Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I really wanted to like this book, but I found it very slow going.
The writing and prose far surpasses the actual story. However beautiful and poignant, the characters and plot sometimes feel stifled and — at times — unnecessarily drawn-out.
But it is the powerful writing style and masterful prose that elevates this book and adds an undercurrent of philosophical beauty.
War is brutal. It is terrifying. Uncertain. And heartbreaking. It was worse for the gay men and women who bravely served their nations. They faced the enemy, and fought for freedom and justice, while being denied all those rights. They sacrificed everything and gained nothing to save our world with the hope that one dat we would all be equals.
But it is the powerful writing style and masterful prose that elevates this book and adds an undercurrent of philosophical beauty.
War is brutal. It is terrifying. Uncertain. And heartbreaking. It was worse for the gay men and women who bravely served their nations. They faced the enemy, and fought for freedom and justice, while being denied all those rights. They sacrificed everything and gained nothing to save our world with the hope that one dat we would all be equals.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
So up until very recently I thought this was about an actual charioteer (because I knew Mary Renault wrote historical fiction set in ancient Greece.) When I realized the book is set during WWII I decided I needed to finally read it. I agree with all of the reviews that it's beautifully written, and that the characters, especially Laurie, are quite real: everyone has strengths and flaws, and can be wise and then foolish within the span of moments. But the subtlety was sometimes a struggle; there were a number of scenes when I felt that something was being implied, and I wasn't sure if understood the cultural cues well enough to make the right assumptions.
The Charioteer is one of the more optimistic gay classics I have read so far, for example, compared to Giovanni's Room I found it shed a more sympathetic light on the spectrum of gay characters and had a more optimistic outlook. Despite the plot taking place in the UK during the World War II, the characters were remarkably modern, realistic and sympathetic. The war itself was not the central topic of the book, it focused more on the interpersonal relationships between the characters and the effects of the war and the closet on their psyches and personalities, which made it timeless. The book contained quite a few gay characters, some of which were sympathetic, while others were antipathetic, however most of them were relatable in one way or another.
My only quibble about the book was the use of British colloquial style which by itself was not something I dislike, however combined with a lot of British and war phrases and words of that period, it made me feel like I did not fully grasp all the nuances and the subtext of certain sentences. Reading the book on a kindle was useful, since I could highlight certain words or acronyms and get their definitions, although that does not really help with whole sentences. Overall, I would definitely recommend it and I plan on rereading it sometimes. I think it is helpful for putting things into perspective and adding a bit of optimism to today's cynicism.
My only quibble about the book was the use of British colloquial style which by itself was not something I dislike, however combined with a lot of British and war phrases and words of that period, it made me feel like I did not fully grasp all the nuances and the subtext of certain sentences. Reading the book on a kindle was useful, since I could highlight certain words or acronyms and get their definitions, although that does not really help with whole sentences. Overall, I would definitely recommend it and I plan on rereading it sometimes. I think it is helpful for putting things into perspective and adding a bit of optimism to today's cynicism.
The ending was quite frustrating for me.
It was also difficult for me to understand the book, but that's because it's old. Not because it's poorly written.
It was also difficult for me to understand the book, but that's because it's old. Not because it's poorly written.
I love this book, I really, really do. It's my second time reading it - the first was at the start of my first year at uni, and as I am entering my last, it seemed appropriate to do a re-read. I am now the same age as Laurie, and I think I like him a little less but I appriciate him more as a protagonist. And well, it did make me cry at three AM, so there is certainly that.
challenging
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:
Yes
Gay love triangle in 1940 Bristol: a wounded soldier, a navy officer he worshipped at school, and a conscientious objector working at the hospital where he's a patient. Lots of uniforms, parties, blackouts, and kissing. A classic for a reason (and a favourite book of the characters in Cat Sebastian's We Could Be So Good), so gay and so well-written. Full of misogyny, femmephobia, and casual imperialism, so I would not recommend it to young queers just starting out. Alec Deacon needs his own series.