Scan barcode
natthahlyh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Death, War, Racism, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Sexism
Minor: Homophobia and Car accident
li_reading's review
5.0
4.5 stars
I know that a rating of 4.5 for a classic, and one written by a man at that, probably comes as a surprise to those who know me. It certainly did to me, but I truly loved this book.
A Single Man put me in mind of A Little Life often while reading, and, perhaps surprisingly, not due to the morose subject matter or gay protagonist. But because both have the uncanny ability to make the mundane profound.
Several times while reading I found myself astounded at how much of myself I saw in George, despite having vastly different beliefs and experiences. There was something remarkably human (rather ironically, I suppose) about it all.
Despite being written in 1964, George’s complaints about the world largely remain true, and, while saddening, Isherwood’s prose makes it a joy to read all the same. I expect to find myself pawing through these pages time and time again, and only wish I had read it sooner.
I know that a rating of 4.5 for a classic, and one written by a man at that, probably comes as a surprise to those who know me. It certainly did to me, but I truly loved this book.
A Single Man put me in mind of A Little Life often while reading, and, perhaps surprisingly, not due to the morose subject matter or gay protagonist. But because both have the uncanny ability to make the mundane profound.
Several times while reading I found myself astounded at how much of myself I saw in George, despite having vastly different beliefs and experiences. There was something remarkably human (rather ironically, I suppose) about it all.
Despite being written in 1964, George’s complaints about the world largely remain true, and, while saddening, Isherwood’s prose makes it a joy to read all the same. I expect to find myself pawing through these pages time and time again, and only wish I had read it sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, Antisemitism, Homophobia, Misogyny, and Alcohol
Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
amandabcook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual content, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Death
Minor: Drug use and Misogyny
hmatt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
It's a book! I liked it. I'm sure it was pretty progressive when it was published, and I think it stands up relatively well. I'm keenly aware that it ticks a few of my favourite boxes: short, queer, and character-driven. That is to say, I can see why not everyone would like it.
Here's a passage that made me laugh out loud:
Here's a passage that made me laugh out loud:
(George can't be absolutely sure if this is the same book he himself read as a young man, during a trip to Paris. At all events, he remembers throwing this, or some other book just like it, into the wastebasket, in the middle of the big screwing scene. Not that one isn't broad-minded, of course; let them write about heterosexuality if they must, and let everyone read it who cares to. Just the same, it is a deadly bore and, to be frank, a wee bit distasteful. Why can't these modern writers stick to the old simple wholesome themes - such as, for example, boys?)
And here's one that I think translates particularly well across time:
In all those old crises of the twenties, the thirties, the war - each one of them has left its traces upon George, like an illness - what was terrible was the fear of annihilation. Now we have with us a far more terrible fear, the fear of survival.
I remember really liking the movie when it came out, so maybe I'll go back and watch that now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcohol, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Homophobia and Sexism
Minor: Car accident, Infidelity, and War
myantoniareads's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death, and Alcoholism
samarakroeger's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
left a bit underwhelmed, but then again I usually am by books with such an extremely narrow scope. The prose was (mostly) stunning, which is definitely one of the main selling points of this little book.
What detracted from the story, for me, were the side characters George interacts with. They did not feel very fleshed out and honestly kinda confused me at times.
There’s also some vestiges of the era this was written in that caught me off guard while reading (casual racism, a few slurs, and mild misogyny), along with the expected internalized homophobia.
I really liked that this is a book about private grief and repression, and George’s sexuality is not the main focus of his concerns. That’s what you get when a gay man casually writes a gay main character who acts like any normal human being - refreshing, especially considering the time period!
What detracted from the story, for me, were the side characters George interacts with. They did not feel very fleshed out and honestly kinda confused me at times.
There’s also some vestiges of the era this was written in that caught me off guard while reading (casual racism, a few slurs, and mild misogyny), along with the expected internalized homophobia.
I really liked that this is a book about private grief and repression, and George’s sexuality is not the main focus of his concerns. That’s what you get when a gay man casually writes a gay main character who acts like any normal human being - refreshing, especially considering the time period!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual content, Car accident, and Racism
mercedes's review
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Racial slurs and Sexual content
tomcolter97's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
2.75
This book was in parts very good. Made me think about society and how hard it must’ve been to be gay back in the 60s. However, at points, I found a lot of it went over my head and I don’t think I necessarily understood the points it was trying to make. I won’t get rid of this book as maybe in a few years it will make more sense to me. Or hit abit harder to home.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Racial slurs, and Homophobia
chetttroi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
- His writing is immaculate, lots of ideas and thoughts that got me thinking, about life, death and what we, as humans, do to each other
- That being said, i think it wasnt something ground-breaking, maybe it did when it was first released, so it came as an easy, a little bit tedious read for me
I must say, while I don’t really relate to the George, the way he dissociated (?) created a bond with his soul (?), his mind, in a way. so even though he died, i don’t mourn him, i know he’s fine, that’s not George. George’s lived on. and that’s what makes this work hopeful
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Sexual content
shanban0303's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Good book, although I’d say the ending made it for me. The beginning wasn’t bad, it just was a bit dull. The ending was really great and pulled me in a bit more. Really beautiful almost prose-like writing was present in different parts of the book, especially the end.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Car accident, and Death