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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
It's a novel I've just finished for uni, studying utopian and dystopian representations and satire specifically here. I enjoyed most of this book. It took some unexpected and interesting turns. The ending was a bit dark - a bit Misery (Stephen King) meets Dickens there at the end.
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Recently rewatched Brideshead Revisited and got to jonesing for some Waugh. Waugh revisits a number of themes and ideas in this novel, but manages to give them a new twist. I will say that I did not find Brenda Last's descent into adultery quite convincing, and John Beaver hardly a worthy or compelling partner, I suppose that was the point. Boredom & ennui making even John Beaver seem like a good distraction. The endings were interesting. Personally, I liked the alternate ending better (the one used for the serialization), thematically. The "jungle" ending was quite chilling, but I resented
Spoiler
Brenda getting rewarded for her behavior. I much prefer the thought of Brenda getting hers. Either way, Tony loses. In the jungle ending, Tony's life is almost a literal hell, being forced to read Dickens aloud at gunpoint for an eternity. In the other ending, he is still in hell, it is just a little more civilized. TOny still loses himself.
Yikes. DNF. Intriguing, humorous beginning and then pure misery and colonial racism. Pass.
This book was CRAZY! It started as expected but holy smokes, what happened in the last 100 pages? I'm still not sure. Anyway, very funny book. It reminds me of Downton Abbey in that Austen-but-saucier way.
funny
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
A product of it’s time and a change of pace for modern readers.
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm sure it should be described as biting satire or something. It's quite funny. And then suddenly tragic at points when your guard is down. One of the characters' final predicament is honestly kind of terrifying upon consideration. It's hard to know how closely this hews to reality in the time of its setting, but it's easy to see that there's nothing new under the sun, especially in the way of human foibles. It should also be noted that Waugh makes this all seem completely effortless which is both impressive and charming.