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creechance's review against another edition
4.0
Strictly as a novel, this does not hold up to Waugh's other works. I'm tempted to give only three stars. However, because Pinfold is a slightly fictionalized version of events that really happened to Waugh, the story is interesting from a psychological perspective and earns the 4th star that way.
pizzabrot's review
3.0
3.5 stars. But why did I even put this on my list (seriously though??)
[I guess because it looks very pretty! Looks sometimes is everything, guys]
Conclusion after reading this: don't poison yourself with bromide. Also, how interesting...and I suppose brave of the author to admit to it being an autobiographical work?
On the blurb it says "One reads it with tears of laughter streaming down one's cheeks" - I don't know who this 'one' is supposed to be, but I'm definitely second then (har har, aren't I funny again...still funnier than this book!) While it was an intriguing enough read, it didn't exactly make me laugh (or smile...or anything even close to it). I suppose I had more of a "What the fuck am I reading" kind of face. I was very concerned for the main character, even more so after reading that the book is based on the author's own experiences. It's clear from the start that the protagonist is simply off-the-wall crazy, but not in a way that would rouse any positive feelings on my part. Not even pity, if I'm honest. He's just not a particularly likable guy. I can't say that the introduction ("Portrait of the artist in middle age") helped in forming a positive impression, and after that he already started going mad, sooo...it's not like we know much about "normal" Gilbert. But from what we know, I think I prefer him insane and on bromide.
Still 3.5 stars because A) I like reading about crazy people and I like it even more from their perspective and B) because the last 100 pages (more than 50% of the book!) were actually almost addictive to read. No idea why, but I absolutely couldn't stop reading even though it was a pain in the ass at first because of the over-complicated and still somewhat sluggish-feeling writing style that even induced my OCD (meaning I was reading both the English and translated German version at the same time because of my very unreasonable fear of misunderstanding something otherwise)...so that was annoying. No fault to the author though; or, maybe, do let's fault the author a little bit. I feel like the writing style was actually as pretentious as the protagonist (who, after all, is a version of the author) and I honestly feel like you could've done SO MUCH MORE with the general idea (Shutter Island, anyone?) So yeah, that was disappointing and frustrating, but still, somehow I like this book in a very weird and bipolar way. Literally in two minds about it :) (see what I did there?) I'll definitely not part with the book and not only because of its looks. One day I might even read it again; but one thing I already know for sure: I still won't like Gilbert. He's actually managed to make me feel sympathetic for his imaginary bullies - who are Gilbert's hallucinations, so actually...also parts of the author? Hmm maybe I shouldn't write off Waugh's other work after all! I mean, he did manage to make me like and dislike him at the same time.
(in all seriousness, though, I will very likely give him another chance!)
Other than that, though, I really don't understand the point of this book. After finishing I was like "Ok - so that was useless". What does it tell us? Don't take the wrong medicine or be schizophrenic I guess.
[I guess because it looks very pretty! Looks sometimes is everything, guys]
Conclusion after reading this: don't poison yourself with bromide. Also, how interesting...and I suppose brave of the author to admit to it being an autobiographical work?
On the blurb it says "One reads it with tears of laughter streaming down one's cheeks" - I don't know who this 'one' is supposed to be, but I'm definitely second then (har har, aren't I funny again...still funnier than this book!) While it was an intriguing enough read, it didn't exactly make me laugh (or smile...or anything even close to it). I suppose I had more of a "What the fuck am I reading" kind of face. I was very concerned for the main character, even more so after reading that the book is based on the author's own experiences. It's clear from the start that the protagonist is simply off-the-wall crazy, but not in a way that would rouse any positive feelings on my part. Not even pity, if I'm honest. He's just not a particularly likable guy. I can't say that the introduction ("Portrait of the artist in middle age") helped in forming a positive impression, and after that he already started going mad, sooo...it's not like we know much about "normal" Gilbert. But from what we know, I think I prefer him insane and on bromide.
Still 3.5 stars because A) I like reading about crazy people and I like it even more from their perspective and B) because the last 100 pages (more than 50% of the book!) were actually almost addictive to read. No idea why, but I absolutely couldn't stop reading even though it was a pain in the ass at first because of the over-complicated and still somewhat sluggish-feeling writing style that even induced my OCD (meaning I was reading both the English and translated German version at the same time because of my very unreasonable fear of misunderstanding something otherwise)...so that was annoying. No fault to the author though; or, maybe, do let's fault the author a little bit. I feel like the writing style was actually as pretentious as the protagonist (who, after all, is a version of the author) and I honestly feel like you could've done SO MUCH MORE with the general idea (Shutter Island, anyone?) So yeah, that was disappointing and frustrating, but still, somehow I like this book in a very weird and bipolar way. Literally in two minds about it :) (see what I did there?) I'll definitely not part with the book and not only because of its looks. One day I might even read it again; but one thing I already know for sure: I still won't like Gilbert. He's actually managed to make me feel sympathetic for his imaginary bullies - who are Gilbert's hallucinations, so actually...also parts of the author? Hmm maybe I shouldn't write off Waugh's other work after all! I mean, he did manage to make me like and dislike him at the same time.
(in all seriousness, though, I will very likely give him another chance!)
Other than that, though, I really don't understand the point of this book. After finishing I was like "Ok - so that was useless". What does it tell us? Don't take the wrong medicine or be schizophrenic I guess.
akbates's review against another edition
3.0
It felt like Right Ho Jeeves meets 1984. By turns, it had the lightness of a Wodehouse and the haunting feel of Orwell. Overall very funny. This was my first Waugh, definatley won't be my last.
likecymbeline's review
2.0
This is a very different sort of book from Waugh's others. The most familiar elements are the unrelenting bits of racism and his usual mode of satire. The fact that it's based on real aspects of his life makes it somewhat terrifying, but the execution was great. How he knew and didn't know they were just voices, how he kept rationalizing things and how contradictions weren't a big issue. The back of my book contained a few short stories which I didn't have time to read, but which I intend to get to.
ranchel's review against another edition
3.0
My brother recommended I read The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold, and I wish I'd skimmed the first few pages or actually read a synopsis of the book before picking it up. It's not that this book is boring or awful in anyway. It's just weird. It's a weird story about a man who mixes his medication (or has a psychotic break, it's not actually clear which) and begins hallucinating. The hallucinations are bland and, as a result, the entire book is bland. I was unimpressed but I didn't actually dislike the book.
jodarroch4's review
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
parafilm's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bronwynmb's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure if I liked this, but it was interesting. My copy had a transcript (or part) of an interview Waugh did with the BBC in 1960 about why/how he wrote this, and I thought that was interesting. The novel is pretty much what Waugh went through over a three week period, and so that helped me understand some of the book better (and that’s why the book ends how it does too). It was still tedious in places and overly long, but it was interesting. I’m not sure if I’d reread it or not.
thebookcure's review against another edition
3.0
It felt like Right Ho Jeeves meets 1984. By turns, it had the lightness of a Wodehouse and the haunting feel of Orwell. Overall very funny. This was my first Waugh, definatley won't be my last.