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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
My HEART.
The final scene between - sort of - Laurie and Andrew was agony. This was quietly sad and hopeful, and some of the passages were a really beautiful representation of human experience. It was a book that, after finishing, I had to sort of sit and stare into space as I tried to come to terms with my feelings, which is always a winner.
The final scene between - sort of - Laurie and Andrew was agony. This was quietly sad and hopeful, and some of the passages were a really beautiful representation of human experience. It was a book that, after finishing, I had to sort of sit and stare into space as I tried to come to terms with my feelings, which is always a winner.
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt
emotional
inspiring
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
A highly evocative novel that did take me some time to warm up to. The verbose and complex writing took me unawares at first; I really had to focus on what I was reading. However, the story and characters were rewarding enough for me to end up really enjoying this one.
After having finished it, I realise now that this complexity is used as a device to reflect Laurie’s own complicated feelings, which makes me all the more impressed by Renault’s storytelling. The purposeful obfuscation may also be due to the fact that this was published in the 1950’s, where openly gay characters doing openly gay things were virtually non-existent.
Overall, an intense read that was sufficiently enjoyable for me to finish despite having to actively plough through certain passages.
(3.5/5)
After having finished it, I realise now that this complexity is used as a device to reflect Laurie’s own complicated feelings, which makes me all the more impressed by Renault’s storytelling. The purposeful obfuscation may also be due to the fact that this was published in the 1950’s, where openly gay characters doing openly gay things were virtually non-existent.
Overall, an intense read that was sufficiently enjoyable for me to finish despite having to actively plough through certain passages.
(3.5/5)
I read this book in high school and am handicapped by limited recollection. Not limited in how the book affected me, for that I remember vividly, but limited in my life experiences at that time. I remember being struck by the scope of this book (WWII, pacifism/heroism, male/male romance in the 40s) and the discovery that a book could be sensual without being graphic. Curious to know if I would feel similarly enamored if I were to read it now.
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Oh I loved this so much. Renault writes about the experience of being gay in such an honest, nuanced, loving way. She embraces hope for a positive future without erasing all the frustrating, confusing, and even painful parts of coming to terms with your own difference. The novel is full of subtext and suggestion, full of purposefully vague but meaningful dialogue and description. This made it, at times, difficult to comprehend. But ultimately, I adored the way Renault used her writing style to emphasize the way queer people have always had to rely on signals, euphemisms, and a deep sensitivity, a keen eye looking out for anyone who might be a kindred spirit like themselves.
The first 100 pages were a bit slow, but after Laurie meets Ralph, the plot is so twisty and turny that I could hardly put the book down. The Charioteer certainly isn’t for everyone, but it is definitely for me, and I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. I only wish there were a few more chapters…
The first 100 pages were a bit slow, but after Laurie meets Ralph, the plot is so twisty and turny that I could hardly put the book down. The Charioteer certainly isn’t for everyone, but it is definitely for me, and I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time. I only wish there were a few more chapters…
brings me no pleasure to report that this remains the goat