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katrinky's review against another edition
3.0
mushrooms in utah, Brooke the obsessive philanthropist, crystal for whom the juju actually works, Peter chasing mysterious sabine/"poly". bitingly funny, as always, but nothing to anchor in- every character was a little too absurd to sink into, and the powerful moments (for characters) seemed like st aubyn had to be making fun, so were rendered toothless.
great quote about LA being where the restless went, and, having run out of land to escape to, now mill like neurotic, claustrophobic lemmings. he made merciless fun of the west coast, but seemed to also acknowledge that the new age works for some, in real and moving ways. Melrose novels were best, still...
great quote about LA being where the restless went, and, having run out of land to escape to, now mill like neurotic, claustrophobic lemmings. he made merciless fun of the west coast, but seemed to also acknowledge that the new age works for some, in real and moving ways. Melrose novels were best, still...
charleslambert's review against another edition
2.0
This is an odd - and to my mind largely unsuccessful - book. It describes the adventures of a group of people who would probably term themselves spiritual seekers as they drift from one feelgood farm to another, from Findhorn to Esalen, from tantric sex to psychedelic release. The book is full of detail; praised by one reviewer for the depth and breadth of its research, it seems to me though to be over-researched. Page after page is devoted to the kind of irony-free information about basically cranky new age theory that wouldn't be out of place in a self-help bestseller, but sits oddly in a book that also appears to have a satirical purpose. (You can read the rest of the review at my blog)
sohnesorge's review against another edition
1.0
Actually, no, I didn't finish it; I put it on my Life Is Too Short list. I adore the Patrick Melrose novels. This is an early effort and, while amusing, having fun at the expense of the New Age movement is too easy. The characters are two-dimensional and cliched. The psychedelic drug adventure in the US wilderness is tedious. St. Aubyn is better than this.
gotossmycausticsalad's review
lighthearted
reflective
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Wasn't a huge fan of this - although I did very much enjoy the description of the psychedelic trip near the start - which is a shame because I loved the Patrick Melrose books
macrimrim's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
chursh's review
2.0
Not as good as Never Mind, but maybe that's because it's less shocking. Story of new agers, their love lives, their beliefs.
"'Repent,' said Jerome, 'that's a beautiful word. It's repentare: to think again. It's so beautiful. Later on it became associated with guilt. They invented guilt.'" (pg 69).
"Something had happened and he, like almost everyone else, had got used to the habit of life. Perhaps that was all life was: a habit that resisted the adventure of death. Perhaps Gavin...had never acquired that vital habit, had never stopped being excruciated" (pg. 62). [referring to acquaintance who committed suicide]
"'Repent,' said Jerome, 'that's a beautiful word. It's repentare: to think again. It's so beautiful. Later on it became associated with guilt. They invented guilt.'" (pg 69).
"Something had happened and he, like almost everyone else, had got used to the habit of life. Perhaps that was all life was: a habit that resisted the adventure of death. Perhaps Gavin...had never acquired that vital habit, had never stopped being excruciated" (pg. 62). [referring to acquaintance who committed suicide]
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