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dreadpiraterudis's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I so rarely enjoy when multiple narratives are constantly rotated, but Trio handles each chapter with such care, attention and fantastic detail. Great period piece that doesn’t bog itself down with excessive detail.
paulsnelling's review
3.0
Not one of Boyd's finest. A tale of three characters connected by a complex Brighton filmset. Lives intertwined with some slightly comedic peripherals, each finds resolution to their inner turmoils. 3.5 stars
nicjohnston's review
3.0
William Boyd brings us a smart and savvy tale of 3 protagonists loosely bound together by the production of a film in Brighton in 1968. We meet a novelist with writers block and alcoholism (think vodka decanted into Sarsons vinegar bottles), the film’s producer on a personal journey which enlightens him beyond his wife and 2.4 children and the star of the film with a set of complex relationships.
The plot is politically astute and pacy, bringing together threads of a society still impacted by war but heading towards more liberal attitudes (albeit some issues certainly regressed for periods in the interim).
While I enjoyed Trio, I did not wholly warm to any of the characters and some aspects of the ending were unduly neat. There is enough in the book to keep readers thoroughly entertained and I’d therefore go with a 3.5*.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK for an ARC.
The plot is politically astute and pacy, bringing together threads of a society still impacted by war but heading towards more liberal attitudes (albeit some issues certainly regressed for periods in the interim).
While I enjoyed Trio, I did not wholly warm to any of the characters and some aspects of the ending were unduly neat. There is enough in the book to keep readers thoroughly entertained and I’d therefore go with a 3.5*.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin UK for an ARC.
cifc's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.0
izziebianchi's review
1.0
unfortunately i found this mind-numbingly dull which is a shame because i’d really been looking forward to it. i didn’t feel any kind of desire to pick it up and finishing it can only be described as a trial by three hundred pages.
it was far too broken up for it to be enjoyable and made it too hard to keep up with the storylines of the characters. it was worse that i didn’t even feel attached enough to any of them to be waiting for their next chapter.
i felt like i was reading three different books which intercepted in passing with no real impact on the storyline and any and all side characters were essentially just names on a page with absolutely no description
the ending was as dry and as confused as the rest of the book and added precisely nothing to the experience.
overall, disappointing.
it was far too broken up for it to be enjoyable and made it too hard to keep up with the storylines of the characters. it was worse that i didn’t even feel attached enough to any of them to be waiting for their next chapter.
i felt like i was reading three different books which intercepted in passing with no real impact on the storyline and any and all side characters were essentially just names on a page with absolutely no description
the ending was as dry and as confused as the rest of the book and added precisely nothing to the experience.
overall, disappointing.
jacki_f's review
3.0
It’s 1968, the peak of “swinging Sixties” and a terrible sounding movie is being shot in Brighton. The trio who give this book its name are the three main characters. Talbot is the world weary producer and a closet homosexual. Elvira is the directors wife, an alcoholic author who has suffered ten years of writers block. Anny is a glamorous American movie star, whose ex-husband is wanted by the FBI for terrorism and who turns to every man in her life for rescue.
All three characters have secrets in their lives and the book’s three sections – Duplicity, Surrender and Escape – map the way they either succumb to or overcome them.
William Boyd is very good at bringing a time and place to life and he does that here. While the events of 1968 – riots, assassinations, civil unrest – have minimal impact on the characters’ lives, they still intrude from time to time.
I wasn’t drawn into the first half of this book. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and it felt meandering and pointless. However in the second half, the plots take shape and it becomes much more interesting and fast moving. It’s not my favourite of William Boyd’s books, but it has redeeming qualities.
All three characters have secrets in their lives and the book’s three sections – Duplicity, Surrender and Escape – map the way they either succumb to or overcome them.
William Boyd is very good at bringing a time and place to life and he does that here. While the events of 1968 – riots, assassinations, civil unrest – have minimal impact on the characters’ lives, they still intrude from time to time.
I wasn’t drawn into the first half of this book. I didn’t warm to any of the characters and it felt meandering and pointless. However in the second half, the plots take shape and it becomes much more interesting and fast moving. It’s not my favourite of William Boyd’s books, but it has redeeming qualities.
jyaremchuk's review
3.0
Three main characters surrounded by a dozen or so others, none of whom are endearing or even very interesting... I stuck with the book to find out what becomes of the Trio, and the resolutions were not very believable... 2 and half stars rounded up for writing style...
slater49957's review
2.0
This book was ok, but not my favourite of William Boyd. Any Human Heart is one of my favourites and this was just not quite as good - I liked the Elfrida thread.
over60's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, the construction was logical, and the characters were interesting. It was a joy to want to find out what the characters were doing, every time I picked it up.
adeslibrary's review
4.0
I'm still a bit unsure about my rating, but I guess I would give it 3,5 stars! I enjoyed the story, and the characters were interesting to read about