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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
3.5 stars.
'Scoop' is a satire and spoof on sensationalist journalism. I enjoy Waugh's prose, which is full of winning descriptions, and his sense of humor is once again incontrovertible, but this book is not without its rampant racism and a mediocre group of supporting characters.
Popsugar 2016: A satirical book (x)
'Scoop' is a satire and spoof on sensationalist journalism. I enjoy Waugh's prose, which is full of winning descriptions, and his sense of humor is once again incontrovertible, but this book is not without its rampant racism and a mediocre group of supporting characters.
Popsugar 2016: A satirical book (x)
Scoop is a satirical novel about journalism, with cases of mistaken identity, ineptitude and a scathing insight into the news industry from Evelyn Waugh, someone who worked as a journalist for many years. Although I did chuckle half-heartedly a couple of times, I would say that calling it 'comedic' is a bit of an exaggeration.
The racist, anti-Semitic and misogynist language made for very uncomfortable reading. Other critics will inevitably say it's all about context, which I can appreciate, but for me personally, this significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. I'm also aware that, even in the time of writing Evelyn Waugh's views were considered controversial (George Orwell called his opinions 'untenable').
Moreover, I just found it utterly, utterly boring. I had convinced myself that the pace would pick up once they reached the fictional country of Ishmaelia, but I was sorely disappointed, as, if anything, it became even more tedious. It didn't have anything particularly to contribute to my perception of journalism that I didn't already know.
The plot was very farcical, but if it's a farce you're looking for, I would direct you immediately to Jeeves and Wooster, which is far, far funnier and less offensive. Overall, not for me and I won't be in a hurry to pick up any more of Waugh's work in the near future.
The racist, anti-Semitic and misogynist language made for very uncomfortable reading. Other critics will inevitably say it's all about context, which I can appreciate, but for me personally, this significantly detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. I'm also aware that, even in the time of writing Evelyn Waugh's views were considered controversial (George Orwell called his opinions 'untenable').
Moreover, I just found it utterly, utterly boring. I had convinced myself that the pace would pick up once they reached the fictional country of Ishmaelia, but I was sorely disappointed, as, if anything, it became even more tedious. It didn't have anything particularly to contribute to my perception of journalism that I didn't already know.
The plot was very farcical, but if it's a farce you're looking for, I would direct you immediately to Jeeves and Wooster, which is far, far funnier and less offensive. Overall, not for me and I won't be in a hurry to pick up any more of Waugh's work in the near future.
I love Waugh's droll English humour and satirical style.
This is a story about journalism - both real and imaginary. It is also a story about class and race and ever so slightly about gender and even more slightly about love.
To my mind, the scene that sums up the comment about journalism is when Corker is telling the very green William Boot a story about Jakes, another reporter.
Jakes is on the way to the site of a conflict, oversleeps on the train and gets off at the wrong station. Nevertheless, he wires his report of barricades and general carnage back to the paper. They note the unexpected origin of the telegram but splash the story anyway. "Government stocks dropped, financial panic, state of emergency declared, army mobilised, famine, mutiny and in less than a week there WAS an honest to God revolution under way, just as Jakes had said. There's the power of the press for you."
This is a story about journalism - both real and imaginary. It is also a story about class and race and ever so slightly about gender and even more slightly about love.
To my mind, the scene that sums up the comment about journalism is when Corker is telling the very green William Boot a story about Jakes, another reporter.
Jakes is on the way to the site of a conflict, oversleeps on the train and gets off at the wrong station. Nevertheless, he wires his report of barricades and general carnage back to the paper. They note the unexpected origin of the telegram but splash the story anyway. "Government stocks dropped, financial panic, state of emergency declared, army mobilised, famine, mutiny and in less than a week there WAS an honest to God revolution under way, just as Jakes had said. There's the power of the press for you."
2.5 stars.
I went into this with mild expectations, and that's about where I landed. There was one laugh-out-loud moment early on, and I generally appreciated the dry satire (which feels particularly relevant today). But, overall, the story didn't pull me in.
The tone and language are clever, and I can see Waugh's skill, but William's endless bumbling dragged the middle of the book down. I found myself getting bored by how long his incompetence was stretched without much to break it up.
Things finally got more interesting near the end, with some events that picked up the pace, but by then, my attention had mostly waned. I get what Waugh was going for, and while it's well-executed in that sense, it just didn't do much for me.
I went into this with mild expectations, and that's about where I landed. There was one laugh-out-loud moment early on, and I generally appreciated the dry satire (which feels particularly relevant today). But, overall, the story didn't pull me in.
The tone and language are clever, and I can see Waugh's skill, but William's endless bumbling dragged the middle of the book down. I found myself getting bored by how long his incompetence was stretched without much to break it up.
Things finally got more interesting near the end, with some events that picked up the pace, but by then, my attention had mostly waned. I get what Waugh was going for, and while it's well-executed in that sense, it just didn't do much for me.
adventurous
funny
reflective
slow-paced
I read this because it was mentioned in Hate Inc as an accurate and funny portrayal of journalism.
It was hilarious and well written.
The farcical nature of the story was put together perfect. I can see why Hate Inc brought it up as an example. I could see real life examples of journalists making up stories from nothing, or writing a mundane story to sound like the end of the world that were no more crazy than Waugh wrote for fiction.
You do have to get past some language and attitudes towards race and people groups which are not ok.
It was hilarious and well written.
The farcical nature of the story was put together perfect. I can see why Hate Inc brought it up as an example. I could see real life examples of journalists making up stories from nothing, or writing a mundane story to sound like the end of the world that were no more crazy than Waugh wrote for fiction.
You do have to get past some language and attitudes towards race and people groups which are not ok.
Fun and fast read. A window in the era of the glamorous and adventurous journalism with heavy elements of parody
It almost goes without saying that this book is problematic in the extreme. Its use of slurs and stereotypes to depict the peoples and customs semi-fictional African nation does NOT age well. Waugh was, however, an equal opportunity offender, and his willingness to lampoon the British gentry for their hidebound uselessness and the Western journalists/journalism for their/its hyper-fixation on sensation at all costs (hmmm, sound familiar?) is something of a tonic against his racial bigotry and tone-deaf send ups.
A satirical look at journalism.
I preferred [b:A Handful of Dust|531262|A Handful of Dust|Evelyn Waugh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344266314l/531262._SY75_.jpg|3115332], quite simply. Waugh's inherent racism shone through here, and while I generally try to put my own distaste aside and focus more on the text, I couldn't do that with this book.
I preferred [b:A Handful of Dust|531262|A Handful of Dust|Evelyn Waugh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1344266314l/531262._SY75_.jpg|3115332], quite simply. Waugh's inherent racism shone through here, and while I generally try to put my own distaste aside and focus more on the text, I couldn't do that with this book.