Reviews

Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

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dottienic123's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.5

I’m torn. The subjects addressed in the book are really important and I’m sad they haven’t been reflected better. But I was pretty much just bored throughout, and actually, it felt quite offensive at times with so many mysogynist stereotypes. He’s rather opinionated for being the subject himself of oppression. It’s just 300 pages of moaning.

vctoriaj's review against another edition

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Loveable characters? No

3.25

Better than Girl, Woman, Other

jarionel99's review against another edition

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5.0

10/10

eveniblock's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

tomleetang's review against another edition

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4.0

Bernardine Evaristo is the queen of compassion. That's why this story of an unhappily married Antiguan couple - egocentric, sexist, grumpy old git Barrington and homophobic, hypocritical harridan Carmel - manages to be both hilarious and moving. Really, I should hate this pair, but their faults are so thoughtfully (and realistically) situated within their complex personalities, formed by the ups and downs of their 50-year marriage, that I also felt affection for them. They're like those embarrassingly out-of-touch (grand)parents who you love, even if you can't identify with their outmoded attitudes towards gender and sexuality.

Oh dear, I seem to be sounding rather like the couple's self-righteous offspring, who are equally useless (and endearing) in their own ways. That, of course, is also part of the beauty of this novel: the way it skewers the 'wokeness' of younger generations while showing them as flawed in their own unique ways. Times change, attitudes change, people change, but what doesn't change is the eternally imperfect - and, looked at in the right light, lovable - nature of the individual.