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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
in ways it’s like an english take on ‘the great gatsby’...in the sense that no character is wholly likeable
Maybe my personal first impression was modified by reading the introduction by Robert Murray Davis about Waugh's development of this novel from his short story "The Man Who Liked Dickens," but after Tony leaves for his trip, the novel, to me, fell apart. The story was humming along very nicely before that happened. I was reminded more than anything of Willa Cather's The Professor's House, but this was by far more poorly executed. It did get interesting when Tony became sick, and I was intrigued by the endnote about the allusions in the name Todd. The similarities drawn between the "savages" of London and the "savages" of the Amazon were, I'm sure, perfectly acceptable around the time of publication, but I am not so comfortable with it. It kind of turned my stomach in the way the tribal sequence in the 2005 King Kong does. The alternate ending of the novel (used in the serialized version) was appalling but at least more in keeping with the novel as a whole.
I haven't felt such strong hatred for a character in a long time. (Brenda i'm looking at you)
funny
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd like to give it 4.5. Very funny, gradually turning quite dark. I read it at a bit of a gallop, as it's very absorbing and consumable. I shouldn't be surprised about its readability, as Waugh is an expert, of course. It moves from satire to irony in what must be a terribly, terribly English way.
Every single book I read by Evelyn Waugh makes me laugh but then leaves me feeling hopeless.