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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
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
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Look, I did listen to this on audiobook and thus faded in and out of sleep whilst reading (may have lost three quarters of the actual events haha....) but, given its age, this is a really decent read. Reminds me of Maurice but with a more lighthearted classicist twist on a historical fiction novel. The relationships between each character felt decently fleshed out but the ending with its misunderstanding trope somewhat frustrated me in the sense that I felt simply like it was trying to generate more tension for the resolution (instead, it just got on my nerves). That being said the ending was still adorable and sweet and I would like to reread this book on another summer morning when I'm not a sleep deprived student.
It's almost entirely Cat Sebastian's doing that I finally read this book, and now I'm questioning why I waited so long. At the same time, I truly don't think The Charioteer would have hit so hard had I not read it at this time. This novel provides a look into different aspects of queerness and queer culture in the mid twentieth century, with characters who are so human for their contradictory feelings and wants and fears. The three men at the heart of the story were compelling in different ways, and one thing I truly appreciated about this novel is that it does have an optimistically happy ending, even though getting there results in some heartache. Admittedly, there were certain things that went over my head at times, and Renault's tendency to imply the meaning of events took some additional thought to fully understand, but wow. So, so glad I read this, especially after just finishing We Could Be So Good.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
WOW. Stunned by this book. Cannot believe it was written in 1950s. So much tension from beginning to end. Characters felt complex and flawed. Dialogue is fascinating. No one says exactly what they mean and the push and pull of that is present the entire book. Short novel about gay men during WWII.
I hated the way this book categorised gay men as either good and discrete or contemptuous flamboyent queens. Laurie, Ralph and Andrew are put in a positive light, they're masculine and quiet. The villains are the bitchy, effeminate gays who are doomed to misery and self destruction. Despite the plaudits this book gets for being an early example depicting gay love, it's laced with homophobia.
Beyond that, it was also hard to follow at times for the sheer amount that's left to be interpreted between the lines.
Beyond that, it was also hard to follow at times for the sheer amount that's left to be interpreted between the lines.
adventurous
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:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I just know Andrew would've loved Sufjan Stevens
This js definitely a well written book but I think I was overhyped and didn’t really enjoy it as much as I wanted to.
This book reminds me a lot of Maurice tbh and that’s why I picked it up. But although there’s a lot of similar themes it’s a comepltey different experience.
The whole book is very slow, most the book is spent in the hospital. That could be a turnoff for most. And the romance is very slow too, which was my main gripe is that as a romance novel the romance isn’t as prevalent.
But I did like the characters a lot (besides Andrew) so I kept reading. I think my main gripe is the two love interest drama I really wish it just focused on one, as the romance aspects were already lacking for me.
It’s very much an older queer read, more melo dramatic with less fluffy romance and more angst and such. I think I’ve read too many of these lol.
Not saying the romance aspects are bad, because when they are featured it’s more impactful and emotional. And I was rooting for Laurie to end up with his endgame so it doesn’t fail as a romance.
But also despite how well written the prose and such is I don’t think there’s enough emotion behind the characters, and most of the book just feels like filler. I think if I didn’t like Laurie’s character so much I would and didn’t have such an interest in classic queer literature I would have dropped this.
I think the book took way too long to get interesting for me but the last quarter was worth it. I think I you treat it more as a character study than a romance you’d enjoy it.
I don’t think I’d read any of Renault’s works after this though.
This book reminds me a lot of Maurice tbh and that’s why I picked it up. But although there’s a lot of similar themes it’s a comepltey different experience.
The whole book is very slow, most the book is spent in the hospital. That could be a turnoff for most. And the romance is very slow too, which was my main gripe is that as a romance novel the romance isn’t as prevalent.
But I did like the characters a lot (besides Andrew) so I kept reading. I think my main gripe is the two love interest drama I really wish it just focused on one, as the romance aspects were already lacking for me.
It’s very much an older queer read, more melo dramatic with less fluffy romance and more angst and such. I think I’ve read too many of these lol.
Not saying the romance aspects are bad, because when they are featured it’s more impactful and emotional. And I was rooting for Laurie to end up with his endgame so it doesn’t fail as a romance.
But also despite how well written the prose and such is I don’t think there’s enough emotion behind the characters, and most of the book just feels like filler. I think if I didn’t like Laurie’s character so much I would and didn’t have such an interest in classic queer literature I would have dropped this.
I think the book took way too long to get interesting for me but the last quarter was worth it. I think I you treat it more as a character study than a romance you’d enjoy it.
I don’t think I’d read any of Renault’s works after this though.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes