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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Dark, with characters I hated, but the degree to which I hated them is likely a reflection of good writing. There were some funny (snarky) parts, but the abuse was tough to get through. I imagine this as the necessary plot foundation of the books that follow in the series.
dark
emotional
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
*MILD SPOILERS*
First of all, devastating title. One of the best books I've read in my life, let alone all year. The most impressive feature is that the book is a magnificent exploitation of the expectations/ habits of mind of readers of literary fiction. Often in said genre, an author will explore the mind of objectively ugly evil people, and Aubyn does this with David Melrose. But the trope for we literary readers is to think that everyone is human so there must be reasons for the evil, so what are they? As you read, you look for the seeds of humanity. In this case, we’re searching for seeds under the personality of a man who finds cruelty amusing. We’re introduced to him whilst he’s drunk, standing in his dressing gown, killing ants. And he is fascinating. Deliciously cruel. As a reader, you almost enjoy him because he’s such an objectively awful person. So when *mild spoiler* David commits an act of hideous cruelty against his child, we open minded, secretly fascinated, literary readers are blindsided. Reading the scene dug a pit of dread in my gut and sent me cold and tachycardic. The guilty memory of it stuck with me for a week. I felt guilty, like I’d colluded in Patrick’s suffering by finding his father fascinating. The scene was that powerful. It was even worse when I found out the books are basically thinly veiled autobiography. Nevertheless, the scene invested the rest of the novella with a masterful thread of dramatic irony. Multiple characters encounter David Melrose and envy him, dread him, or wish they could emulate him, but are ignorant of the vileness we the reader know. It’s a special brand of suspense that enlivens what would otherwise be a book depicting a dinner party attended by a bunch of mildly interesting assholes. It’s beautifully written, and the essential foundation upon which all the other books stand and from whence they draw an extra shade of power.
First of all, devastating title. One of the best books I've read in my life, let alone all year. The most impressive feature is that the book is a magnificent exploitation of the expectations/ habits of mind of readers of literary fiction. Often in said genre, an author will explore the mind of objectively ugly evil people, and Aubyn does this with David Melrose. But the trope for we literary readers is to think that everyone is human so there must be reasons for the evil, so what are they? As you read, you look for the seeds of humanity. In this case, we’re searching for seeds under the personality of a man who finds cruelty amusing. We’re introduced to him whilst he’s drunk, standing in his dressing gown, killing ants. And he is fascinating. Deliciously cruel. As a reader, you almost enjoy him because he’s such an objectively awful person. So when *mild spoiler* David commits an act of hideous cruelty against his child, we open minded, secretly fascinated, literary readers are blindsided. Reading the scene dug a pit of dread in my gut and sent me cold and tachycardic. The guilty memory of it stuck with me for a week. I felt guilty, like I’d colluded in Patrick’s suffering by finding his father fascinating. The scene was that powerful. It was even worse when I found out the books are basically thinly veiled autobiography. Nevertheless, the scene invested the rest of the novella with a masterful thread of dramatic irony. Multiple characters encounter David Melrose and envy him, dread him, or wish they could emulate him, but are ignorant of the vileness we the reader know. It’s a special brand of suspense that enlivens what would otherwise be a book depicting a dinner party attended by a bunch of mildly interesting assholes. It’s beautifully written, and the essential foundation upon which all the other books stand and from whence they draw an extra shade of power.
Exquisite writing, revolting characters. Looking forward to reading the others in the series but need to get my breath back first!
challenging
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
i did it solely for donna tartt read it before she writing her secret history, i got appalled in the middle, closer to the end and in the book’s end, but now i kinda want to read the whole series.
Intense characters, Patrick's innocence slowly withering away is heart wrenching.
Maybe 3.5 stars, just such disturbing characters. I look forward to the rest of the series.
dark
tense
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism