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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Interesting read. The novel touched on a number of topics in the framework of a longing to find peace (with god?) after being unable to overcome harmful patterns for years. There is a good deal of dialogue, which does at times feel a little like therapy sessions for main character Andrews. I want to point out that I really loved the atmosphere, especially of the more suspenseful scenes, and - at least in the first half - Elizabeth. Towards the end, the actions of some characters started to appear a bit nonsensical to me. The finale, however, was quite beautiful.
I am a little unsure what to take from this now, but as a mere exploration of psychological issues along some tense and atmospheric scenes, I enjoyed this novel.
I am a little unsure what to take from this now, but as a mere exploration of psychological issues along some tense and atmospheric scenes, I enjoyed this novel.
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[A Classic Tragic Novel]
For such a short book, it seemed a long read. It's my first book by Graham Greene and the first book the author got published back in 1929. It was a success then but is considered his weakest work today. I have to admit that I found the book simply average. The story was nothing special, the characters were nothing special, the internal struggles of our main character were often annoying, and I had trouble believing the love story. Elizabeth was probably the only one worth rooting for throughout the book as she was the only one making some sense most of the time. Admittedly, the author was probably still finding his writing style (and I hope to find out what it was in some of his later novels). And the book picks up a pace a couple of times with some action. Ah well... I guess I'll have to face the fact that I don't much care for male protagonists with daddy issues.
For such a short book, it seemed a long read. It's my first book by Graham Greene and the first book the author got published back in 1929. It was a success then but is considered his weakest work today. I have to admit that I found the book simply average. The story was nothing special, the characters were nothing special, the internal struggles of our main character were often annoying, and I had trouble believing the love story. Elizabeth was probably the only one worth rooting for throughout the book as she was the only one making some sense most of the time. Admittedly, the author was probably still finding his writing style (and I hope to find out what it was in some of his later novels). And the book picks up a pace a couple of times with some action. Ah well... I guess I'll have to face the fact that I don't much care for male protagonists with daddy issues.
A little heavy-handed, but still an engrossing story of a smuggler's son who becomes a smuggler himself, only to turn on his shipmates, fall in love, and have numerous internal struggles with the man within himself. Excellent ending...
He saw two stars, one in the sky and one in front of him, so he took the one in front of him to go and see her saintly face again.
Reading this novel was like watching a movie inside my head. I wish it didn't end.
Reading this novel was like watching a movie inside my head. I wish it didn't end.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was not one of my favorites, and never will be. That said, I found it deeply, deeply fascinating. The protagonist seems to be profoundly aware of his own cowardice, which is not something I view as common. Furthermore, he fails to take note of his own courage, always downplaying it. It is almost like his own personal pity party, where he wallows in his own cowardice, to the point of almost enjoying it, while being unaware of how much he does. The love found within was deeply touching to me, and the woman he came to love, and the feelings that he exhibited, of feeling clean and alive and joyful and *new* when he was with her, cause me to think of her as a Jesus figure. So yes. Fascinating yet depressing story, I look forward to reading more of Mr. Greene. Also, one of my favorite quotes from the book was as follows: "Surely you know by this time that the feeling won't last. For a day we are disgusted and disappointed and disillusioned and feel dirty all over. But we are clean again in a very short time, clean enough to go back and soil ourselves all over again." This reminds me of the cycle that we and the Israelites constantly go through. We sin, we may at first be disgusted by our sin, than we grow into apathy over said sin, God brings us to repentance, and then we come once again to apathy, this time over our cleanliness, and anxiously and eagerly search out sin once again.
7 down, 97 to go! :D
7 down, 97 to go! :D
This is Greene's first published novel, and it shows. Don't get me wrong: it's well written, but many of Greene's signature themes aren't quite developed, as well as his style. It's not the greatest novel in the world, but it's short and interesting to read with the rest of Graham Greene's career in mind.
The Man Within is a debut novel of Graham Greene. Still you can see the youth in his writing, compared to The End of the Affair and The Quiet American with cynical eyes. One would think a debut can't be compared to the great works, but I beg to differ. Still unpolished, but one can see the early talent underneath this writer Greene | A coward, betrayer, and deep in conscience, Andrews seems like a character one would read in Dostoevsky's