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darceybm's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
oxnard_montalvo's review
Lol. So I picked this up thinking it was going to be a lighthearted comedy feat. the sexcapades of some cheeky scoundrel, but.
It kind of is about that: the scoundrel is certainly cheeky, and since we are getting the story from his POV, all the damage he causes is minimised and rationalised away, which makes for fascinating reading. Barry is a great voice, his turns of phrase and endless charm (as he sees himself) is fun to read. But then, under the surface of that, the lies. The emotional, psychological fallout of his decisions and choices, and my sympathy for his situation rapidly diminished as I read on.
Loved how Evaristo included the stream of consciousness chapters from his wife's POV. Her bewilderment and hurt regarding her husband's behaviour, his lack of affection was heartbreaking. I found myself actively hoping that she'd go out and have an affair of her own, not just to even the score, but so she got to experience genuine LOVE at some point. And things are tied up neatly(ish) in a way that is gratifying if still bittersweet.
It kind of is about that: the scoundrel is certainly cheeky, and since we are getting the story from his POV, all the damage he causes is minimised and rationalised away, which makes for fascinating reading. Barry is a great voice, his turns of phrase and endless charm (as he sees himself) is fun to read. But then, under the surface of that, the lies. The emotional, psychological fallout of his decisions and choices, and my sympathy for his situation rapidly diminished as I read on.
Loved how Evaristo included the stream of consciousness chapters from his wife's POV. Her bewilderment and hurt regarding her husband's behaviour, his lack of affection was heartbreaking. I found myself actively hoping that she'd go out and have an affair of her own, not just to even the score, but so she got to experience genuine LOVE at some point. And things are tied up neatly(ish) in a way that is gratifying if still bittersweet.
boekenalsontbijt's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
kangaroo1990's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
nicolaparty's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Homophobia, Violence, and Infidelity
harrisontown's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mercapto's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
An unflinching portrayal of what it means to live a lie. Is easy to see how it affects the one keeping secrets, but the fallout is so much bigger.
And yet, despite the outdated views of the protagonists, the homophobia (both outward and internalised), the misogyny… they’re so human. So understandable. Who hasn’t met older people who say the wrong things, but from ignorance rather than hate? I wanted so badly for Barry and Morris to be happy together, but at the same time could see they didn’t think how their wives actually feel, that they are their own people with their own lives.
Carmel’s chapters remind us that we all live in a world made from our own perceptions, it’s not black and white. Who Carmel is as a person is so different to who Barry sees, the same with the children and their views of their father. I’m glad it was Carmel who initiated the divorce - she needed that, she needed to let go, to free herself.
And while he makes excuses the whole book, by the end he acknowledges that. He feels guilt, he really processes that just because he was hurting doesn’t mean other people weren’t too. I’m glad that Maxine showed him the world like he’d never seen it, educated him, and that he changed. That he wrote the letter even if he knew she wouldn’t accept it.
I really did enjoy this, and think it was a very nuanced and sensitive portrayal of a deeply complicated topic.
hannahclare44's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jarvvis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wonderful! A delight! Nothing I loved more than following this OAP lovable bastard around for 300 pages and seeing his life laid bare for me. Realistic and charming and filled with great complications. This book is relatively quick, both in terms of page count and actual time covered in the novel (a little under a month with the occasional time skip) - and yet there’s so much packed in here, a whole life and family and community. The climax comes to a head quite fast, but it’s obvious it’s over 40 years in the making.