Reviews

How the Dead Live by Will Self

alisonjfields's review against another edition

4.0

It seems like a lot of people really hate this book, but I thought it was kind of a weird, ugly delight. Sometimes the attempts at being capital L-Literature fall a bit flat and a couple of moments edge uncomfortably close to what the cool kids on the internet call "hipster racism." But still, more enjoyable than, say, most of what Martin Amis has put out since "The Information."

pminkler's review against another edition

dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

kingfan30's review

2.0

With a title like this I knew it probably wasn’t going to be a cheery read and did question why I would pick it up now with everything going on in the world. And I’m not going to lie, after reading the epilogue I nearly put it back it down again. But the first section was weird readable, the poor Lily being told she was near the end of her days and some if the thoughts that went through her head. However once she went into the after life (if that’s the right word), it lost me again. There were bits that I thought were quite clever, people take solace in the fact that meet their loved ones again, and that maybe the reality isn’t all rainbows and flowers, or that all that weight you’ve gained and lost comes back to haunt you. However those last two parts of the book were a long old slog and not really my sort of book.

stephie17's review against another edition

challenging medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

ilicn's review

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

good plot, kinda difficult to read

dasani's review against another edition

2.0

Eh, I'm not sold. The writing was good, the concept was interesting but thin in practice and I just got very, very tired of it around two-thirds of the way through. Static, dull and whiny.

thecatsmum's review

4.0

You're always going to have at least an unusual plot line setting or protagonist in a Self novel and this is no exception. You're told the story of Lily Bloom as she sees it in life death and rebirth. I often feel with Will Self that there is something brilliant he is working at but he just misses pulling it off flawlessly. That isn't to say he isn't worth reading. He definitely is and his use of language even when he stumbles a bit is beautiful. I couldn't put out of my mind how much this is based on his mother's (and in turn his) life. I think that made it a bit more poignant to me and perhaps made it easier to like Lily flaws and all. However I think that there is something about Lily and her story that doesn't make her entirely unlike-able while managing to portray her as a true person. This departure from the usual habit authors have of making Mary Jane characters that people can automatically identify with really drives home what this book is about in part. If anyone ever comes very close to death with enough time to reflect upon their true natures and their life's path(s) it all becomes a bit obvious we are all unlike-able in some way.Self might be a bit off putting to some people but all his books have stuck with me. It is worth the effort to overcome any discomfiture you feel from any of his real or perceived pretensions. For those of us who never noticed it his novels are an incredible treat.

sashaknits's review

4.0

This was a very novel and interesting take on what the afterlife might be like. It was also quite a biting commentary on family life! The prose was quite stylised in places, particularly with Lily's constant cultural references, which was occasionally a little distracting but mostly quite cool.

Unfortunately I felt the narrative started to lose its way towards the end, with Lily endlessly stalking her daughters and Natasha wandering around Australia. I felt more lost than her for a while!

The ending also felt like a let down as well, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to take from it. It seemed fairly certain that the reincarnated Lily, Delilah, was going to die there in the flat. So what was the point of her living all those years of her afterlife and getting reincarnated, just to die as a toddler?

That aside, I did really enjoy this. Just a shame I couldn't make it to the book club meeting for it. Typical!

cleod's review

3.0

worth it just for the chapter title 'The North London Book of the Dead'.

barrynorton's review

3.0

Nearly a 4, being a big fan, but some passages were dull and the structure (and characters) were unclear without a lot of concentration.