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flissgabrielle's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so wonderfully written. The twist felt expected and unexpected at the same time. I was so completely invested in the book and felt like I was in Mike Engleby’s brain. An absolutely brilliant read.
sewfarsewgood's review against another edition
4.0
I decided to read this as I'd heard of Faulks before through school but 'Birdsong' didn't really appeal to me at the time, I thought that this sounded like quite a good book.
I finished this book yesterday and I really liked reading this book but I had to think overnight about how I would go about writing this book as it left me quite confused.
The story of Mike Engleby is a complicated one and made even more so by the fact that it is narrated by him and you're never too sure of how truthful his accounts are. Almost right from the start you know that there's something not quite right with his character, and this becomes more apparent when he becomes infatuated with one of his classmates. One of the things that really brought this home to me was Jen's diary entries after he steals her diary she refers to him as Mike (!) and this brought up flagsfor me. When she goes missing you think that it was him but he gives no indication it was so you end up believing that he's innocent. It was when he was locked up and started remembering what really happened that it really shocked me as his description was so to the point it was scary.
This book was a great read and I really enjoyed it, the only point that annoyed me was the last diary entry which really turns everything on its head and leaves you with so many questions; did Mike make this up? Was everything in his head? Did Jen even exist? And at the moment this annoys me but it has made me think over the book more and after a while I will probably think how effective this was in making me really think about the book
I finished this book yesterday and I really liked reading this book but I had to think overnight about how I would go about writing this book as it left me quite confused.
The story of Mike Engleby is a complicated one and made even more so by the fact that it is narrated by him and you're never too sure of how truthful his accounts are. Almost right from the start you know that there's something not quite right with his character, and this becomes more apparent when he becomes infatuated with one of his classmates. One of the things that really brought this home to me was Jen's diary entries after he steals her diary she refers to him as Mike (!) and this brought up flagsfor me. When she goes missing you think that it was him but he gives no indication it was so you end up believing that he's innocent. It was when he was locked up and started remembering what really happened that it really shocked me as his description was so to the point it was scary.
This book was a great read and I really enjoyed it, the only point that annoyed me was the last diary entry which really turns everything on its head and leaves you with so many questions; did Mike make this up? Was everything in his head? Did Jen even exist? And at the moment this annoys me but it has made me think over the book more and after a while I will probably think how effective this was in making me really think about the book
daisyemmahughes's review against another edition
4.0
Picked up this book from the hotel on holiday when I finished all the books I brought with me, purely on the basis that I had enjoyed Birdsong and I have The Girl at the Lion D’or on my TBR at home.
I’m often drawn to books with a mental health theme, and this was convincingly written, I felt. At times a difficult read due to the theme, but I liked the first person narrative and could relate to some of the institutional descriptions.
I was left wondering about Mike’s sister’s thoughts and feelings…her experience…but I guess that’s another story!
I’m often drawn to books with a mental health theme, and this was convincingly written, I felt. At times a difficult read due to the theme, but I liked the first person narrative and could relate to some of the institutional descriptions.
I was left wondering about Mike’s sister’s thoughts and feelings…her experience…but I guess that’s another story!
werthers's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. Not entirely sure if I loved it or hated it. Was definitely a struggle to get through a lot of the time, yet I was oddly intrigued
carolynf's review against another edition
4.0
Very interesting protagonist - until late in the book it is unclear if he is a psycho murderer or just a little off. Mike Engleby moves from high school to university to an adult career, but never seems to fit in. At some points he seems a lost soul, like Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye. But throughout there are hints that he is an unreliable narrator.
mazza57's review against another edition
1.0
On and on and on he goes with brain numbing prose - 342 pages of it most of it inconsequential rubbish pages and pages of how he was bullied at school, more pages of where he hides his stash and how much he takes. About 50 pages of interest. I do not know why i bought this book never a fan of Faulks i am even less so now i have ploughed through this one
bellaruffell's review against another edition
3.0
Mike Engleby's life story emerges gradually from the 1970s when he was an abused student to the 2000s when he is a successful journalist. The novel becomes darker when a college friend of Engleby's goes missing. His memories contain great blanks, and the reader could assume it was because of the drugs and alcohol he consumes. The unsolved mystery haunts him as memories return and his sanity is unclear.
Usually when I finish a book I am very clear of my opinion on it but this was a rare exception. I thought that it was a pretty average story which was superbly well told which is why I have given it 3.5 stars. Faulks writes incredibly well I just wasn’t 100% convinced by the story.
Usually when I finish a book I am very clear of my opinion on it but this was a rare exception. I thought that it was a pretty average story which was superbly well told which is why I have given it 3.5 stars. Faulks writes incredibly well I just wasn’t 100% convinced by the story.