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joesb's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bluemine's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
ew
madden1706's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bengriffiths's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cashawkins's review
funny
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
owenjetton's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
book_concierge's review
1.0
From the book jacket: Jim Dixon had accidentally fallen into a job at one of Britain’s new red-brick universities. A moderately successful future in the History Department beckons – as long as Jim can survive a madrigal-singing weekend at Professor Welch’s, deliver a lecture on “Merrie England,” and resist Christine, the hopelessly desirable girlfriend of Welch’s son Bertrand.
My reactions
Terrible. Maybe I’m too far past my college years. Perhaps it’s the dry British humor. Or the 1950s setting and writing style (first published in 1954). But I just don’t see the humor in this. I struggled to finish and did so only because I had committed to a buddy read.
Jim’s troubles are all of his own making. He hates his job, postpones doing any real work, spends most of his time in the pub drinking, lies constantly about what he’s doing, and tries (unsuccessfully, need I say) to toady up to his boss. Meanwhile, the women – “desireable” Christine included – seem to be just waiting around for a man. I don’t see what THEY see in Jim, either!
My reactions
Terrible. Maybe I’m too far past my college years. Perhaps it’s the dry British humor. Or the 1950s setting and writing style (first published in 1954). But I just don’t see the humor in this. I struggled to finish and did so only because I had committed to a buddy read.
Jim’s troubles are all of his own making. He hates his job, postpones doing any real work, spends most of his time in the pub drinking, lies constantly about what he’s doing, and tries (unsuccessfully, need I say) to toady up to his boss. Meanwhile, the women – “desireable” Christine included – seem to be just waiting around for a man. I don’t see what THEY see in Jim, either!
tomgenue's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
lelia_t's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely enjoyable. I hadn’t read this in decades and find it’s still hilarious. When I read this the first time, I spent most of the book cringing for Jim. This time around, I realize all of his mistakes and the ridiculous faces he makes are acts of resistance, his way of striking out against the pretentiousness that would otherwise overwhelm him. I read this shortly after finishing Reading Lolita in Tehran - of course there’s no comparison between Jim’s situation as an aspiring academic and the struggles in Iran - but the idea of small acts of rebellion to keep hold of your own identity and autonomy seems the same to me. And Jim’s small acts of rebellion are usually funny.
There are some 1950s ideas in the book that I would quibble with - for example, Jim’s assertion that if Margaret were attractive she wouldn’t be neurotic. But there weren't enough of these moments to ruin the book, which I highly recommend.
There are some 1950s ideas in the book that I would quibble with - for example, Jim’s assertion that if Margaret were attractive she wouldn’t be neurotic. But there weren't enough of these moments to ruin the book, which I highly recommend.