July 2022 Group Read: Razorblade Tears, by SA Cosby

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Your space for talking about Razorblade Tears. Richard will be on hand for comments, questions, etc. Please note that there is also a spoiler thread for this book. Enjoy!

[Richard]

I'm really delighted that this terrific read got chosen. I hope everyone likes the read.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

Richard wrote: "I'm really delighted that this terrific read got chosen. I hope everyone likes the read."

I'll be reading with you -- book ordered.

[Lisa]

Interesting read. Have enjoyed it a lot. Don't want to say too much and ruin it for anyone!

[Trinity]

This book sounds right up my alley I’m excited to read along with everyone!

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

I couldn’t put it down! Great read.

[Kurt]

Read it a few months ago. Was in my top 5 of 2021. Won’t be for everyone though. Can’t wait to see the comments.

[Aditya]

1/3rd in so far. It seems more solid than spectacular to me. Not yet invested in the characters.

[Esther]

I have this on my shelf and hope I will manage to read it with you.

[Richard]

The Buddy character has some of the funniest lines ever.

[TheBookWarren]

It’s my humble opinion, that Cosby is a ground-breaking novelist whom is shattering the line between crime novel & Literary fiction. He writes with a grit & dark-nuance that is entirely his own and unlike anything we’ve yet seen. Enjoy!

[Jacqueline]

First book I’ve finished where I felt the ending was spot on in awhile. It was my first time reading a book like this and some of the twists were a little predictable while some caught me completely off guard. All in all I absolutely loved this book and would recommend to anyone. I’m definitely adding anything else this author has written to my “to be read” pile.

[Nancy, Co-Moderator]

It will be next week before I can start with this book. My family is here from Los Angeles & I haven't seen them since the beginning of the pandemic, so I'm maximizing every second. Reading time is truly scarce at the moment.

[David]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I read it a few months ago - Cosby does the buddy books almost as good as Lansdale. I've read his other books since then and I think Razorblade Tears is his best! Great choice!

[Pam]

It took me longer than it usually takes me to finish reading Razorblade Tears; it certainly wasn't an easy read, either.

[Trinity]

I agree Pam this book is taking me longer to get through than usual but I am still enjoying it so far. Maybe it just won’t be a 5 star read for me but we’ll see how I feel after I finish it!

[Richard]

Richard wrote: "The Buddy character has some of the funniest lines ever."

Dry humor is one of Shawn Cosby's best writing tropes. Buddy's got that in extra helpings, for sure.

Randolph's no slouch, though, wouldn't you agree?

[Richard]

TheBookWarren wrote: "It’s my humble opinion, that Cosby is a ground-breaking novelist whom is shattering the line between crime novel & Literary fiction. He writes with a grit & dark-nuance that is entirely his own and..."

Can't disagree, Warren. He's a gifted storyteller. He's got a lot to say. Some of the action in this novel can feel...overwhelming...and then you-the-reader realize, "but that's how it feels to them, too."

Impressive stuff.

[Richard]

Jacqueline wrote: "First book I’ve finished where I felt the ending was spot on in awhile. It was my first time reading a book like this and some of the twists were a little predictable while some caught me completely off guard. All in all I absolutely loved this book and would recommend to anyone. I’m definitely adding anything else this author has written to my “to be read” pile."

I hope you're going to enjoy Blacktop Wasteland when it's at the top of the pile, too. Beauregard's another character, like Buddy, whose way with humor is a delight.

[Richard]

Nancy wrote: "It will be next week before I can start with this book. My family is here from Los Angeles & I haven't seen them since the beginning of the pandemic, so I'm maximizing every second. Reading time is..."

July's a long one. "Family before books"? Enough time for both in this long month.

[Richard]

David wrote: "I thoroughly enjoyed this book when I read it a few months ago - Cosby does the buddy books almost as good as Lansdale. I've read his other books since then and I think Razorblade Tears is his best..."

Did you ever review it, David? Would you mind posting a link to it, if you did?

[Richard]

Pam wrote: "It took me longer than it usually takes me to finish reading Razorblade Tears; it certainly wasn't an easy read, either."

There is a lot of violence in the book. Was that something that affected your opinion of it?

[Richard]

Trinity wrote: "I agree Pam this book is taking me longer to get through than usual but I am still enjoying it so far. Maybe it just won’t be a 5 star read for me but we’ll see how I feel after I finish it!"

However you end up rating it, I'm hopeful that it will be a memorably positive read for you.

[Aditya]

I am going to be a contrarian and say I hated it. There are a couple of good similes but that's about it. It is a braindead action movie which pretends to have depth by being woke. I am surprised more readers have not found it to be preachy about homophobia and racism. I did not get the hype about Cosby at all. I gave it a 2/5.

My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...