Reviews

Trio by William Boyd

rojaed's review

3.0

Commercial historical fiction centring on 3 people making a film in 1968. The book is uneven in tone and ranges from farce to tragedy. None of the main characters is particularly appealing. Issues discussed include homosexuality, adultery and addiction, both alcoholic and (medicinal) drugs. I remember the period and the book does not cover the atmosphere. Not a good cover, either.

snoakes7001's review

5.0

Trio is split into three sections: Duplicity, Surrender & Escape and the story concerns a trio of characters navigating phases of their lives where these themes loom large.

The action is set in Brighton in the late sixties where the improbably titled movie Emily Bracegirdle's Extremely Useful Ladder to the Moon is being filmed and our three duplicitous protagonists are all linked to this production. Elfrida Wing is married to the film's director, Reggie Tipton. She is a successful novelist but is suffering paralysing writer's block and hasn't published anything for ten years. Talbot Kydd, the producer, maintains a secret apartment his wife is totally unaware of and Anny Viklund, the film's star, is having a passionate affair with her leading man.

I'd forgotten what a great storyteller William Boyd is - the plot rattles along in a somewhat madcap fashion, the sixties setting makes for a well constructed backdrop and the characters are rounded and sympathetic even when they are working against their own self interest. As the novel progresses, events in their personal lives snowball until they each reach a point where only drastic action will end their turmoil.

codercaitlin's review

adventurous mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

muuske's review

dark emotional medium-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

3.0

faerielore's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

It was hard to get into, and very slow paced for the first half. The second half of the book was a little better.

hultqur's review

emotional reflective relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

sshenkin's review

adventurous emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

olivia_rose1999's review

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

amy26smith's review

emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rachael1786's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5