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vgk's review against another edition
5.0
"This is what the world is liable to do nowadays - collapse in ruins - and people go on behaving as though it were nothing very much at all"
Yes, this is a book about Samuel Beckett, but it is much more than that. This is a book about war, about refugees, about how ordinary people struggle, are damaged, eek out ways to survive in the face of horrendous political events foisted upon them. That makes this book very timely. The war in Syria, the rise of the racist Right in Europe and the USA, these events are not to be turned away from, they are events to be watched and resisted. This book will tell you why.
Yes, this is a book about Samuel Beckett, but it is much more than that. This is a book about war, about refugees, about how ordinary people struggle, are damaged, eek out ways to survive in the face of horrendous political events foisted upon them. That makes this book very timely. The war in Syria, the rise of the racist Right in Europe and the USA, these events are not to be turned away from, they are events to be watched and resisted. This book will tell you why.
mamasquirrel's review against another edition
3.0
Sparse. Bland. Grey. Far from the vibrant and rich story of Longbourn, so don't expect a similar style. I don't know anything about Samuel Beckett, which perhaps made the book less approachable yet for me, but I had a difficult time connecting with the few lean characters of the novel. It's not a difficult read in terms of content or vocabulary, however.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
A Country Road, A Tree is one of the most convincing novels that I have read that shows the suffering experienced during WW2. It takes place in France and is based on the life of Samuel Beckett. At no point in the novel is the main character named although other characters are.
I knew nothing at all about Samuel Beckett and I had no idea when I started reading that the novel was based on him. I noticed a couple of reviews that mentioned it was in the Author’s note which my proof copy did not have. So for me the novel was just about people struggling to survive the war years experiencing hunger, danger, loss and betrayal alongside devotion and lifelong friendship.
At times it was difficult to read, there is no glamorizing of events here. You read about overcrowded railway stations with not enough trains. People moving across France with the possessions that they can carry. They are hungry, dreaming about what they would like to eat most whilst others who aren’t as worried are feeding their dogs black market ham. When friends are taken away by police they decide that they have to do more to help and get involved with the resistance.
It wasn’t all gloom. The relationship between the characters in the novel, especially Samuel and Suzanne was lovely to read. I felt that they were devoted to each other but at times she felt frustrated by him especially when he gave away much needed items or placed them in danger.
Completely different to Longbourn, the previous novel but one that I enjoyed a lot more and I would like to thank Alison Barrow for my proof copy received.
I knew nothing at all about Samuel Beckett and I had no idea when I started reading that the novel was based on him. I noticed a couple of reviews that mentioned it was in the Author’s note which my proof copy did not have. So for me the novel was just about people struggling to survive the war years experiencing hunger, danger, loss and betrayal alongside devotion and lifelong friendship.
At times it was difficult to read, there is no glamorizing of events here. You read about overcrowded railway stations with not enough trains. People moving across France with the possessions that they can carry. They are hungry, dreaming about what they would like to eat most whilst others who aren’t as worried are feeding their dogs black market ham. When friends are taken away by police they decide that they have to do more to help and get involved with the resistance.
It wasn’t all gloom. The relationship between the characters in the novel, especially Samuel and Suzanne was lovely to read. I felt that they were devoted to each other but at times she felt frustrated by him especially when he gave away much needed items or placed them in danger.
Completely different to Longbourn, the previous novel but one that I enjoyed a lot more and I would like to thank Alison Barrow for my proof copy received.
prof_shoff's review against another edition
4.0
A compelling, though narratively spare, account of one man's search for purpose and connection in occupied France.
I found this book in Shakespeare & Company; with its focus on Paris in WWII, it seemed a suitable choice to join me during my ramblings in the city. Perhaps the location worked its magic, since Baker's writing - by turns abrupt and expansive, moving between sharp narrative and rambling stream-of-consciousness - managed to draw me in rather than turn me off.
I found this book in Shakespeare & Company; with its focus on Paris in WWII, it seemed a suitable choice to join me during my ramblings in the city. Perhaps the location worked its magic, since Baker's writing - by turns abrupt and expansive, moving between sharp narrative and rambling stream-of-consciousness - managed to draw me in rather than turn me off.
pnwlisa's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
athoughtfulrecord's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
3.0
courtneymcc's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
john_bizzell's review against another edition
3.0
If you are familiar with Samuel Beckett, this story of his time trapped in occupied France during WWII may give you deeper insight into his later work. Or, like me, you may be so frustrated by his spoilt, self-righteous portrayal here that you never want to encounter him again. He chooses suffering over sense often because the alternative would ‘suffocate’ him. That’s when he explains himself at all, a lot of the time he thinks about what he should say or do but then doesn’t say it or do it. He’s exasperating.
Meanwhile, his partner Suzanne is much more interesting and hardly gets a look in, which is a shame because I’d have liked to have known what she saw in him. When she finds herself ‘seething with irritation’ I was right there with her. ‘One would think, now, in the midst of all this, he could at least pay attention.’ Correct Suzanne, but he’s a selfish twat. ‘He’s a disappointment to her, he’s a disappointment to himself.’ Yes and yes. Clearly people do all sorts of things in war out of necessity and desperation, but I’d have rather understood more about her choices than him tapping the last cigarette in his pack and putting it away AGAIN.
I loved Longbourne and Jo Baker writes beautifully, but her Beckett is a bore. By the end Suzanne finds herself ‘too worn out with it all to care.’ Me too.
Meanwhile, his partner Suzanne is much more interesting and hardly gets a look in, which is a shame because I’d have liked to have known what she saw in him. When she finds herself ‘seething with irritation’ I was right there with her. ‘One would think, now, in the midst of all this, he could at least pay attention.’ Correct Suzanne, but he’s a selfish twat. ‘He’s a disappointment to her, he’s a disappointment to himself.’ Yes and yes. Clearly people do all sorts of things in war out of necessity and desperation, but I’d have rather understood more about her choices than him tapping the last cigarette in his pack and putting it away AGAIN.
I loved Longbourne and Jo Baker writes beautifully, but her Beckett is a bore. By the end Suzanne finds herself ‘too worn out with it all to care.’ Me too.
fell's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written and interesting story but it felt very slow to me.