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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
bimblinghill's review against another edition
2.0
I was expecting a light romp through English village cultural mores. That's pretty much what it was, but less funny than I'd hoped, and the amorality of the characters (to the point that a main protagonist commits an act of senseless destruction that ought to have resulted in a charge of manslaughter) left a bad taste.
sarahrigg's review against another edition
3.0
Sometimes when I was a kid and I was bored and had read all my library books, I'd pick up a paperback we had around the house and read it. I recall that was the case with this one. I liked the weird cover and knew it was supposed to be funny. I don't remember much about it, though.
sloword's review against another edition
5.0
Mayhem ensues in rural England in typical Sharpe style. Satire at its best
fizzbitch's review against another edition
5.0
A very funny and lighthearted book that is really appreciated in troubled times as these. Some of the jokes are not really appropriate for our current times, but as a piece of its time it's fantastic.
One more thing I really admired is the agency of the characters. Something I've missed in a lot of recent novels. But in this one it feels like a chess game between the three parties with different agenda's, that's constantly on the move. One person acts, and another counters. Not merely reacting, not letting the plot happen to them, but being an active participant. And that's a good thing to see in both protagonists and antagonists.
One more thing I really admired is the agency of the characters. Something I've missed in a lot of recent novels. But in this one it feels like a chess game between the three parties with different agenda's, that's constantly on the move. One person acts, and another counters. Not merely reacting, not letting the plot happen to them, but being an active participant. And that's a good thing to see in both protagonists and antagonists.
beccamunchkin's review against another edition
3.0
Funny little book but a cute subway read. Decent writing and, as expected based on the description, a silly little farcical story full of interesting characters and plot.
noondaypaisley's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book, but some satire is dark and some is just pessimistic. Still, a lot of fun plot and play with the expectations of the reader. As is often true of this kind of satire the ending gets away from Sharpe and becomes farce and hysterical. Lots of laughs and lots of action.
neilcake's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyable. Probably the most solid Tom Sharpe I've read so far. The political satire is spot on, and there are all the usual traits you'd expect, but they certainly don't seem tired or worn.
dracunculus's review against another edition
4.0
Think back to the times of the old Ealing comedies and you land yourself in this book. It takes a good British farce and makes it into a major drama, where else in the world would you turn a stately home into a wildlife park in an attempt to stop a motorway being built.
In some ways it is a pre-cursor to the 1990's anti-road protests but played with far more old fashioned English style, based around power politics where decisions are as always made on the effects on the number of votes in the next election.
Love it – its light and made me chuckle!!! A good holiday read!
In some ways it is a pre-cursor to the 1990's anti-road protests but played with far more old fashioned English style, based around power politics where decisions are as always made on the effects on the number of votes in the next election.
Love it – its light and made me chuckle!!! A good holiday read!
loannie's review against another edition
4.0
Very good fun. A bit dated with some character sterotyping and sexism, but overall an entertaining read.
celiapowell's review against another edition
3.0
Sharpe gets compared to Wodehouse on the back of my copy of this novel - nothing like as subtle and witty, of course, but I suppose Wodehouse gets hauled out as a comparison for any British writer of satirical comedy. Blott on the Landscape is a decidedly crude, un-subtle but still very funny book about Lady Maude, her gardener Blott and philandering husband (on whom she takes a particularly vicious revenge later in the book). There's also plans for a motorway to be built through Lady Maude's house, and it is on this that the plot rests. Explosions, drunken plots, a little S&M and lions ensue. It's just as crazy as it sounds.