Reviews

This was such an interesting book, and almost defies description and categorization. I waffle between thinking it brilliant and clever, or seriously amateur.

⛪️ First of all, I find the narrator (the titular character) to be not very trustworthy, a literary device I didn't think was in existence until much later. However, he quite often insists one thing but subsequent events are another thing altogether. I think HE is perfectly sincere... but oblivious, both to himself, his family, and the situations that arose throughout the story.

⛪️ Another thing that makes me suspect the trustworthiness of the narrator is his unfailing insistence of his own goodness, and his pious, overly sentimental view of life, well padded with trite religiosity. He says a lot of things that sound really good but nothing backs them up. He fails spectacularly at even the most basic common sense, putting me much in mind of another famous literary Vicar (curate?), Mr. Collins.

⛪️ Speaking of, this book obviously highly influenced Jane Austen, but she was way better. There is no question of her brilliance and whether or not she is being ironical, satirical, or serious at any given moment.

⛪️ Anyway, the prose in this book flowed quite easily, and if it WAS satirical, I think it was quite cleverly done. If you read it that way, as I did, there are at least two layers of story happening: the one according to the narrator, and the real one. And the real one mocking the narrator all the while.

⛪️ The storyline is very reminiscent of the book of Job. And all the problems in the story are just as miraculously solved, all in one fell swoop in the final chapter.