Member Reviews
I listened to the audio version, which is an excellent way to savour the delight of this weird horror. Here we are again in the Tower. Two questions come to mind - not though ‘People turning into their bathrooms?’ That’s a minor consideration. But, question one - has the tower had such an effect that these people think this is just run of the mill, just accept, sane? Secondly question asked, and the answer is - “I’m not in fight club!!!!” Listen to the book and you will understand. And have a lot of fun doing so. Thank you to Doom Fiction for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
This was a quick, interesting and fun book. I really enjoyed the author’s writing. They did a great job introducing and developing the characters with their constant changes. Thanks Netgalley!
What I expected from this book: a silly story about a man transforming into his bathroom fixtures.
What I got from this story: A silly story witty lines, passionate social commentary, power struggles, awkward office friendships, a love story, AND a man transforming into bathroom fixtures.
All in, it was a quick read, and if this type of thing appeals to you in any way at all, it's worth checking it out.
Thank you NetGalley and Doom Fiction for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This book could not have been more obscure but weirdly I was completely intrigued by all of it. I definitely cannot wait to listen to the rest of William Pauley III’s work because every part of the story was unexpected.
This is the 4th book in the Bedlam Bible series, but I haven't read book 2 or 3 yet because they were archived on Netgalley before I had a chance to download them. In any event, it isn't necessary to have read the previous books, as this one is stand-alone.
In this book, we revisit the 8th Block Tower, the peculiar structure where individuals (strange and sometimes mutated) reside for their entire existence despite the radiation in its walls. The plot follows a cluster of office employees stationed within the building, who gradually transform into a bathroom.
The protagonist wakes up one morning to discover that he is changing into his tub. When he shows up to work covered in bandages, his colleague is convinced that he is part of some fight club (hence the book name, Fight Tub). What could be worse than turning into your bathroom? Merging with the toilet bowl comes to mind. The fact that this disease seems to be contagious is a close second. Soon, the entire office is infected and changing.
Throw in a little love story and a cantankerous boss, and you've got yourself a great story! This story may be bizarre, but it is also really fun and hilarious. How does the author come up with this stuff? Another great book by William Pauley III and a definite must-read!
I loved this Kafkaesque loopy book. It was weird, darkly comic and thought provoking. Ticking all my boxes!
I was looking for an audiobook to listen to and randomly pick this book. It was definitely an interesting read. I mean Fight Tub is about a man who became his bathroom. It was bizarre and so much fun. Also, it is really short so The narrator is amazing too. I can't wait to read his other books.
This book is both wonderfully and maddeningly quirky and bizarre. As the protagonist opens the story by transforming into his bathtub, the book is reminiscent of Kafka's The Metamorphosis. However, the similarities end there. As I listened on, I couldn't quite figure out if the whole text was satirical or if only portions are to be taken as such. Commentary regarding healthcare and living wages came through.
The audio text drew me in with the reader employing multiple voices and tones as they read.
One morning our main character wakes up and discovers his eye has been replaced with a steel ball. A faucet sprouts from his neck. As more and more physical changes happen to his body he realizes he may be turning into a bathroom.
I’ve read a couple of reviews where the people thought that the author meant this change metaphorically but I’ve read multiple books by the author in the past couple of days so I had a pretty good feeling he meant it literally. I have a hard time pinning my feelings on this book down truth be told (I finished this several days ago and have been trying to figure out what my review was going to be since then).
On one hand I like this. The changes they the MC goes through are interesting to read. There is a cool progression to everything and I liked seeing where it was going. The way that no one around him is freaked out by these changes is hilarious and weird. The fact that whatever he has is contagious added a neat element to everything. There’s a side plot about how one of the coworkers of the MC is convinced that the “injuries” he has is because he’s in a fight club (hence the title of the book) and doesn’t believe for one second that he isn’t. The ending of this is absolutely wild and I can see why people might really like it.
Overall I just think that this wasn’t the humor for me. There were a couple points that I really liked but overall I was a little underwhelmed.
I think this is the most tame of the authors stories I’ve read so far. It didn’t have the absolute gross out points that I’ve hated in previous works. If you don’t like body horror you probably won’t be a fan of this but i thought it was pretty tame and I do recommend this for horror fans of the appropriate age range. This might not be my favorite but I can see how other people would love it.
This is such an interesting piece of work! I love things out of the box and unique, this was truly it. I know a few patrons who would be interested in this!
I recommend going into this book blind like the writer probably intended (judging from the short blurb).
This book has everything: sinks, toilets, fungal cream, a doctor in a pink tracksuit, fight club (he's not in a damn fight club, okay?!)
This was the perfect mix of humor, weird, and body horror, with tons of dry wit and sarcasm. The doctor's office part was hilarious!
I believe this was an analogy for capitalism, but that's just my take.
The narrator did a great job personifying each character.
Thank you NetGalley, Doom Fiction Audio, and William Pauley III for this ALC.
All opinions are my own.
Tremendously daft and surreal, this was such a fun spin on the surreal metamorphosis type. A modern Kafka.
absolutely bananas but i loved it
loved the social commentary, especially on the US health care system, injected into what is a bonkers and perfectly crafted absurdist concept
the visuals my brain came up with for a man becoming a bathroom... wow lmao...
no one can tell William Pauley III this isn't original
it was the perfect length and the humour was delivered seamlessly, especially the puns near the end lol
thank you to netgalley for the ARC audiobook <3
My thanks to the Author, the publisher and netgalley for a chance to listen to this audiobook. I have taken quite the liking to William Pauley III and honestly he has become one of my go to authors for fun audiobook listens. Although this was not my favorite listen, it was still an enjoyable story. I will have to check out more from this series of books since this was my first jaunt into The Bedlam Bible tales.
All in all I enjoyed the characters and the story, it was a little bit more futuristic than I was expecting but it all worked in the end and I truly found myself once again wishing the tale was just a little longer.
If you are looking for a quirky novel, this is it. And who other than William Pauley III could come up with a plot line about people who take on physical characteristics of their bath tub? Yes, that's right — and the result is an interesting tale that let you use your own imaginationa as to its meaning. At first, the protagonist tries to hide his changes, but as others draw closer to him both physically and mentally, his perspective changes. And so do those closest to him. The author's imagination allows readers — or listeners — to make the story line into what they want. Is it a story of big business vs. the little guy, technology vs. humanity, or who knows!
Fight Tub by William Pauley III: A bizarre 5-star read
Narrated by Connor Brannigan
Audiobook Length: 2h 45 min
Drebbin is living his normal life, avoiding any chitter chatter and focusing on his work. He has a liking towards Leila, who according to him is out of his league. He is trying hard to get the promotion by impressing his boss, Mr. Kim.
One fine evening, Drebbin’s life changes when he feels the floor, the commode, the sink and every object in his bathroom breathing. He could feel fear rising inside him but before he knew it, he started becoming his bathroom. The story takes place at the Eighth Block Tower, where Drebbin has his home as well as office. It also deals with how humans are afraid to get sick, mostly because they just cannot afford it.
It’s the fourth book in The Bedlam Bible series, but is completely standalone. When a story has such an interesting build-up, the reader has their own set of expectations. William Pauley III went above and beyond my expectations with this story. He manages to keep up the weirdness level as the story progresses. The story keeps the reader hooked and the highlight is the author’s writing style. The writing gave me immense Murakami-esque vibes. The detailed graphical description of the surroundings was done beautifully (or grotesquely).
While the central emotional tone of the story is weirdness, it still manages to touch romance, comedy, and horror. All the characters have their place but KARL STANDS OUT! Karl deserves his own story! What a quirky personality.
I loved the fact that the author has kept the story quick-paced and wrapped it in just 90 pages. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Connor Brannigan and kudos to the narrator. Connor does an amazing job in significantly adding on to the different layers of emotions in the story.
I loved the book and would definitely recommend the audiobook version for the increased quota of absurdness.
Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook!
This one was crazy and really really funny! I love the narration for this series! For this one it was just perfect for the story. I loved Carl. He finally got his Fight Club, kinda. I loved this one. I need the next book in the series right now! LOL Thank you to NetGalley and Doom Fiction for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was a really strange book. I’m not quite sure how to classify it. I don’t know that I liked or did not like it. I guess the only thing I can really say was that it was weird & unique, and now I understand why so many other reviews were as vague as mine.
I don’t know what to tell you but I literally laughed out loud when the annoying coworker followed the MC around, convinced that the MC was in a fight club…meanwhile he’s turning into a bathroom.
Very strange. The audio was good.
This is a glaring allegory on the effects of capitalism on the layman’s psyche and body. I enjoyed the disruption and pandemonium caused by “tub-sick” workers. Though I am not much of a romance reader, I would’ve appreciated a few more moments between the love-interest and main character so that the ending didn’t feel so *side eye.* If you know you know. Otherwise a nice well-rounded short story with some body horror sprinkled in.
I received the audio book version of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Please have a look for the blurb of the book elsewhere as here are my thoughts and opinions only. Thank you.
The title of the book immediately pulled me in, I was about to start deep cleaning the house and I was looking for something short to listen. I’m so freaking glad I picked this up as the story is so bizarre and funny that help me scrub, polish and declutter at least 2 bathrooms.
Fantastic story telling by the author, who I haven’t read before. I particularly love the constant mention of the Fight club film rather than the book as I haven’t read that one yet. I didn’t see much of the horror of the book, as I guess I’ve read mostly the classic horror not much on the modern side of things.
Some scenes felt narrated in a graphic novel style, kind os short sentences and snappy, but it really helped creating a fast paced and agile read.
The audio version got a little tired some as I didn’t love the voice, but that’s absolutely a personal choice, it doesn’t affect much of the content, but it took me a couple of days to finish it, though I’m sure I would’ve done it faster if the narrator had a more appealing voice.
Highly recommend. Looking forward to reading more of this author.