Dannii Elle's Reviews > A Horse Walks into a Bar
A Horse Walks into a Bar
by
by
Dannii Elle's review
bookshelves: literary-fiction-love, humorous-hysteria, adult-books-read
May 23, 2017
bookshelves: literary-fiction-love, humorous-hysteria, adult-books-read
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, David Grossman, and the publisher, Vintage Digital, for this opportunity.
This was my second read from the Man Booker International prize shortlist and, whilst I did not exactly 'get' this book, I can wholeheartedly see why it has garnered this acclaim.
This book was... bizarre! The novel's concept is of a stand-up comedian delivering more than just the expected one-liners and, instead, giving his audience a harsh and stark insight into culture and society. Just like the audience, as the jokes gave way to something darker, I was often left confused with what I was being served.
There was certainly power in this book and both the audience and the reader are privy to witnessing a man coming undone before their very eyes, but managing to deliver a dark and irrepressible something in the midst of his personal chaos.
The book focuses on the themes of societies horribly malfunctioning and it was an important and thought-provoking read because of that. Yet there was just something about this... Something I couldn't wholly grasp or sink my teeth into. Perhaps that is due to the immensity of the topics discoursed, or perhaps because of the abstract form of their delivery. Whatever it was, it has me at a loss to discern how I truly feel about this book. But, perhaps that is the very nature of what makes it so powerful? Because true art is never straight-forward and easy to interpret.
This was my second read from the Man Booker International prize shortlist and, whilst I did not exactly 'get' this book, I can wholeheartedly see why it has garnered this acclaim.
This book was... bizarre! The novel's concept is of a stand-up comedian delivering more than just the expected one-liners and, instead, giving his audience a harsh and stark insight into culture and society. Just like the audience, as the jokes gave way to something darker, I was often left confused with what I was being served.
There was certainly power in this book and both the audience and the reader are privy to witnessing a man coming undone before their very eyes, but managing to deliver a dark and irrepressible something in the midst of his personal chaos.
The book focuses on the themes of societies horribly malfunctioning and it was an important and thought-provoking read because of that. Yet there was just something about this... Something I couldn't wholly grasp or sink my teeth into. Perhaps that is due to the immensity of the topics discoursed, or perhaps because of the abstract form of their delivery. Whatever it was, it has me at a loss to discern how I truly feel about this book. But, perhaps that is the very nature of what makes it so powerful? Because true art is never straight-forward and easy to interpret.
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Reading Progress
May 12, 2017
– Shelved
May 12, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
June 14, 2017
–
Started Reading
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
literary-fiction-love
June 15, 2017
– Shelved as:
humorous-hysteria
June 15, 2017
–
Finished Reading
March 11, 2021
– Shelved as:
adult-books-read
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Adina (way behind)
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rated it 4 stars
Jun 16, 2017 06:03AM
i felt about the same about the novel. I enjoyed others more than this one but i think it deserved to win.
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Seconded. I also felt a little empty at the end- as if I expected more.I don't know why. It is well written but something about it unnerved me. Not really an "enjoyable" read if that is the right term. I don't know. Still feeling a little baffled.
Adina wrote: "i felt about the same about the novel. I enjoyed others more than this one but i think it deserved to win."
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner, though my personal favourite from the shortlist was Fever Dream.
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner, though my personal favourite from the shortlist was Fever Dream.
Ruth wrote: "Seconded. I also felt a little empty at the end- as if I expected more.I don't know why. It is well written but something about it unnerved me. Not really an "enjoyable" read if that is the right t..."
I appreciated the ingenuity but I totally agree with you and wouldn't class it as 'enjoyable'.
I appreciated the ingenuity but I totally agree with you and wouldn't class it as 'enjoyable'.
Dannii wrote: "Adina wrote: "i felt about the same about the novel. I enjoyed others more than this one but i think it deserved to win."
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner, though my pers..." That was my 2nd choice, right after The Unseen.
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner, though my pers..." That was my 2nd choice, right after The Unseen.
Adina wrote: "Dannii wrote: "Adina wrote: "i felt about the same about the novel. I enjoyed others more than this one but i think it deserved to win."
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner,..."
That's going to be one of my next reads! So excited to begin it, now.
It made me think, so I guess that makes it a worthy winner,..."
That's going to be one of my next reads! So excited to begin it, now.