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3.83 AVERAGE
3.83 AVERAGE
An entertaining and humorous (but realistic!) take on brexit and politics in the uk. An enjoyable read.
Id read the first of this trilogy years ago. Haven't read the second but this was a book group read and I wonder if I should have read the second one first because it felt a little long winded and as if I'd missed something.
I was looking forward to reading this, as I have so far loved all of the books by Jonathan Coe that I have read. I was thoroughly disappointed. Middle England is a boring, predictable collection of stereotypes about 2010s England, the years leading up to Brexit. It is like a dramatized opinion piece, which regurgitates the laziest, most simplistic statements, without any real analysis or originality. All the characters are two-dimensional stereotypes who represent certain "typical" social groups and political views. Old people vote Brexit, young people support Corbyn, East Europeans find their true calling in being household servants to Brits (honestly, that one physically hurt). This will sound a bit flippant, but while reading I had the feeling Jonathan Coe might be spending too much time on Twitter: the novel does not rise above that level of analysis, and its themes also mirror the favourite talking points of the Twitterati. The relationships between the figures are not nuanced, not fleshed out, not interesting.
Coe specialises in the state-of-the-nation genre, so a strong focus on politics and some degree of stereotyping for the sake of satire is to be expected, but in his other books this is complemented by original, suspenseful, tight plotlines and truly moving, warm relationships between the characters. All this is missing from Middle England. Its aim for balance - for instance, the almost forced inclusion of a left-wing extreme - also contributes to its overall blandness (and I say this as someone who more or less agrees with the overall political stance of the book - that alone doesn't make it enjoyable as literature).
I could go on and on about why this book both annoyed and bored me, but I feel bad while doing so, because Coe's previous books have given me so much joy. So let me finish with the hope that this is a one-time lapse, and his next novel will not only satisfy, but also surpass my expectations.
Coe specialises in the state-of-the-nation genre, so a strong focus on politics and some degree of stereotyping for the sake of satire is to be expected, but in his other books this is complemented by original, suspenseful, tight plotlines and truly moving, warm relationships between the characters. All this is missing from Middle England. Its aim for balance - for instance, the almost forced inclusion of a left-wing extreme - also contributes to its overall blandness (and I say this as someone who more or less agrees with the overall political stance of the book - that alone doesn't make it enjoyable as literature).
I could go on and on about why this book both annoyed and bored me, but I feel bad while doing so, because Coe's previous books have given me so much joy. So let me finish with the hope that this is a one-time lapse, and his next novel will not only satisfy, but also surpass my expectations.
As others have said, a bitter sweet pre/post Brexit novel. Loved it.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Middle England is not the type of book I would have grabbed off the shelf and hurried to the till to purchase.
I actually picked this up at my office (we have a table where people leave used books in case you fancy picking one up for a read!).
I was intrigued by the political aspect of the story and being in my mid-twenties, Brexit was one of the first political debates I bothered to learn about and involve myself in.
I enjoyed both the story telling and the characters as well as the nostalgia of re-living events that I remember (some more fondly than others, watching the Olympics in 2012, for example).
Although, I dare say that my political views differ slightly from the authors (judging by the overwhelming sense of induced sympathy for certain characters), I can honestly say that I enjoyed having all of these different views laid out in front of me. Although I believe that some characters were used only to portray the most extreme version of their standings, I am also glad that a few ditherers were also added to represent the majority of our population who can either admit or deny that they voted mainly on propaganda and fear mongering (on both sides) rather than actually through any hard knowledge of their own.
All in all, an interesting read and escaping from the political perspective, I would definitely read the other Rotters Club books :)
I actually picked this up at my office (we have a table where people leave used books in case you fancy picking one up for a read!).
I was intrigued by the political aspect of the story and being in my mid-twenties, Brexit was one of the first political debates I bothered to learn about and involve myself in.
I enjoyed both the story telling and the characters as well as the nostalgia of re-living events that I remember (some more fondly than others, watching the Olympics in 2012, for example).
Although, I dare say that my political views differ slightly from the authors (judging by the overwhelming sense of induced sympathy for certain characters), I can honestly say that I enjoyed having all of these different views laid out in front of me. Although I believe that some characters were used only to portray the most extreme version of their standings, I am also glad that a few ditherers were also added to represent the majority of our population who can either admit or deny that they voted mainly on propaganda and fear mongering (on both sides) rather than actually through any hard knowledge of their own.
All in all, an interesting read and escaping from the political perspective, I would definitely read the other Rotters Club books :)
If you live in the UK and have voted in favour of Brexit, don't read this book! (or rather do and be pissed off)
Same concept as Number 11, although lacking a little in humour, but still a great "wtf Britain?" statement from Coe, as he shows the finger to nationalism and racism.
Same concept as Number 11, although lacking a little in humour, but still a great "wtf Britain?" statement from Coe, as he shows the finger to nationalism and racism.