isaexcel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
albon's review against another edition
4.0
2016 review:
This review is just a long rant. There are a lot of spoilers, so I'll give you a tl;dr: This book fell flat for me after the first half, but I related a lot to Sebastian Flyte and I will carry his character with me for years to come. And for that, I'm grateful to this book.
What! Happened! To! Sebastian! Flyte!?
This was a roller coaster. I absolutely adored the first half of the book. And then the second half happened and it made me want to pull out my eyelashes, one by one. I mean it wasn't horrible, the writing was still good, but I just didn't like any of the characters anymore. Cordelia wasn't really in it, Sebastian was dying somewhere (Team Reunite Anthony&Sebastian 2k16), and Charles turned into the biggest ass (he literally didn't give a shit about seeing his daughter for the first time). Julia was okay, but the romance between her and Charles was just too dragged out and all over the place. It was realistic I guess, but I just couldn't stand them together. And it's not just because I thought Sebastian and Charles should be together (precious Sebastian shouldn't have to be stuck with a dipshit like Charles). Don't get me wrong, if you try to tell me Charles was straight I will laugh in your face, but most of all I just hated how Charles relationship with Sebastian's family ruined his (romantic) friendship with Sebastian. (It's literally described as a romantic friendship at one point. I'm not making this up). I know that was kinda the plot of the book, but I'm gonna complain about it anyway.
Sebastian Flyte is probably one of the characters I have related the most to in my life. At one point in this book he's drunk and saying some not so nice things to Charles, and when Charles protests he goes "If it's any consolation, I detest myself." Charles of course tells him that that's not really a consolation. I've literally had that exact same conversation with someone one time when I was drunk. I won't go into too much detail because it's personal (and I don't think anyone is actually reading this anyway), but that moment just made me put down the book and go "Wow. Is that really what I'm like?" It was strange. But I suppose it's healthy with a bit of self reflection now and then.
So the second half of this book didn't live up to the great beginning, but I'm still very happy I finally read it, and maybe someday I'll reread it and think differently.
This review is just a long rant. There are a lot of spoilers, so I'll give you a tl;dr: This book fell flat for me after the first half, but I related a lot to Sebastian Flyte and I will carry his character with me for years to come. And for that, I'm grateful to this book.
What! Happened! To! Sebastian! Flyte!?
This was a roller coaster. I absolutely adored the first half of the book. And then the second half happened and it made me want to pull out my eyelashes, one by one. I mean it wasn't horrible, the writing was still good, but I just didn't like any of the characters anymore. Cordelia wasn't really in it, Sebastian was dying somewhere (Team Reunite Anthony&Sebastian 2k16), and Charles turned into the biggest ass (he literally didn't give a shit about seeing his daughter for the first time). Julia was okay, but the romance between her and Charles was just too dragged out and all over the place. It was realistic I guess, but I just couldn't stand them together. And it's not just because I thought Sebastian and Charles should be together (precious Sebastian shouldn't have to be stuck with a dipshit like Charles). Don't get me wrong, if you try to tell me Charles was straight I will laugh in your face, but most of all I just hated how Charles relationship with Sebastian's family ruined his (romantic) friendship with Sebastian. (It's literally described as a romantic friendship at one point. I'm not making this up). I know that was kinda the plot of the book, but I'm gonna complain about it anyway.
Sebastian Flyte is probably one of the characters I have related the most to in my life. At one point in this book he's drunk and saying some not so nice things to Charles, and when Charles protests he goes "If it's any consolation, I detest myself." Charles of course tells him that that's not really a consolation. I've literally had that exact same conversation with someone one time when I was drunk. I won't go into too much detail because it's personal (and I don't think anyone is actually reading this anyway), but that moment just made me put down the book and go "Wow. Is that really what I'm like?" It was strange. But I suppose it's healthy with a bit of self reflection now and then.
So the second half of this book didn't live up to the great beginning, but I'm still very happy I finally read it, and maybe someday I'll reread it and think differently.
schnemelflie's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
andrewmcloughlin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jacqueline444's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure why I'm rating this a four... But I am... Maybe a 3.75?
I have wanted to read this book ever since I found out the reason my father's middle name (much to his disappointment) was Evelyn was because Evelyn Waugh was one of my grandmother's favourite writers.
The style of writing is very old school and very wordy. This is one reason I don't often read 'classics', because I find wading through the literary style of another era rather wearying. That said, I kept coming back to this book.
It was an interesting view into another era, into the floundering noble world in the 20s. I found Ryder's relationship with his wife and children quite shocking but, in hindsight, probably fitting for the time and social class. Still, it was very foreign to the modern notion of marriage.
In the end, I can't tell you what drew me to the story but something did. I found myself thinking about the characters while not reading it but at the same time I felt like I was plodding through the prose when I was.
I don't know... Perhaps I am as odd as the eccentric Marchmains themselves.
I have wanted to read this book ever since I found out the reason my father's middle name (much to his disappointment) was Evelyn was because Evelyn Waugh was one of my grandmother's favourite writers.
The style of writing is very old school and very wordy. This is one reason I don't often read 'classics', because I find wading through the literary style of another era rather wearying. That said, I kept coming back to this book.
It was an interesting view into another era, into the floundering noble world in the 20s. I found Ryder's relationship with his wife and children quite shocking but, in hindsight, probably fitting for the time and social class. Still, it was very foreign to the modern notion of marriage.
In the end, I can't tell you what drew me to the story but something did. I found myself thinking about the characters while not reading it but at the same time I felt like I was plodding through the prose when I was.
I don't know... Perhaps I am as odd as the eccentric Marchmains themselves.
camix_2000's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
minnaohrner's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
2.25
postmodernblues's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.25
"'No,' I said, 'not what it was built for. Perhaps that's one of the pleasures of building, like having a son, wondering how he'll grow up. I don't know; I never built anything, and I forfeited the right to watch my son grow up. I'm homeless, childless, middle-aged, loveless, Hooper." - Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited, page 350
Me while reading an Evelyn Waugh book: man, these two guys are assholes. I wonder if they've ever explored each others' bodies.
Unbearable English-ness and spiritual desolation. What more can you want?
Me while reading an Evelyn Waugh book: man, these two guys are assholes. I wonder if they've ever explored each others' bodies.
Unbearable English-ness and spiritual desolation. What more can you want?
grac_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75