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novabird's review
2.0
The House of Sleep has a transatlantic humor, a voyeuristic lens and an intellectual approach, which combine into a witty and clever offering. This would seem perfect in a book about obsessions and sleep disorders. Yet it also has a puzzling sense of absence or lacuna despite the interesting characters and enticing plot, good dialogue and settings. Something in its delivery made it difficult for me to engage in this novel, as it evaded my reader connection.
Coe encodes his narrative with a subtle subculture push that makes boundaries more porous. For the most part Coe does this by supplanting expectations of how gender/sexuality, obsessions and sleep disorders are normally expressed, except in the case of Dr. Gregory Nudden. Coe also accomplishes this by mostly avoiding the more dramatic and yet ordinary disruptions to everyday life and how these two psychological aspects normally manifest themselves. Rather he uses a tone of both casual and causal interruption to highlight weaknesses apparent in our ordinary attempts to comprehend each other.
A good portion of the dialogue contains a certain impatience marked by repeated interruptions, unfinished sentences, miscues, assumptions and various other vagaries of communication. The first of many interruptions in dialogue is one about questioning the meaning of a word – the basics of communication is to have a shared language in common. The word in question that arises is ‘etiolated,’ which means; to deprive of vigor, to make feeble.’
Another sub-narrative device Coe uses is when he carves out his text to reveal an indelible threat hidden in his use of language itself. He does this by using key words related to ‘heat,’ and aggression yet he ends up telling instead of showing when he writes, “they had a violent argument,” and in two pivotal conflict scenes
It’s as though the characters have somehow been watered down by this absence/lack/gap and a bland everyday niceness, (conditioned?) politeness pervades. At one point one, a character makes a serious error that impacts another character’s professional career and the whole conflict is skirted and dealt with in a breezy, “yeah we had a real blow out,” tone that is greatly distanced from the actual felt emotional response by the character wronged.
This gap/absence/lacuna represents more, but one can’t quite grasp at it. This is more than hope deferred. This is more than a tone of tension that creates apprehension derived from delayed gratification. The House of Sleep, left me feeling that its two-knives ending both radically undermined and etiolated the verve of the book.
For many others, the expose of radical transformation amidst a sea of choice is enough to propel this book to a hasty finish line. Yet, for some reason I was continually baling water in this house/ocean of sleep, just not getting anywhere and not connecting with the narrative.
Although a curiously entertaining and clever book, it attempts a-cross-the-channel-swim, but falls off course and in the end has to be brought to land by its own rescue team.
“Language is a traitor, a double agent who slips across borders without warning in the dead of night. It is a heavy snowfall in a foreign country, which hides the shapes and contours of reality beneath a cloak of nebulous whiteness. It is a cripple dog, never quite able to perform the tricks we ask of it. It is a ginger biscuit, dunked for too long in the tea of our expectations, crumbling and dissolving into nothingness. It is a lost continent.”
Coe encodes his narrative with a subtle subculture push that makes boundaries more porous. For the most part Coe does this by supplanting expectations of how gender/sexuality, obsessions and sleep disorders are normally expressed, except in the case of Dr. Gregory Nudden. Coe also accomplishes this by mostly avoiding the more dramatic and yet ordinary disruptions to everyday life and how these two psychological aspects normally manifest themselves. Rather he uses a tone of both casual and causal interruption to highlight weaknesses apparent in our ordinary attempts to comprehend each other.
A good portion of the dialogue contains a certain impatience marked by repeated interruptions, unfinished sentences, miscues, assumptions and various other vagaries of communication. The first of many interruptions in dialogue is one about questioning the meaning of a word – the basics of communication is to have a shared language in common. The word in question that arises is ‘etiolated,’ which means; to deprive of vigor, to make feeble.’
Another sub-narrative device Coe uses is when he carves out his text to reveal an indelible threat hidden in his use of language itself. He does this by using key words related to ‘heat,’ and aggression yet he ends up telling instead of showing when he writes, “they had a violent argument,” and in two pivotal conflict scenes
Spoiler
one where the sleep deprivation subject dies and the other when Terry is stabbed. And no it’s not that I wanted graphic violence, I just wanted a stronger relationship for my delayed gratificationIt’s as though the characters have somehow been watered down by this absence/lack/gap and a bland everyday niceness, (conditioned?) politeness pervades. At one point one, a character makes a serious error that impacts another character’s professional career and the whole conflict is skirted and dealt with in a breezy, “yeah we had a real blow out,” tone that is greatly distanced from the actual felt emotional response by the character wronged.
This gap/absence/lacuna represents more, but one can’t quite grasp at it. This is more than hope deferred. This is more than a tone of tension that creates apprehension derived from delayed gratification. The House of Sleep, left me feeling that its two-knives ending both radically undermined and etiolated the verve of the book.
For many others, the expose of radical transformation amidst a sea of choice is enough to propel this book to a hasty finish line. Yet, for some reason I was continually baling water in this house/ocean of sleep, just not getting anywhere and not connecting with the narrative.
Although a curiously entertaining and clever book, it attempts a-cross-the-channel-swim, but falls off course and in the end has to be brought to land by its own rescue team.
goldensnitch_11's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hobbitatheart's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
ginaarizpe26's review
4.75
I have to take .25 for the ending and the unresolved plotline of the photograph and the dream, however, I am willing to believe that it is me who is the problem, maybe I didn't understand it, maybe I have to take everything that happens from the be inning of the R.E.M chapter on as ilsuions, delusions, fantasies and just in general, dream like situations. Maybe there are loose ends because dreams have loose ends and maybe the photograph/dream/Sarah thing, along with all the other interconnected but unexplained things, exists because that is how dreams are. Idk. 10/10
saramartella's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
thebobsphere's review against another edition
4.0
Jonathan Coe set a high standard with What a Carve Up! so I wasn’t so sure that my reread of House of Sleep would live up to that book. The fact that I forgot most of it is a telltale sign. There was no need to worry. If anything The House of Sleep is equally good.
Jonathan Coe is an eclectic author. Sure he does have some themes that are commonplace : politics, love’s power, music and a couple of disturbing moments. However, he is clever enough to disguise them with an original plot.
Sarah is narcoleptic. To make matters worse she cannot distinguish between her dreams and reality, which land her in uncomfortable situations. Terry is a movie fanatic insomniac. These two characters are linked by Robert, who is a friend of Terry’s and has an obsessive (but not creepy) crush on Sarah. Those are the odd numbered chapters.
The even numbered chapters take place twelve years later and Terry has been noticed by Dr. Gregory Dudden who wants to perform experiments on him in his sleep clinic. Past meets present and all of Sarah’s and Terry’s actions are now suffering the repercussions of their childhood actions.
The House of Sleep is a multi layered novel. As us readers continue to discover Sarah, Robert and Terry’s antics, the novel becomes richer. It is an unpredictable book as well, with constant plot twists. As always, Coe is clever but remains accessible. The House of Sleep is an easy read but does need a couple of moments to digest the surprises which occur. That’s not mentioning the madcap ending!
The novel is a little bit of a curio. It is definitely not Coe’s most political novel, aside from a few jabs at the British healthcare system. It’s not grisly either. However it is Coe’s overt statement about love and how it can unite and destroy. In one case even change a person. Which goes to show what a versatile author Coe is. The next book is a heavily political one so let’s how that goes.
Jonathan Coe is an eclectic author. Sure he does have some themes that are commonplace : politics, love’s power, music and a couple of disturbing moments. However, he is clever enough to disguise them with an original plot.
Sarah is narcoleptic. To make matters worse she cannot distinguish between her dreams and reality, which land her in uncomfortable situations. Terry is a movie fanatic insomniac. These two characters are linked by Robert, who is a friend of Terry’s and has an obsessive (but not creepy) crush on Sarah. Those are the odd numbered chapters.
The even numbered chapters take place twelve years later and Terry has been noticed by Dr. Gregory Dudden who wants to perform experiments on him in his sleep clinic. Past meets present and all of Sarah’s and Terry’s actions are now suffering the repercussions of their childhood actions.
The House of Sleep is a multi layered novel. As us readers continue to discover Sarah, Robert and Terry’s antics, the novel becomes richer. It is an unpredictable book as well, with constant plot twists. As always, Coe is clever but remains accessible. The House of Sleep is an easy read but does need a couple of moments to digest the surprises which occur. That’s not mentioning the madcap ending!
The novel is a little bit of a curio. It is definitely not Coe’s most political novel, aside from a few jabs at the British healthcare system. It’s not grisly either. However it is Coe’s overt statement about love and how it can unite and destroy. In one case even change a person. Which goes to show what a versatile author Coe is. The next book is a heavily political one so let’s how that goes.
coneyboro's review
4.0
The lives of a small group of students, who met while sharing accommodation in a seaside house, are intertwined through a series of coincidences. A story of love and obsession, tender at times with shifting time frames and focus of attention. An interesting use of the stages of sleep as headings for the four parts, with overlapping sentences. Even though, for some characters, there was hope for a happy future, I was left feeling rather sad, but will certainly seek out more stories by this author.
talentedmisfit's review against another edition
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lorbach's review
1.0
Couldn't get into it. Subject matter might have been interesting but Mr. Coe has a weird style of writing that makes non of the sense to me. Maybe that's because it was published over a decade ago? Though I don't know why that would matter.