Scan barcode
hrlukz's review against another edition
4.0
Lol let’s get EMOOOO.
I’ve read the Melrose books many times, but my Dad recently bought me a signed compilation of all five volumes with a lovely, insightful introduction by the one and only Zadie Smith. It made for such a nice (if chunky, bordering on 900 pages) addition to my bookshelf that today I thought I’d reread the first in the series, Never Mind.
In all sincerity, the Melrose books are probably the greatest « philosophical thrillers » I’ve ever read. By that I mean they’re so completely unputdownable that you sometimes forget how ludicrously, wickedly clever and insightful they are.
Their grimly hilarious reflections on love, power and coping have served me and countless others as far more than sardonic stories. Instead, they’re helpmates and companions to anyone living what feels to them like an utterly ridiculous life, a life of bizarreness that can only be caused by the vast, confusing contradictions that lay at the centre of it. It is this contradiction, this terror of « a fixed meaning » and our attempts to elude it that are one of the central themes of St Aubyn’s masterpieces.
The Melrose novels are not examples of dressed up, edgy cynicism. They’re guides to living both recklessly and hesitantly, selfishly and in complete service to others. They’re guides to reconciling, most often failingly, what feel like the sweeping dissensions in the hearts of those of us whose plans to CHANGE, to GET BETTER are more often than not blown off kilter, seemingly to the complete expectation of those around us.
It is interesting that such a sly pessimism can only resonate in its full force with the most unwillingly optimistic of us. This is what makes the Melrose novels a source of cynical courage and understanding for all types of troubled thoughts. They offer complex but palatable ruminations on what it means to live a life full of rage, defined and created by rage, and yet so very full of anti-anger; full of forgiveness, but also of sullen bitterness that you can’t leave behind. The Melrose novels explain, at their core, what it is to feel constantly overshadowed by events that define you, and that, perhaps especially because people insist they do not define you, or need not define you, are events from which you can never move on.
Patrick’s (and thus St Aubyn’s) battle to « come to terms with » his rape(s) (for it really is his) is a war that spans his whole life. It is a love letter to those whose greatest obstacle is their own head. Because it simply isn’t a matter of « getting over it » for Patrick Melrose or for Edward St Aubyn, and this character study is one of epic proportions, a study I can explain as a sort of illogical Schopenhauer, a chaotic Rambam, an unloving, nihilistic Gibran. It is a damning condemnation of a stifling upper class society, whose only recollection of the real world that most of us experience is its lack of opportunities for a mind as boundless and an intellect as incredible and intriguing as Patrick’s.
I simply cannot recommend these novels enough.
I’ve read the Melrose books many times, but my Dad recently bought me a signed compilation of all five volumes with a lovely, insightful introduction by the one and only Zadie Smith. It made for such a nice (if chunky, bordering on 900 pages) addition to my bookshelf that today I thought I’d reread the first in the series, Never Mind.
In all sincerity, the Melrose books are probably the greatest « philosophical thrillers » I’ve ever read. By that I mean they’re so completely unputdownable that you sometimes forget how ludicrously, wickedly clever and insightful they are.
Their grimly hilarious reflections on love, power and coping have served me and countless others as far more than sardonic stories. Instead, they’re helpmates and companions to anyone living what feels to them like an utterly ridiculous life, a life of bizarreness that can only be caused by the vast, confusing contradictions that lay at the centre of it. It is this contradiction, this terror of « a fixed meaning » and our attempts to elude it that are one of the central themes of St Aubyn’s masterpieces.
The Melrose novels are not examples of dressed up, edgy cynicism. They’re guides to living both recklessly and hesitantly, selfishly and in complete service to others. They’re guides to reconciling, most often failingly, what feel like the sweeping dissensions in the hearts of those of us whose plans to CHANGE, to GET BETTER are more often than not blown off kilter, seemingly to the complete expectation of those around us.
It is interesting that such a sly pessimism can only resonate in its full force with the most unwillingly optimistic of us. This is what makes the Melrose novels a source of cynical courage and understanding for all types of troubled thoughts. They offer complex but palatable ruminations on what it means to live a life full of rage, defined and created by rage, and yet so very full of anti-anger; full of forgiveness, but also of sullen bitterness that you can’t leave behind. The Melrose novels explain, at their core, what it is to feel constantly overshadowed by events that define you, and that, perhaps especially because people insist they do not define you, or need not define you, are events from which you can never move on.
Patrick’s (and thus St Aubyn’s) battle to « come to terms with » his rape(s) (for it really is his) is a war that spans his whole life. It is a love letter to those whose greatest obstacle is their own head. Because it simply isn’t a matter of « getting over it » for Patrick Melrose or for Edward St Aubyn, and this character study is one of epic proportions, a study I can explain as a sort of illogical Schopenhauer, a chaotic Rambam, an unloving, nihilistic Gibran. It is a damning condemnation of a stifling upper class society, whose only recollection of the real world that most of us experience is its lack of opportunities for a mind as boundless and an intellect as incredible and intriguing as Patrick’s.
I simply cannot recommend these novels enough.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
4.0
Second book in a short period of time that was not an enjoyable read due to the sheer amount of sadness and difficult time. But a very good book anywho. Seems to be drawn to difficult times in books at the moment but I've been in lunch so far. Will definitely continue on with it mainly cause the ebook as a few novels immersed into one volume so it's easy to keep track of how many I've read so far.
angiepantsdance's review against another edition
4.0
A wacky and unconventional novel, I found it to be totally up my alley. Witty and obscure. The metaphors used were so dark and demonic, I loved it. Main issue for me is that it ended quite abruptly.
jeffrossbooks's review against another edition
These people are all kinds of horrible.
soozereads's review against another edition
"It was never quite clear to Eleanor why the English thought it was so distinguished to have done nothing for a long time in the same place, but David left her in no doubt that they did'
I think I'm going to like this one!
--------------------------------------
In the end this is really hard to rate! I think it was a good book, but it's filled with such awful, vile people that I'm not sure I 'liked' it. Then again, I've moved onto the next book, so it's definitely grabbed me.
I think I'm going to like this one!
--------------------------------------
In the end this is really hard to rate! I think it was a good book, but it's filled with such awful, vile people that I'm not sure I 'liked' it. Then again, I've moved onto the next book, so it's definitely grabbed me.
bahoulie's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed the turns of phrase, but not really the actual story. I'll read the second in the series, though, since I have it and St. Aubyn's work came so highly recommended.
nerdatronic's review against another edition
The blurb on the back stated this book is "hilarious" and it definitely is if you consider painstaking sadism motivated by ennui funny. It's a wry and scathing take down of manners, decorum, and the social mores of the decadently rich, plus everyone is despicable and toxic and utterly repugnant. Reading this book is like immersing yourself in an immensity of writerly talent and having to come up, gasping for air and feeling like you've been submerged in black oil. Great prose; content is like chewing gravel.
eamwilliams504's review against another edition
4.0
Very witty dialogue. None of the characters except little Patrick are likable at all, but I still really liked this novella and will read the rest of the Patrick Melrose books this year
heartofoak1's review against another edition
1.0
the writing is beautiful but the characters and their stories are evil and ugly. when a father rapes his 5 year old son and then laughs about it it's not a book for me.
ccallan's review against another edition
3.0
Horrible, horrible people written about in beautiful, flowing prose. I kept asking myself "why am reading about these awful people," then I'd turn the page to see what they'd do next, or what new lies they'd tell themselves, or what new triumph of obliviousness they'd rise to. Definitely like driving slowly past a car accident. If you've ever had a moment of admiration for the British aristocracy this book will cure you.