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fil's review against another edition
3.0
First thing first: Zuleika is a bitch. She is superficial, kinda dumb and cruel. The Duke is a dunce as are all the other guys in this… comedy? … tragedy? … in this whatever you want to call it. Being flattered by some macho dick who kills himself in a corrida is the first sign that Zuleika is a bad, bad person and makes her the most unlikeable character in the novel. But then you met the Duke: he is as dumb as a post and a pompous ass. Who to hate more? Who to laugh at more? It does not really matter. This is a fun read. As a comedy, this is brilliant, the bloodbath makes for a good chuckle or two and the supernatural element in it is, if not all that well executed, well received. It also works as a tragedy: who is the biggest loser here? Miss Dobson? The Duke? The warden? The other jackasses? For me, it was the warden. Mostly in the background, he is clueless and slow to realise what’s what. It would have been interesting to find out a bit more of his story although what we do get is more than enough to explain how completely oblivious he is.
There were some misses though, too many would-have-been-interesting characters have not been well fleshed out and the author’s digressions were clumsy and, in my opinion, not well placed. It also felt a tad uneven, at some points I was thinking 4 stars and at others it was closer to 2, so I settled for the obvious compromise.
There were some misses though, too many would-have-been-interesting characters have not been well fleshed out and the author’s digressions were clumsy and, in my opinion, not well placed. It also felt a tad uneven, at some points I was thinking 4 stars and at others it was closer to 2, so I settled for the obvious compromise.
scottshepard's review against another edition
3.0
This book was odd. I read this one because it is on the first page of the google doc I use to keep track of the Guardian novels. When I open that doc up I like seeing that I’ve read something.
It stars Zuleika Dobson, a beautiful young woman who visits her uncle at Oxford. While visiting she manages to make every young man on the Oxford campus fall in love with her. She is a siren and apparently does this quite often. However, her affections are not returned. She can only love one who does not love her. There are some pretty funny scenes where she think that a man doesn’t love her, and so falls in love, then finds out he does love her, and falls out of love, only to find that he has now rejected her, and falls back in love. Her visit ends in calamity when the entire campus resorts to drastic measures to get her attention.
The Author Max Beerbohm paints a lovely portrait of the Oxford grounds and culture before World War I. One that I have absolutely no idea is actuate or not. The vocabulary and literally style are supreme. For plot-minded readers like me, it was okay. For readers who love a good vocab lesson and literary expression, it was be fantastic.
I am guessing that is in the Guardian Top 1000 for several reasons. Its satire of uptight Oxford culture reveals some the mystery and prestige surrounding that name, especially in the early 20th century. Beerbohm also is a literary master and uses sentences I had never seen before. He coins the phrase “Death cancels all engagements” and generally makes a significant contribution to English literature.
It stars Zuleika Dobson, a beautiful young woman who visits her uncle at Oxford. While visiting she manages to make every young man on the Oxford campus fall in love with her. She is a siren and apparently does this quite often. However, her affections are not returned. She can only love one who does not love her. There are some pretty funny scenes where she think that a man doesn’t love her, and so falls in love, then finds out he does love her, and falls out of love, only to find that he has now rejected her, and falls back in love. Her visit ends in calamity when the entire campus resorts to drastic measures to get her attention.
The Author Max Beerbohm paints a lovely portrait of the Oxford grounds and culture before World War I. One that I have absolutely no idea is actuate or not. The vocabulary and literally style are supreme. For plot-minded readers like me, it was okay. For readers who love a good vocab lesson and literary expression, it was be fantastic.
I am guessing that is in the Guardian Top 1000 for several reasons. Its satire of uptight Oxford culture reveals some the mystery and prestige surrounding that name, especially in the early 20th century. Beerbohm also is a literary master and uses sentences I had never seen before. He coins the phrase “Death cancels all engagements” and generally makes a significant contribution to English literature.
booknrrd's review against another edition
4.0
I read this many years ago, shortly after Modern Library published their list of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th century. I had never heard of it, and I thought it was hilarious. It's set at Oxford, and a beautiful girl enters their midst and all the boys lose their damn minds. At least that's what I remember. Like I said, it's been many years.
happybookhabits's review against another edition
4.0
“But the loveliest face in all the world will not please you if you see it suddenly, eye to eye, at a distance of half an inch from your own.”
After randomly finding this book in the second hand section of my local book shop, I decided to give it a go. And OH MY am I happy that I did!
This is one of the weirdest and most absurd stories I've heard in a while! It reminded me a bit of Voltaire from Candide, since that one is also reads like a satire.
The entire story basicly plays out in 2-3 days, but it feels like a lifetime (in a good way).
And the way that they break the forth wall? Amazing!
I highly recommend this book to everyone! I would suggest to go into it blindly like I did, that makes it probably more fun!
The only part that I wasn't that big of a fan of was the parts told by the narrator when he tells about his own background&mythology. For some reason that part was written so that it was way more difficult to read.
After randomly finding this book in the second hand section of my local book shop, I decided to give it a go. And OH MY am I happy that I did!
This is one of the weirdest and most absurd stories I've heard in a while! It reminded me a bit of Voltaire from Candide, since that one is also reads like a satire.
The entire story basicly plays out in 2-3 days, but it feels like a lifetime (in a good way).
And the way that they break the forth wall? Amazing!
I highly recommend this book to everyone! I would suggest to go into it blindly like I did, that makes it probably more fun!
The only part that I wasn't that big of a fan of was the parts told by the narrator when he tells about his own background&mythology. For some reason that part was written so that it was way more difficult to read.
tricky's review against another edition
3.0
A satire featuring a femme fatale who lays waste to the young men of Oxford.
There were moments of the book that are hilarious and then there were bits that just seemed to endlessly drag. I understand the brilliance of the book but I found the story just a little dull at times.
The language is wonderful, the need to use a dictionary was nice as I come across words I had not encountered for before.
Read it and decide for yourself. I found parts of the book a struggle but there are sections that are just clever and entertaining.
There were moments of the book that are hilarious and then there were bits that just seemed to endlessly drag. I understand the brilliance of the book but I found the story just a little dull at times.
The language is wonderful, the need to use a dictionary was nice as I come across words I had not encountered for before.
Read it and decide for yourself. I found parts of the book a struggle but there are sections that are just clever and entertaining.
nikokoncan's review against another edition
4.0
Light and funny, if not a bit over the top. Unlike anything else.
lostinthelibrary's review against another edition
5.0
What an underappreciated gem!
I have always had a fascination with the Edwardian period, perhaps it stems from my childhood Mary Poppins obsession! There is a feeling in the art of the time of breaking free from restrictive Victorian morals but still finding one's feet in a world that is about to be turned upside down.
This book is incredibly Edwardian! It is so funny. I laughed out loud multiple times at the pure farce and the petty shallowness of all of these characters who have the best education in the world but can't socialise like normal human beings. It was all so juicy!
Another thing I loved was the writing style. I always like an omniscient narrator, so much more enjoyable than first person or the dreaded second person! This book utilised the omniscient narrator in a very unique way which I won't spoil.
Step aside Oscar Wilde. Max is the dandy for me!
I have always had a fascination with the Edwardian period, perhaps it stems from my childhood Mary Poppins obsession! There is a feeling in the art of the time of breaking free from restrictive Victorian morals but still finding one's feet in a world that is about to be turned upside down.
This book is incredibly Edwardian! It is so funny. I laughed out loud multiple times at the pure farce and the petty shallowness of all of these characters who have the best education in the world but can't socialise like normal human beings. It was all so juicy!
Another thing I loved was the writing style. I always like an omniscient narrator, so much more enjoyable than first person or the dreaded second person! This book utilised the omniscient narrator in a very unique way which I won't spoil.
Step aside Oscar Wilde. Max is the dandy for me!
havreflarn's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0