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krcadwal's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Sexual content, Violence, Medical content, Death, Body horror, Grief, Slavery, Drug abuse, and Trafficking
kathryn_mcb's review
medium-paced
2.5
Some interesting moments for me on the nature of regret and ageing and perhaps even how the wealthy will inevitably be able to exert their power and take what they want from the less fortunate, but I felt there were some underdeveloped aspects (maybe on purpose to show the flaw of the character). For example his relatively happy home life which he tosses aside. There is a bizarre fixation on penises which I’m not sure men really do think about that much. It felt a bit immature that a shot at a new life would result in men fixating on their penises... again maybe the immaturity is intentional to highlight the vanity and fragile masculinity of the characters. Vanity is certainly a key theme.
For me it was the descriptions of “old” age that got me off to a rocky start with this book. Like the main character and his wife, my parents are in their mid sixties and my da still cycles triple figure distances every week and my mum wouldn’t be caught dead with a wheely shopping trolley. It felt a bit like Kureishi was describing someone in their late 80s.
For me it was the descriptions of “old” age that got me off to a rocky start with this book. Like the main character and his wife, my parents are in their mid sixties and my da still cycles triple figure distances every week and my mum wouldn’t be caught dead with a wheely shopping trolley. It felt a bit like Kureishi was describing someone in their late 80s.
prosewhore's review
3.0
I loved the first story in this book which was the longest one. A sci-fi, philosophical tale about our society, our relationship with our bodies and fear of aging. Sadly the other few just didn't resonate with me as much although they are well written.
By the way, I read the french version of this book and the translation feels very organic, hadn't I checked I would have thought it was originally written in this language.
I might read other works by this author as he clearly has the ability to captivate the reader and to challenge your thoughts.
By the way, I read the french version of this book and the translation feels very organic, hadn't I checked I would have thought it was originally written in this language.
I might read other works by this author as he clearly has the ability to captivate the reader and to challenge your thoughts.
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