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siria's review against another edition
5.0
The second book in the 'Regeneration' trilogy, 'The Eye in the Door' is just as impressive a book as the first installment, if not more so. Barker's use of language is just superb. Never showy or overly lyrical, but absolutely measured, each word feeling lyrical and right. Sassoon is involved less in this volume, with most of the events centred around Billy Prior and to a slightly lesser extent on Rivers. I think it works very well, because you have Billy set up as a liminal character—someone who is neither working class nor upper class, neither the good soldier nor the pacifist, someone who is literally dividing himself in two—living in an England which is dividing itself in two and which is moving from the long nineteenth century into something completely new. Highly recommended.
readwithjordss's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
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
4.0
alouoneill's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
snutedute's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
brimclala's review against another edition
2.0
Only got half way through. The first in this trilogy, Regeneration, is my favorite book. However, I couldn't get into this book.
armartel's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
wyemu's review against another edition
3.0
Focusing on Billy Prior, whom readers will have met in the first novel in this series, 'The Eye in the Door' has a very different feel to it than 'Regeneration'. Many characters from that first novel return, including psychiatrist William Rivers but the overall tone is darker than previously. Prior continues to be a difficult character to like, with his lack of apparent morals and disregard for those around him. He is a difficult character to like and I found myself tossing between routing for his survival and happiness, and struggling to find any redeeming qualities. If you enjoyed 'Regeneration' then definitely read this.
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
I really enjoyed the firs in this series but had real difficulties with this second helping. I found the writing so difficult to understand, I suppose the author is showing the fractured nature of these men's lives but it impaired my ability to keep with the narrative. I didn't see the need or place for all the gay sex and feel that this is an area that is over zealously added to books today. I have the third in the series on my TBR i really hop it isn't written in the same style
the_lilrunaway's review against another edition
4.0
I was looking forward to a book about Billy Prior. While I enjoyed reading this and found it fascinating, I was very slow moving through it. I got stuck in the explanations of medical treatments. I do want to read the third one but I think maybe I will wait a while.
emilybh's review against another edition
5.0
It's difficult to convey how engaging and satisfying Barker's writing is: returning to a well-crafted character, Rivers, and keeping him at the centre of a shifting novelistic space allows Barker to explore the chaos around and within him.
Amongst strips of very human dialogue, humour flashes through in a surprising manner, mingling with dark images and underpinned by an anti-war commentary.
This is a war novel which goes back to society: the war asked men to be something they were not, and this novel shows how a process of reversal unravelled. A society held in war revealed what it truly was, whilst its men donned the masks of soldiers and left what they were.
Amongst strips of very human dialogue, humour flashes through in a surprising manner, mingling with dark images and underpinned by an anti-war commentary.
This is a war novel which goes back to society: the war asked men to be something they were not, and this novel shows how a process of reversal unravelled. A society held in war revealed what it truly was, whilst its men donned the masks of soldiers and left what they were.