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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
Brilliant, poetic, timely. A writer on his prime.
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A history of post-war Britain through the lives of one family. Would have liked some of the themes to be explored more, particularly race and sexuality.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I always want to love Coe’s books, but I felt too removed from this to do so. His chief asset, in my opinion, is his readability; I usually inhale his books. But this sprawling family narrative has far too many characters to cram into its 350 pages. There is nowhere for your attention to rest; no one you truly feel like you know by the end of it, and as a result, it isn’t so easy to keep picking up.
It has its moments, but compared to the deep well of affection I have for characters whose stories were well served in Middle England and Mr Wilder and Me, this just can’t compete. Throw in some strange stylistic U-turns (perspective and tense changes, wavering tone of voice), and it all becomes a bit of a mess.
It has its moments, but compared to the deep well of affection I have for characters whose stories were well served in Middle England and Mr Wilder and Me, this just can’t compete. Throw in some strange stylistic U-turns (perspective and tense changes, wavering tone of voice), and it all becomes a bit of a mess.