Reviews

Never Mind by Edward St Aubyn

Only show reviews with written explanations

bellagasparro's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

jennybpenny's review

Go to review page

4.0

"She imagined vodka poured over ice and all the cubes that had been frosted turning clear and collapsing in the glass and the ice cracking, like a spine on the hands of a confident osteopath."

Have just galloped through this again (June 2015) in order to read all five books in succession (having also read Mother's Milk and realised the chronology).
It's as dark as I remember, with exact and specific characterisation of decidedly unlikeable but still realistic people.
On to Bad News next.

annabelralph's review

Go to review page

dark sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

b0hemian_graham's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Wow, just wow. We have a dark, twisted, novel, set in the 1960s/1970s, with horrible characters. All things I enjoy in a novel, and I'm only just reading it now? Utterly shameful. St Aubyn's writing is intoxicating, and you literally do not want to put it down, no matter how horrible it gets.

It's like a British Richard Yates on crack, and I'm totally rambling and making an start of myself but I'm still trying to digest what I've read. Better review to follow later.

amylloyd's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

It was exactly what I expected it to be, but often much more. I admire the way Aubyn brought these characters to life, be it in the most deplorable of ways. It’s consistently challenging and sometimes in stasis. However, I saw this as creating room for much more in the following novels in the series. There is undeniable potential. I must check out ‘Bad News’ to know what direction it all goes.

Content Warnings

bartonstanley's review against another edition

Go to review page

1.0

I bailed on this. I found it edgy but artificial and without purpose. Or at least it without any redeeming qualities for me and the life I have chosen to lead. I can see that others may have a very different opinion.

I read part of the way through the first chapter. When I read the part about Elenor eating the almond-stuffed pigeon off a plate on the floor I decided I didn't want to read about the demeaning of human beings. Life is too short!