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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
rjleamon11's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Graeme Malcolm, the reader, for getting me through this novel, which allowed me to appreciate its entire scope and mastery. I have been reading several English WWII novels/pieces of nonfiction lately--not sure why--so my sense of change, societal and personal loss, and general doom and gloom has been high, and several times I wondered why I was listening to this meticulous tale of a man at the end of his life. . . but, ultimately, the book served to 1. wow me with Gardam's writing skill, and 2. remind me of the value and wonder of every individual's experience, encouraging me to simply pay attention to other people and their lives.
One of the reasons I stuck with Old Filth in the darker parts at the start was that Jeanne Ray, author of Calling Invisible Women and, more notably, mother of Ann Patchett, listed it as one of her favorite books just as I was about to start listening to it, and that serendipitous mention (along with Cornflowerbooks Blog's rave opinions about Gardam in general) kept me going. And I'm glad I kept going. The novel is rewarding, beautifully written, and full of images and experiences that make it rich and wonderful. Not an easy read by any means (and probably not one to take on during a dark time of your life, in fact), but well worth the investment.
One of the reasons I stuck with Old Filth in the darker parts at the start was that Jeanne Ray, author of Calling Invisible Women and, more notably, mother of Ann Patchett, listed it as one of her favorite books just as I was about to start listening to it, and that serendipitous mention (along with Cornflowerbooks Blog's rave opinions about Gardam in general) kept me going. And I'm glad I kept going. The novel is rewarding, beautifully written, and full of images and experiences that make it rich and wonderful. Not an easy read by any means (and probably not one to take on during a dark time of your life, in fact), but well worth the investment.
susanbrooks's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty entertaining story of a "Raj orphan". A child of the British empire who is sent back home to England without his parents.
gatofish's review against another edition
2.0
I think I got the recommendation to read this book via NPR.
I finished it, but I don't really know if I liked it. The writing was well done, so much so that any of its quirks never interrupted me from the story.
The only confusing part of this novel is that it bounces around in time a lot. Until the very end, I wasn't sure if the current time was present day. It is, btw.
I wouldn't recommend it, exactly, but I don't feel disgusted that I wasted my time reading it. I likely won't be reading more by this author, though.
I finished it, but I don't really know if I liked it. The writing was well done, so much so that any of its quirks never interrupted me from the story.
The only confusing part of this novel is that it bounces around in time a lot. Until the very end, I wasn't sure if the current time was present day. It is, btw.
I wouldn't recommend it, exactly, but I don't feel disgusted that I wasted my time reading it. I likely won't be reading more by this author, though.
fictionwriter's review against another edition
4.0
The story of a failed English lawyer who makes it in Hong Kong after the war. But this book is set in England and it details the life of this man as a young child and as a very old man on the brink of death. The author moves back and forth through time with incredible skill. She makes you care deeply about Old Filth while never indulging in sentimentality. As a writer,now that I've gobbled down the story, I'm tempted to re-read this paying much closer attention to the way she creates character through dialogue and action, and the way she moves in and out of points of view. Masterful.
patrickg87's review against another edition
5.0
Characters reminiscent of Faulkner set in the UK and the Far East over most of the 20th century. I was not sure I would like this book, but the writing was fabulous and the characters - especially Filth himself - were extraordinary.
I will have to read more Gardam.
I will have to read more Gardam.
aahlvers's review against another edition
3.0
Old Filth is the story of Sir Edward Feathers, a lawyer, who as a young child was sent from Malaya to England to be raised properly. His father fading into the background, his school friend killed in the war and the death of his wife, have left Edward alone. After a certain number of losses Edward stops creating new connections.
What struck me about this novel is that everything in his life was designed to train him for the moment when he is alone and must carry on. Although on the surface this is a quiet novel where "not much happens", watching endless repetitions of loss resulted in this being one of the saddest books that I have read this year.
What struck me about this novel is that everything in his life was designed to train him for the moment when he is alone and must carry on. Although on the surface this is a quiet novel where "not much happens", watching endless repetitions of loss resulted in this being one of the saddest books that I have read this year.
backatitbetty's review against another edition
5.0
Found this book by chance and loved it.
Just ordered #2 and #3.
Just ordered #2 and #3.
runkefer's review against another edition
5.0
A beautifully written reminder that we shouldn't assume we know everything about someone and therefore should be careful about being dismissive of them
ilanavdg's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. It is an interesting story, certainly well written, but it was lacking somehow. It lost me in the middle, got me back in the end, and I was glad with how it ended as well as that it was over. Maybe I would have appreciated it more if I were British... who knows.