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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Waugh revels in carving up the foolish, bumbling, wasteful clods who populated foreign affairs newsrooms in the early 20th century. Some of the casual racism throughout the narrative is kind of shocking, but then again, I imagine that's precisely the language used by reporters at that time. For all its seemingly out-dated plot devices (like the reliance on the news wire), the novel still remains relevant in revealing just how crass, exploitative, and flat-out silly the news can be. I couldn't help but wonder what Waugh would make of amateur bloggers, talking head cable news "journalists," or those reporters who race ahead of hurricanes and tornadoes just to be in the midst of the storm--all sound and fury, all entertaining fluff for bored middle class stiffs in their living rooms. The best line in the novel: "News is what a chap who doesn't care much about anything wants to read. And it's only news until he reads it. After that it's dead." With the coming of cable and the Internet news outlets, that line remains as true as ever.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This books’ main theme is misinformation. Starting from a misunderstanding with an identity to a war in Ishmaelia. Ishmaelia is a country in Africa which was supposed to be ravaged by war. To gain a scoop, each media outlet sent foreign affair journalists. The journalists were misinformed about everything in Ishmaelia and there appeared no war. The only (cold) war can be found between two counsels in England. The war itself was meant by the Ishmaelia government meant to create disinformation to make the country seem unprofitable to hide mountain with gold.
The treatment of journalists and their pay was an undercurrent of the book. The way in which news and information is found and spread provided the narrative. The book was nonetheless poorly written. As there were multiple perspectives, the transitions between them was poor which ironically helped create the theme of misinformation.
The treatment of journalists and their pay was an undercurrent of the book. The way in which news and information is found and spread provided the narrative. The book was nonetheless poorly written. As there were multiple perspectives, the transitions between them was poor which ironically helped create the theme of misinformation.
An interesting read and a lot can be gained when reading this through a modern lens.
Despite grimacing through the blatant racism and at times, rampant displays of privilege - it is an enjoyable and entertaining satire on Fleet Street journalism in the 1930s. It makes me thankful to realise how far the industry has come today.
You can read more of my thoughts and a full review here: https://medium.com/books-are-our-superpower/unpacking-scoop-by-evelyn-waugh-for-modern-readers-bda8a8efb9b8?sk=37583e8c171f2cdb2cfda62a76743a3d
Despite grimacing through the blatant racism and at times, rampant displays of privilege - it is an enjoyable and entertaining satire on Fleet Street journalism in the 1930s. It makes me thankful to realise how far the industry has come today.
You can read more of my thoughts and a full review here: https://medium.com/books-are-our-superpower/unpacking-scoop-by-evelyn-waugh-for-modern-readers-bda8a8efb9b8?sk=37583e8c171f2cdb2cfda62a76743a3d
Evelyn Waugh is not the kind of author you come to to escape the far-reaching racism of the British elite. The story contains hundreds of racial slurs and reduces POC characters to painful caricatures.
Four stars for the story, but I have to take a star away for the racism. My impression of Waugh is that he had a deft touch as a writer, but was a bit of a nasty piece of work as a human being.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No