Absolutely Dreadful DNF

I recently had the misfortune of experiencing an absolutely dreadful DNF (Did Not Finish). It was a truly disappointing and frustrating encounter.

The task or activity that led to this DNF seemed initially manageable, but as I delved deeper into it, numerous obstacles and difficulties presented themselves.

The instructions were unclear, causing me to constantly second-guess my actions. The complexity of the requirements exceeded my expectations, and I found myself struggling to keep up.

Despite my best efforts and determination, I simply could not overcome these challenges. The more I tried, the more I felt myself getting bogged down and losing motivation.

In the end, I had no choice but to admit defeat and call it a DNF. It was a hard pill to swallow, but sometimes, no matter how hard we try, certain things are just beyond our reach.

This experience has taught me the importance of better preparation and understanding before taking on any new task. It has also made me more resilient and determined to face future challenges with a more positive attitude.

I have always been a great admirer of Lydia Millet's works, especially her "how the Dead Dream" trilogy. However, this particular book took a turn that was simply too gruesome for my taste.

It begins with a powerful and attention-grabbing start, promptly presenting a cast of incredibly strange and captivating characters. But as the story unfolds, the torture inflicted by "Bill" upon the living becomes almost unbearable to read.

I must admit that I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to such extreme and disturbing content. While I appreciate the author's ability to create a vivid and intense narrative, this level of horror was just not something I could fully embrace.

Perhaps for those with a stronger stomach and a greater tolerance for the macabre, this book might be a thrilling and engaging read. But for me, it was a step too far.

Nevertheless, I still respect Lydia Millet's talent as a writer and will continue to explore her other works in the hope of finding something that suits my literary preferences a bit more.

This book was truly an enigma. At first glance, it seemed rather weird with its unusual plot twists and characters that defied the norm. However, as I delved deeper into its pages, I began to realize its hidden charm.

The author's unique writing style added to the overall allure of the book. The story was told in a way that kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing what would happen next.

Despite its initial strangeness, the book had a certain depth and substance that made it a truly enjoyable read. It made me think about things in a different way and opened my eyes to new perspectives.

In conclusion, this book was a pleasant surprise. It may have been weird, but it was also good in its own unique way. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different and thought-provoking.

3.0

This is by far the most unhinged book I have ever come across, and yet, I adored every single page of it!

It is truly a dark piece of literature, but paradoxically, it also holds a certain allure...resembling a David Lynch fairytale. At first, I was inclined to give it 4 stars. As I was approaching the conclusion of the book, I simply couldn't envision how Lydia Millet would manage to provide us with a satisfactory ending. However, then came the big surprise! BAM! Not only was it a perfect ending to the actual plot, but I also felt that it neatly tied everything together thematically.

This is a relatively quick read. I was able to finish it in just two sittings. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it! :)

Surreal and darkly funny, this unique style has the power to captivate and intrigue audiences.

It takes them on a journey that defies the boundaries of reality, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary and the humorous is laced with a touch of the macabre.

The surreal elements create a sense of disorientation, making the viewers or readers question what they are seeing or experiencing.

At the same time, the dark humor provides a release valve, allowing them to laugh at the absurdity and the darker side of life.

This combination of the surreal and the darkly funny is a powerful tool for artists, writers, and filmmakers to express their creativity and explore the human psyche.

It can make us think, feel, and even change our perspective on the world around us.

Whether it's through a painting, a story, or a movie, the surreal and darkly funny has the ability to leave a lasting impression and make us see the world in a whole new light.

I have an intense love for Millet's peculiarly magical writing style.

The opening of the book is truly my favorite part. It grabs my attention right from the start and holds it firmly. However, as the story gradually strays away from the realm of the real and delves into more fantastical elements, my interest starts to wane a little.

Nevertheless, when it comes to the very end of the book, it is really and truly beautiful. It has a certain charm and allure that makes up for the moments when my interest flagged. The conclusion manages to bring together all the threads of the story in a way that is both satisfying and memorable. It leaves a lasting impression on me and makes me appreciate Millet's writing even more.

Overall, despite the slight dip in my interest in the middle, the book as a whole is a captivating read, thanks to Millet's unique writing style and the beautiful ending.

This is a great and quick read that I truly enjoyed.

The story had me hooked from the beginning with its engaging plot and well-developed characters.

However, it was the absolutely unhinged third act that really took the story to another level.

The events that unfolded were completely unexpected and had me on the edge of my seat.

The author did an excellent job of building up the tension and then releasing it in a wild and exciting way.

I found myself unable to put the book down until I had finished reading the entire third act.

The unhinged nature of the third act added a sense of chaos and unpredictability to the story that made it all the more thrilling.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fast-paced and exciting read.

Daniel's great-uncle gave all of us books by Lydia Millet for Christmas.

It was a wonderful gesture. The book I received was truly a good read.

The story was engaging and filled with interesting characters and plot twists.

However, there was one major drawback. Whoever wrote the cover copy gave the entire plot away!

This was quite disappointing as it took away the element of surprise and anticipation.

I still enjoyed reading the book, but it would have been even better if I had been able to discover the plot on my own.

Despite this, I am grateful to Daniel's great-uncle for introducing us to the works of Lydia Millet.

I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

This was truly wild. It was very short, yet it managed to pack in a great deal. Estée endures the most nightmarish childhood, the worst and most confining marriage, and a demonic baby, and still makes it through to the other side. The entire story had a fun, Addams Family-esque feel to it.

Part 1: Estée's father is a deranged scientist who conducts horrific experiments on insects, gradually progressing to birds and small mammals, and ultimately human beings. Her mother believes she is paralyzed after having sex with her father for the first time, resulting in Estée's birth and the apparent loss of the use of her limbs. Estée is completely imprisoned in the house, prohibited from attending school, and forced to learn only the species, genus, and phylum of all kinds of animals while serving as her demented father's laboratory assistant.

Part 2: Estée is married off to the boorish, eighties-finance-bro Pete Magnus, finding herself out of one captivity and into another. She is completely naïve, knowing nothing about the real world or the malevolent creatures that inhabit it. The story shines a light on American excess. However, this part was the weakest as it has been done before.

Part 3: Estée becomes pregnant with a demon spawn, believing it to be the son of a shrunken head in Pete's ostentatious tribal artifacts collection. This part was my favorite. The baby, named Little Bill, is born with a full set of teeth, eats rodents, claws at his father's face, and leads his daycare classmates in a cult-like uprising against their abusive, disciplinarian teachers. Little Bill is like Sunny from A Series of Unfortunate Events, where every nonsensical thing he says has an exact equivalent in more typical speech. Or like the baby in The Addams Family Values, sweetly destroying, maiming, and torturing.

One blurb on the back suggested that if Flannery O'Connor could come back from the dead, she would have written something like Omnivores. I wholeheartedly disagree with that bizarrely hyperbolic statement. More likely, if Charles Addams came back from the dead, teamed up with John Waters, and took a creative writing class taught by Ottessa Moshfegh, then that might result in this book.

Beautiful.

Maybe I'm dumb, but this is some of the smartest feminist fiction I've ever read. It's truly remarkable how Millet weaves together such complex themes and ideas in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

Oddly, it reminds me of Texas Chainsaw Massacre, though. There's something about the intensity and the raw emotions in both works that makes the connection for me.

I heart Lydia Millet. She gets my crush. Her writing is so powerful and unique, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in feminist literature or just great writing in general. It's a must-read that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

Um... what the fuck did I just read?

It was extremely weird and, at certain moments, also extremely gross. It was sort of like the scene of a terrible accident. I'm aware that I probably should have stopped looking at it, but I just couldn't turn my head away.

I have to admit that a part of me was compelled to keep going simply to see where it was all leading and if there was any point to the madness.

If there was some underlying point beneath all the absurdity, I truly didn't understand what it was.

There's a tagline on my copy that says, 'Omnivores reads like a cartoon with a soul', and all I can think is that the person who came up with that must have watched a lot of Ren & Stimpy in their childhood. It's the only cartoon that's twisted enough to come close to this novel.

Fortunately for me, it was a short read that only took a few hours to finish. Though perhaps I should have stopped looking and saved my brain from all of it.

It will definitely be memorable, I'll give it that.

Note, if you're considering reading this book, I would caution you that it probably has nearly every trigger warning in it, at least to some extent. So proceed with caution if there's any content you might be sensitive to.

The Coen Brothers are renowned for their unique and often darkly comedic films. However, there is one early project of theirs that never made it to the big screen and yet holds the potential to be the funniest.

This unfilmed movie was said to have a zany and offbeat plot that would have had audiences in stitches. The story was filled with eccentric characters and absurd situations that were characteristic of the Coen Brothers' style.

Although we may never get to see this hilarious movie come to life, the mere idea of it is enough to pique our curiosity. It makes us wonder what kind of comedic genius the Coen Brothers would have unleashed had they been able to bring this particular project to fruition.

Perhaps one day, this unfilmed gem will be rediscovered and given the chance to shine, delighting audiences with its uproarious humor and unforgettable characters.