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katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Finished this just before it was announced that it made the Booker shortlist. A worthy contender, very well written, liked the two-pronged narrative. What happens at the end though?! Is he okay??!
rmarcin's review against another edition
2.0
I guess I am not one for books which are shortlisted for the Man Booker prize. The best thing about this book to me was that it was short, and could be read in just a couple of hours. Futh is a man who is recently separated from his wife, never gotten over the trauma of his mother leaving when he was a child, has an abusive father, and is just wandering through life. Throughout the book, you find that Futh's wife, Angela, had been having an affair with Futh's childhood friend, Kenny, for a long time. Also, Futh's father, had an affair with Kenny's mother, Gloria, their next door neighbor.
When Futh embarks on a vacation to hike in Germany, he meets Ester, a hotel owner. Ester is promiscuous, sleeping with various hotel guests. Ester's husband, Bernard, is a volatile man, who beats Ester, and the guests. Ester is also covetous of Futh's silver lighthouse, which held Futh's mother's perfume. Ester steals the lighthouse, Futh tries to steal it back. Futh never slept with Ester, but is caught in her room by Bernard, and Futh is beaten badly - perhaps to death, which is alluded to in the final chapter, when he doesn't show up on the ferry to return home.
This is just not the kind of book for me.
#TheLighthouse #AlisonMoore
When Futh embarks on a vacation to hike in Germany, he meets Ester, a hotel owner. Ester is promiscuous, sleeping with various hotel guests. Ester's husband, Bernard, is a volatile man, who beats Ester, and the guests. Ester is also covetous of Futh's silver lighthouse, which held Futh's mother's perfume. Ester steals the lighthouse, Futh tries to steal it back. Futh never slept with Ester, but is caught in her room by Bernard, and Futh is beaten badly - perhaps to death, which is alluded to in the final chapter, when he doesn't show up on the ferry to return home.
This is just not the kind of book for me.
#TheLighthouse #AlisonMoore
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/01/27/review-1791-the-lighthouse/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2022/01/27/review-1791-the-lighthouse/
daniinad15's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
growlcat's review against another edition
4.0
A very quiet, sad book about a man that nobody really notices and who doesn't make a fuss. Futh takes a short walking holiday and reflects on his life as he goes. Despite the gloomy subject, the story is well written and worth reading.
elaineruss's review against another edition
3.0
Oh dear. This little Booker Prize shortlisted novel really is quite disappointing. Let's start with the positives though (and it's a biggy). The writing is brilliant. Short, sharp and clear. Moore really is accomplished. Unfortunately, with this particular story, the style leaves the reader slightly removed and shines a light (no pun intended) on just how dull the main characters are.
I found myself uninterested and even irritated by the main characters, Futh, who is on a walking holiday in Germany and Ester, the hotel owner seeking solace with anyone that passes through her hotel.
Ultimately this is a case of (lack of) substance over style. As a writer, Moore is one to watch. As a storyteller? Well, we'll see.
Review here
I found myself uninterested and even irritated by the main characters, Futh, who is on a walking holiday in Germany and Ester, the hotel owner seeking solace with anyone that passes through her hotel.
Ultimately this is a case of (lack of) substance over style. As a writer, Moore is one to watch. As a storyteller? Well, we'll see.
Review here
gahreading's review against another edition
2.0
Found this book incredibly boring. I only made it to the end because it was a very short story. The main character Furth(?) was so annoying it destroyed any pleasure I might have been able to squeeze from the book. BORING!!!!
cecilialau_'s review against another edition
4.25
This was my second Moore novel after The Retreat.
I loved it. I found it really intriguing and couldn’t stop. It was Moore’s signature frustrating characters and innuendos and indirect directness and weirdness as well, idk how to explain it.
I’d heard it was “just okay” from someone I trust, but I knew I wanted to read it myself, and I still had an expectation of enjoying it.
Moore is fantastic imo
I loved it. I found it really intriguing and couldn’t stop. It was Moore’s signature frustrating characters and innuendos and indirect directness and weirdness as well, idk how to explain it.
I’d heard it was “just okay” from someone I trust, but I knew I wanted to read it myself, and I still had an expectation of enjoying it.
Moore is fantastic imo
ichirofakename's review against another edition
2.0
Made it a little past a quarter of the way in. WAY too depressing to be read in good times, let alone during the 2020 lockdown. Pathetic guy takes a walking vacation.