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iammandyellen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
sad
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
jrl6809's review against another edition
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Quaint, quirky.
esther_a_'s review against another edition
3.0
Was an easy book to read quickly so the writing style must have flowed fairly well.
Not very plot driven, there wasn’t enough to it to keep me fully interested. I never really got to know the characters and the ending was quite abrupt. Readable but not remarkable so it’s surprising that it won the booker prize.
mpatshi's review against another edition
So good and dark, with her perfect sense of humour.
Good to know that Penelope Fitzgerald lived on a riverside barge in London for a while to get inspired.
Good to know that Penelope Fitzgerald lived on a riverside barge in London for a while to get inspired.
yetilibrary's review against another edition
2.0
I read this for the 2022 BookRiot Challenge.
It is short--I believe it's still the shortest novel to win the Booker Prize.
It wasn't bad, but I didn't really like it. It was difficult to get into, and it's one of those books where it doesn't so much end as it just stops. Offshore has a meandering plot that came to an abrupt stop, and left me unsatisfied.
Also, knowledge of boats on my part would've been helpful. The novel mostly takes place aboard boats, and when Fitzgerald uses various terms (for boat parts, for sailing, etc.) it's entirely appropriate but also disorienting for a landlubber like me. It kept taking me out of the story. (YMMV.)
Here's what I did like: Fitzgerald creates wonderful characters, and is an author who can draw a character well, very quickly. It's a shame the novel is so short, because those characters were so lovely to spend time with, and it's also a shame the ending felt so abrupt; I wanted a bit more closure for them. I even checked to see if Fitzgerald revisited any of these characters in a later novel, and it doesn't look like she did.
tl;dr Wandering plot, unsatisfying ending, but tremendous characters I'll miss.
It is short--I believe it's still the shortest novel to win the Booker Prize.
It wasn't bad, but I didn't really like it. It was difficult to get into, and it's one of those books where it doesn't so much end as it just stops. Offshore has a meandering plot that came to an abrupt stop, and left me unsatisfied.
Also, knowledge of boats on my part would've been helpful. The novel mostly takes place aboard boats, and when Fitzgerald uses various terms (for boat parts, for sailing, etc.) it's entirely appropriate but also disorienting for a landlubber like me. It kept taking me out of the story. (YMMV.)
Here's what I did like: Fitzgerald creates wonderful characters, and is an author who can draw a character well, very quickly. It's a shame the novel is so short, because those characters were so lovely to spend time with, and it's also a shame the ending felt so abrupt; I wanted a bit more closure for them. I even checked to see if Fitzgerald revisited any of these characters in a later novel, and it doesn't look like she did.
tl;dr Wandering plot, unsatisfying ending, but tremendous characters I'll miss.
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
So short and easy to read that a fast reader (me) can easily overlook Fitzgerald's writing, which is understated, witty and insightful. A novel of characters rather than action, which never bothers me a bit.
A second reading, after having read her biography, makes this even more rewarding.
A second reading, after having read her biography, makes this even more rewarding.
jeremiglio's review against another edition
3.0
Vividly drawn characters and an evocative setting, but lacking in direction and ultimately slightly boring.
jacalata's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book, although in reading other reviews afterwards I found that I had missed some of the details - will have to re-read! It's a very interesting style, definitely not plot-driven, more of a vignette.
bernie_lombardi's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
elliemelliemoo's review against another edition
challenging
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0