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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
http://nhw.livejournal.com/853097.html[return][return]Having read and enjoyed The Warden last summer, I asked for and got this as a birthday present. Hmm, not really sure what I think. I found the politics rather more objectionable than in the previous book - most of the central characters just want to do nothing in particular and get rewarded for it by the state, and there seemed a lot of casual anti-semitism which put me off. But this is slightly off-set by the glamorous Signora Neroni, a woman with a Past who nonetheless seems to me to be portrayed positively and sympathetically. And the unexpected beneficiary of her schemes turns out to be the quiet character who has just turned 40, a theme that appeals to me right now (and indeed Trollope himself turned 40 while writing this book). But Obadiah Slope is such a cardboard cut-out of a villain that I suspect Alan Rickman's brilliant portrayal of him in 1982 was better-rounded. And I didn't like the author's occasional interventions to remind you that he is writing a novel and has to fill up the pages somehow. I'll look out for the other volumes in the series as I see them, but won't bother putting them on my wishlist in future.
Another warm, charming, sometimes laugh-out-loud funny domestic comedy from Trollope. I can see why this is known as his funniest book. The unique personalities of all the priests in this Ecclesiastical Battle Royale make for much scheming and hilarity. He reminds me of Dickens in this novel - especially in his parodist naming- the large-familied Mr Quiverfull, the farmer Mr Greenacre, and the social-climbing Mrs Lookaloft. The slimy Obadiah Slope is reminiscent of Uriah Heap. Coupled with all of this parody we also get Trollope's keen insights into human nature and truths about life. Classic-lover's comfort reading for sure.
Barchester Towers is a follow up to Warden in Chronicles of Barsetshire. I enjoyed it so much more than the first book in the series. Chronicles of Barsetshire is Victorian book series taking place in the countryside of England. The first two books cover up the same characters and their lives, and I found myself so much more entertained with the characters than I did in the first book. Anthony Trollope's writing style is definitely witty and funny and this book had some very hilarious and entertaining characters. Especially the female characters were funny, annoying and lovely as always. I am definitely continuing with the series in the near future because I really enjoyed this book.
This is the kind of book that keeps a smile on my face while I am reading it. I love the ongoing commentary of the narrator, especially about the novel itself. A fun read for sure.
Excellent :-D
Who could have thought there's so much going on in a small town clerical circles :-D (Now, I don't think it's that small a town, having all these positions, but it feels like a village :-D)
And it's funny, witty, easy read, very enjoyable.
And now I just HAVE to find the 1982 TV series... Alan Rickman as Obadiah Slope and Susan Hampshire as La Signora :-D
Who could have thought there's so much going on in a small town clerical circles :-D (Now, I don't think it's that small a town, having all these positions, but it feels like a village :-D)
And it's funny, witty, easy read, very enjoyable.
And now I just HAVE to find the 1982 TV series... Alan Rickman as Obadiah Slope and Susan Hampshire as La Signora :-D
This novel tells the tale of a variety of colourful characters in the fictional cathedral town of Barchester, surrounding in particular the arrival of the new bishop, the hen-pecked Dr Prodie. This book follows the intrigues of ambition and power struggles within the Church.
First off, this book is very stereotypically English and old-fashioned. Its sense of irony, its very descriptive depiction of corruption and hypocrisy, the well-drawn out characters - I thought it was wonderful, as I can relate to people and situations like this. Although the novel centers around intrigues within the cathedral, the situations could equally well be translated to other areas of life because it is really about normal everyday occurrences.
As I've said already, the characters help to bring this book to life, and you find yourself learning to love them, despite their faults. The bumbling bishop is loveable in his own way. The Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni, who seems to be able to ensnare all men and arouse the hatred and jealously of all women by holding court on a large sofa, does have a heart and helps a blossoming love affair to flourish. Even the "baddie", Mr Slope, is so well portrayed that you can feel some sympathy for him when things don't go his way.
This book is part of a series known as the Barchester Chronicles, and I think this one has certainly whetted my appetite to find out more about these wonderful characters...
First off, this book is very stereotypically English and old-fashioned. Its sense of irony, its very descriptive depiction of corruption and hypocrisy, the well-drawn out characters - I thought it was wonderful, as I can relate to people and situations like this. Although the novel centers around intrigues within the cathedral, the situations could equally well be translated to other areas of life because it is really about normal everyday occurrences.
As I've said already, the characters help to bring this book to life, and you find yourself learning to love them, despite their faults. The bumbling bishop is loveable in his own way. The Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni, who seems to be able to ensnare all men and arouse the hatred and jealously of all women by holding court on a large sofa, does have a heart and helps a blossoming love affair to flourish. Even the "baddie", Mr Slope, is so well portrayed that you can feel some sympathy for him when things don't go his way.
This book is part of a series known as the Barchester Chronicles, and I think this one has certainly whetted my appetite to find out more about these wonderful characters...
"There is no happiness in love, except at the end of an English novel."
This second book in the Chronicles of Barchester series was excellent. It was slow in the beginning, as things were being setup, and I was worried it would get too bogged down in the inner workings of the church, which I don't know a lot about, but that was not the case. There was a lot about the church, but there was much more than that.
Trollope has a way of writing characters that I despise but that I'm also curious about. There were few characters in this story that I truly liked, but even those that I hated I wanted to know more about. They were so well done.
If you like classic novels at all and haven't tried any Trollope, give these a try. They're fascinating and fun reads.
funny
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
This is a well done audio production, narrated by Stephen Thorne, who does some of the voices in a way reminiscent of the BBC TV series of the same story (which I saw before reading this, and I highly recommend).
However, when he is taking the part of the omniscient narrator, his voice is slightly mocking in a way that I find irritating. (The omniscient-narrator *is* taking a mocking attitude, I just didn't like the voice the reader chose.)
However, when he is taking the part of the omniscient narrator, his voice is slightly mocking in a way that I find irritating. (The omniscient-narrator *is* taking a mocking attitude, I just didn't like the voice the reader chose.)
"Out with the old and in with the new" is the principle that the characters in the novel fight over. The setting being the Church of England. However, the plot and the setting are take a back seat over the richness of characters. One of the most reviling character that I have ever com across, Mr Slope, becomes even more so in comparison with the benevolent and meek Mr Harding. But the reader looks forward to the incidents of Mr Slope much more so than any character.
Well written and especially enjoyed some of the direct addresses to the reader. However found these to be a drag towards the end.
Well written and especially enjoyed some of the direct addresses to the reader. However found these to be a drag towards the end.