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alexg52's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Minor: Alcoholism
eli_jw's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Classism, Infidelity, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Terminal illness, War, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
jwells's review against another edition
The romantic nostalgia over the aristocracy would be tolerable (it's not like Waugh is the only one) if not paired with open scorn for people less privileged. Oh, does Hooper have unflattering glasses? Dentures, and an inadequate handshake? Clearly that's enough excuse to justify an entire exploitative class system. I mean, we wouldn't want things to be, god forbid, inelegant.
Is this supposed to be a pro-religion book, I wonder? I suspect we're meant to think that Julia makes the right choice at the end, for example. And be happy that at least the flame is burning in the chapel again?
It's pretty difficult, when we've already seen Christianity make her brother's life miserable. Presumably it's the reason Sebastian can't stand his family.
Apparently there are critics who favor a platonic interpretation of BR. Having not read them, I hope they just mean that they think Charles is straight. Not that Sebastian is.
Anyway, can't blame religion for everything; Charles manages to screw up his life without its help, with a choice of life partner as lukewarm as his drink order (whiskey with tepid water).
I sound rather cranky in this review, but I also read BR twice in January, though I'm not a big re-reader as a rule. I don't know how, but Waugh gets me invested in these people, even when they are annoying, and even when I dislike what he's using them to convey.
Still, I can hardly stop turning pages.
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: Terminal illness, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Infidelity
autiquarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
Moderate: War
Minor: Miscarriage, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
evax89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book took me about a month and a half to read and i almost gave up on it but especially the last chapter really spoke to me <3
the political topics, societal issues and of course unrequited love and the mystery around charles‘s and sebastian‘s relationship: it all really resonated with me and i know i will be thinking about this book a lot in the future!!
and also: the writing is absolutely jaw-dropping stunning
Minor: Alcoholism
amotoquinha's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism
Moderate: War
bannedfrombookclub's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
So I found it on audiobook - the one by Jeremy Irons (incredible choice) and I think that guy in the comments was right but he didn't have to be mean about it. Brideshead Revisited is like a proto-ancestor for the Dark Academia genre.
✅️ starts from a flash-forward, memory centred story telling
✅️ exclusive academic setting (at first)
✅️ misuse of substances
✅️ financially rich but emotionally poor characters
✅️ general sense of doom
✅️ gay
✅️ every single character is kind of a horrible person.
Really enjoyed the book.
Graphic: Alcoholism
greyofmydayoldtea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Alcoholism and Infidelity
rpg_gf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Miscarriage, Racism, and Terminal illness
Minor: War
ru_th's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Manchmal spüre ich den Druck der Vergangenheit und der Zukunft von beiden Seiten so stark, dass für die Gegenwart kein Platz mehr ist.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism