each one of them really well. Palahniuk has done well to make them all their own individual beings with completely different personalities that are both fun and annoying. Carl is our main, main character and he’s a strange individual to follow around. We learn so much about him, including a shocking secret that makes us look at him in a different light. Helen Hoover Boyle is a fun character to accompany Carl and it’s interesting to see how their relationship grows as each chapter passes.

Overall, I really liked this book. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book that’s been both disturbing and funny at the same time. I have always been hesitant to read Palahniuk because everyone says his stuff is so like Marmite, but just like I am with the controversial spread, I’m on the love it side – at least for now!
  
Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary's Baby, #1)
Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary's Baby, #1)
Ira Levin | 2011 | Fiction & Poetry, Thriller
10
8.7 (10 Ratings)
Book Rating
<b><i>This is no dream, she thought. This is real, this is happening.</i></b>

<b>Note to self and others:</b> beware of overly friendly neighbours.

This is amazing. At just over 200 pages, this novel takes you on a hell (excuse the pun) of a journey that you won’t forget anytime soon. Levin has managed to make a novel so witty, and at the same time, so terrifying. In a way, the tone of this book is reminiscent of American Psycho (or rather American Psycho is reminiscent of this as it came out afterwards), but rather than in-your-face vulgar gore, this is far more psychologically disturbing. Never has such a mundane life, as Rosemarys and Guy’s, ever been so horrifying.

I’d already watched the movie when I picked this up, so I knew what this novel was about and what happened, and I think, maybe, that made me enjoy this <i>more.</i> When you know how the story plays out, the tension in this really grips you and you find yourself angry and empathetic towards Rosemary’s naivety. I think if I went into this novel not knowing, Rosemary would have simply pissed me off, she’s that sort of weak and dependant woman I oh-so hate in books, but it was a different experience for me, knowing what I know. That’s not to say you won’t like this going into it blind, I’m sure the tension and horror of this will affect you just the same way <i>and</i>_ you'll get the pleasure of the pure shock of the discovery, something I didn't.

I’ve said previously that I find it hard to really <i>hate</i> a character in a book, as I often find things to like about them, despite all their bad ways, but that’s not the case in this one. Let’s just say there is one specific character in this I hate more than anyone (in any other book ever, so far) for their betrayal, all for their own selfish gain.

The ending of this novel is one of the hardest, if not <i>the</i> hardest to swallow. It’s <i>so</i> distressing and <i>so</i> upsetting. I can’t say anything more than that, but it’s truly awful.

I’m really trying not to give too much away with this review, it’s hard not to say so many things, but I think it’s OK to mention the fact this book is about devilry (it’s written on the book as a quote from Capote so it can’t exactly be ignored)! This is a truly terrifying novel, and if you had qualms about having children before, you’ll definitely have more after reading this book.

This is a one-sitting read for me and I’m actually excited to re-read it sometime in the future. This work is a masterpiece. Levin is an incredible writer and I’m now aiming to read the rest of his work by the end of the year (yes, even <i>Son of Rosemary</i>, even though it has the worst ratings ever).

P.S. Even if you don’t like horror, you’ll most likely enjoy this book as it’s not openly trying to freak you out. It’s far more a suspense novel that gets in your head.
  
After reading the second, I decided I should probably read the first. After reading the second, which immediately captured my attention, I found it so difficult to get into this novel. It starts out with Siusan sewing up Sterling’s knuckles, which I had to actually skip over because I could not stomach reading about it.

After that the story progresses with Sterling actually fighting some Irish man to win money to help support his siblings. After Isobel interrupts the fight and is embarrassed by Sterling, he goes on to win the fight and donate some of his winnings to Isobel’s cause. Sterling then makes the bet at White’s and proceeds to woe Isobel.

Honestly, I grew bored with this novel. I actually found myself skipping over passages and conversations without meaning to. It was actually depressing after reading the <i>The Most Wicked of Sins</i>, which had me hooked. I loved reading about Ivy and Nick’s developing relationship and them falling in love. Sterling and Isobel’s story, however, was just flat. I don’t why, but I just found that I could not care less about them falling in love, or Sterling seducing Isobel.

I was greatly disappointed.