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The Slap - what did you think?

28 replies

beanandspud · 15/07/2011 22:02

I have just finished reading 'The Slap' and to be honest I'm not sure whether I enjoyed it or not but I felt compelled to carry on reading for some reason.

Has anyone else read it? Did I miss the point? I think, from the reviews, I was expecting something completely mind-blowing/thought-provoking but it didn't happen...

OP posts:
mumsiepie · 15/07/2011 22:17

I was exactly the same as you

Sotiredofwakinguptired · 15/07/2011 22:23

Same here. Loved the premise but hated the characters, couldn't care less about any of them in the end

Reality · 15/07/2011 22:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FoxyRevenger · 15/07/2011 22:27

I absolutely hated it, I can't remember if I finished it, but I suspect not.

The characters were all so deeply unlikeable. I don't understand where these people come from; in their forties, routinely taking drugs, shagging around, stuff that middle-aged parents generally don't get involved in.

As I get older I find I judge books on whether they add any good to the world or just heap a bit more misery into it, and this book definitely is in the latter category.

mymumdom · 15/07/2011 22:31

I enjoyed it BUT I'm from NZ and recognised all those Australian characters. We did this with our book club and the only other person who liked it was someone who had spent time in Australia.
All my English friend hated the characters.

scottishmummy · 15/07/2011 22:38

didnt like.my kiwi pal loved it

KurriKurri · 15/07/2011 22:41

I didn't like it, but did read it all the way through.

this was a webchat with the author a few months ago, which I found quite interesting, he was a good guest.

scottishmummy · 15/07/2011 23:05

thanks,just read author and he does adddress characters in book i didnt like
and gave good account too

Fairenuff · 16/07/2011 17:13

One thing that struck me was, if this was a portrait of typical suburban life in Australia, I for one, could not live there. The characters were all horrible and the parents routinely swearing in front of the kids made me cringe.

Woofsaidtheladybird · 16/07/2011 19:41

Phew. I persevered and read the whole thing, and I didn't like it either. I've lived in Melbourne too, and didn't recognise the Melbourne I remember in it. I also thought the book was written in a very masculine style (yes, I know it is written by a bloke) eg the sex scenes. I'm no prude at all, but I found some of the descriptions quite off-putting and even somewhat violent at times. Can't remember exact scenes, just remember thinking 'ugh'.

Bmatoes · 21/07/2011 10:30

I felt like a bit of a prude Reading the book ! Some of the sex details I was uncomfortable with as they were so crude. I was thinking ' oh my .. No need for that' !!!

flybynight · 21/07/2011 10:48

I found it unputdownable and having lived some years in Oz, I recognised the characters. I found the wanking a bit hard to take though. Blush

Mollymax · 21/07/2011 11:00

I didn't finish it either, which I very rarely do.
I am not a prude but I found the language appalling.

Soupqueen · 24/07/2011 02:45

I thought it was an extremely well observed and well written book. All the characters were completely unlikeable though!

Apocalypto · 29/07/2011 11:09

I tried it last night and couldn't get to the end of chapter 1. Couldn't remember who was supposed to be whom and soon as the main character starting popping drugs I lost interest.

pickledsiblings · 29/07/2011 11:17

Agree with Soupqueen although thouth the teenagers were likeable.

oaks56 · 31/07/2011 20:46

I hated this book. I disliked the language used just for the sake of it. It's definitely a mans book.

sittinginthesun · 31/07/2011 21:08

Finished it this afternoon - took me four weeks, on and off, because I just couldn't get into it. Too much swearing for my liking, and it just didn't flow.

Whatevertheweather · 31/07/2011 21:10

Couldn't finish it - think I gave up around chapter 3 - cannot remember the last time I found a book so distasteful I couldn't finish it.

Sounds like I didn't miss too much Smile

PurveyorOfBaloney · 31/07/2011 21:21

Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't really like it. I've just finished reading it and did wonder if I had actually been reading the same book as some of the reviews out there Shock

Didn't really buy into any of the characters, especially the parents of the slapped child. The teenagers were unexpectedly saintly (despite the drug taking) and the blokes, to a man, were vile.

I was waiting for something vaguely profound to happen, then the book ended. Was left feeling that I wish I hadn't bothered. I get this more and more with novels these days - not quite sure why!

deaconblue · 02/08/2011 21:17

Started this last night and not enjoying it so far. Too many characters introduced too quickly, too much swearing and shagging for me

Bubbaluv · 03/08/2011 04:06

I'm Australian and I didn't recognize any of those characters except maybe the teenagers.
Horrible - and the characterisation of the women seemed so false and contrived.

deaconblue · 05/08/2011 12:51

Third of the way in and I'm giving up. Unbelievable characters (no one thinks about smashing kids heads in), horrible aggressive sex and nasty mean spirited characters. Can live without knowing how it ends

Blu · 05/08/2011 12:55

I got sick of his language, hated the characters, thought some of his plotting and the psychology of what characters did was compoletely unbelieveable, very clumsy and heavy handed.

A way over-hyped book.

Shoppingbags - good decision, do something better with your time.

tethersend · 05/08/2011 13:00

I love swearing and smut as a rule, but this book took hours of my life which I will never get back.

Getting to the end was like finishing work.