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saazhar's review against another edition
5.0
Having read 10 books by Brookmyre in a row (the first time I read as many books by a single author in an uninterrupted row), I'm a bit drained of emotions and words right now - not because they were a chore, but because of equal parts regret and sadness that this wonderful journey is now over - akin to returning to the dudgeon of routine and home after a wonderful vacation. So apologies, first of all, that this review isn't one of my best or most eloquent.
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Second, this was my first reread of the book - but am rereading it after almost 8 years, I believe. And I have to admit, the sheer amount of plot that survived in my fleeting memory for the last 8 years is testament to how great it is. I read Boiling a Frog at the same time as well, but very little of it sticks with me - whereas this one was a fantastic reread where I could remember some plot elements, but was still amazed by the execution.
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This was the last in a series of reads and rereads of the entire Christopher Brookmyre catalogue that I could get hold of. And it ends on a high - but [b:The Sacred Art of Stealing|289171|The Sacred Art of Stealing|Christopher Brookmyre|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336332841s/289171.jpg|2712216] is still my favorite (perhaps because it was the first Brookmyre I ever read, but nonetheless...it is the only one that does not require knowledge of any of his previous books).
What you need to understand about Brookmyre is that he has three series and a few standalone books. In terms of sheer readability, I would rank the series as follows:
- Angelique de Xavia series - seriously, read The Sacred Art of Stealing!
- Jasmine - also known as the semi-serious Chris Brookmyre series
- Jack Parlabane - I don't mean to make him sound like the worst, but you better have a slight tolerance for Scottish politics to get through the series, particularly the second and third ones. The last - this one - is just a wonderful, superb romp that redeems the entire series.
Having read through all of these in about a span of just over three weeks, in the orders they were meant to be read, I can only say that Tim Vale, a recurring character through all of these series, deserves his own series. Vale is perhaps one of the most enigmatic characters that Brookmyre has churned out so far...but definitely worth delving into his background, but only if it doesn't turn too serious or dark - Brookmyre is at his best when he is sarcastic, caustic and endlessly funny.
---
Second, this was my first reread of the book - but am rereading it after almost 8 years, I believe. And I have to admit, the sheer amount of plot that survived in my fleeting memory for the last 8 years is testament to how great it is. I read Boiling a Frog at the same time as well, but very little of it sticks with me - whereas this one was a fantastic reread where I could remember some plot elements, but was still amazed by the execution.
---
This was the last in a series of reads and rereads of the entire Christopher Brookmyre catalogue that I could get hold of. And it ends on a high - but [b:The Sacred Art of Stealing|289171|The Sacred Art of Stealing|Christopher Brookmyre|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336332841s/289171.jpg|2712216] is still my favorite (perhaps because it was the first Brookmyre I ever read, but nonetheless...it is the only one that does not require knowledge of any of his previous books).
What you need to understand about Brookmyre is that he has three series and a few standalone books. In terms of sheer readability, I would rank the series as follows:
- Angelique de Xavia series - seriously, read The Sacred Art of Stealing!
- Jasmine - also known as the semi-serious Chris Brookmyre series
- Jack Parlabane - I don't mean to make him sound like the worst, but you better have a slight tolerance for Scottish politics to get through the series, particularly the second and third ones. The last - this one - is just a wonderful, superb romp that redeems the entire series.
Having read through all of these in about a span of just over three weeks, in the orders they were meant to be read, I can only say that Tim Vale, a recurring character through all of these series, deserves his own series. Vale is perhaps one of the most enigmatic characters that Brookmyre has churned out so far...but definitely worth delving into his background, but only if it doesn't turn too serious or dark - Brookmyre is at his best when he is sarcastic, caustic and endlessly funny.
kcfromaustcrime's review
4.0
Number 4 in the Jack Parlabane series and silly me thought this would be an excellent audio book to have burbling away in the background whilst I got on with some work around the house. Kept having to stop and listen hard, or lean against a wall because I was laughing so much.
Then there was the meal they served just after the cook left in a huff, and I'm standing in the kitchen thinking about dinner (we had salad). It took me a while.
This is such a funny, clever, ranty series, filled with human and political observation that just seems to stay apt no matter how many times government's change. And the stuff that Jack Parlabane gets up to is enough to make your eyes water.
I've read all these books in the past, but the listening is going really really well. Angus King is an excellent choice of narrator even if it means I'm increasingly of the view that I'm just going to have to listen and bugger the work around the house.
Then there was the meal they served just after the cook left in a huff, and I'm standing in the kitchen thinking about dinner (we had salad). It took me a while.
This is such a funny, clever, ranty series, filled with human and political observation that just seems to stay apt no matter how many times government's change. And the stuff that Jack Parlabane gets up to is enough to make your eyes water.
I've read all these books in the past, but the listening is going really really well. Angus King is an excellent choice of narrator even if it means I'm increasingly of the view that I'm just going to have to listen and bugger the work around the house.
somartin's review
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
colinjclements19's review
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
nothingtosay's review
Ok, technically I read about at least 30-40% of the book by skimming it back and forth while I was reading [book: Quite Ugly One Morning], to get a glimpse of what's happening later in the universe. I am happy to say I know I won't be disappointed.
andrew_russell's review
2.0
I had to carefully consider whether or not this was worthy of three stars, (which in my eyes means 'an okay book but nothing spectacular') or whether it should be downgraded to 2 stars ('edging towards complete crap but with one or two redeeming features'). In the end I opted for the latter.
I expected great things from this book and it failed to deliver in every aspect. Firstly the quality of writing is poor, leading me to be frequently confused over who was speaking or performing an action and contains sentences which not only contributed nought but made no sense. Did Brookmyre even read this before it was sent to the publisher? This is the most contributory factor to the two star rating, as it puts me off a book from the get go. It really did come across as being written by the winner of a creative writing competition; with one entry. The use of the first person, then third person, the lazy vocabulary (which I got the impression was actually intended to enhance the reading experience) and the terribly written Anglo-Scottish dialect, with gaunnae, wasnae etc, (strange that this was written by a Scotsman) all led me on the path towards this conclusion.
Secondly, the storyline was pretty lame; a safari to hunt and kill some lefties, run by some nutter and foiled by a journalist. Great. That's about as compelling as a story of a panda, sent on a rocket to the moon to find bananas for the chimp colony on Mars. There's an idea of another novel for Mr. Brookmyre. I expected a gorefest and instead was given something which was considerably less gory than a visit to my local butcher to purchase a hough of ham. In terms of predicting the outcome of the story, it is slightly easier to predict than the answer to the question: A bear shits in the woods. Is this statement a) true b) false. The only surprising element was how bad it was.
Finally, the characterizations are crass, one sided versions of real people, making it read like panto. There's posh twat Rory, dry as an old digestive Parlabane, absent minded Lachlan, hard ticket Ger, socially inept Grieg....need I carry on? The fact that the characters can be entirely described in two or three words says it all really. The worst one is Shiach; the most one sided villain (I'd call these people two dimensional, but I'd be extending my generosity beyond its limits)since Captain Hook.
I gave it two stars, rather than one ('a work entirely composed of crap') due to the three or four genuine laugh out loud moments. Trying to find this was a bit like Helen Flanagan trying to get stars for her team mates on 'I'm a celebrity' - she had to go through some amount of muck and only came out with one star. When a funny line was located, it was more often than not quiet chuckle funny, rather than the oft claimed and seldom fulfilled laugh out loud funny, which I expected. I think there were so few laugh out loud lines that a camel could count them on the toes of one leg.
Overall, this a poorly written, poorly conceived, lame-ass story, with child like characterizations. If it wasn't for the funny line every hundred pages or so, it would be just below 'Noddy Goes to School' on my reading list.
I expected great things from this book and it failed to deliver in every aspect. Firstly the quality of writing is poor, leading me to be frequently confused over who was speaking or performing an action and contains sentences which not only contributed nought but made no sense. Did Brookmyre even read this before it was sent to the publisher? This is the most contributory factor to the two star rating, as it puts me off a book from the get go. It really did come across as being written by the winner of a creative writing competition; with one entry. The use of the first person, then third person, the lazy vocabulary (which I got the impression was actually intended to enhance the reading experience) and the terribly written Anglo-Scottish dialect, with gaunnae, wasnae etc, (strange that this was written by a Scotsman) all led me on the path towards this conclusion.
Secondly, the storyline was pretty lame; a safari to hunt and kill some lefties, run by some nutter and foiled by a journalist. Great. That's about as compelling as a story of a panda, sent on a rocket to the moon to find bananas for the chimp colony on Mars. There's an idea of another novel for Mr. Brookmyre. I expected a gorefest and instead was given something which was considerably less gory than a visit to my local butcher to purchase a hough of ham. In terms of predicting the outcome of the story, it is slightly easier to predict than the answer to the question: A bear shits in the woods. Is this statement a) true b) false. The only surprising element was how bad it was.
Finally, the characterizations are crass, one sided versions of real people, making it read like panto. There's posh twat Rory, dry as an old digestive Parlabane, absent minded Lachlan, hard ticket Ger, socially inept Grieg....need I carry on? The fact that the characters can be entirely described in two or three words says it all really. The worst one is Shiach; the most one sided villain (I'd call these people two dimensional, but I'd be extending my generosity beyond its limits)since Captain Hook.
I gave it two stars, rather than one ('a work entirely composed of crap') due to the three or four genuine laugh out loud moments. Trying to find this was a bit like Helen Flanagan trying to get stars for her team mates on 'I'm a celebrity' - she had to go through some amount of muck and only came out with one star. When a funny line was located, it was more often than not quiet chuckle funny, rather than the oft claimed and seldom fulfilled laugh out loud funny, which I expected. I think there were so few laugh out loud lines that a camel could count them on the toes of one leg.
Overall, this a poorly written, poorly conceived, lame-ass story, with child like characterizations. If it wasn't for the funny line every hundred pages or so, it would be just below 'Noddy Goes to School' on my reading list.
andrew61's review
4.0
After the events of Boiling a frog Jack Parlabane appears to be avoiding confrontation and is invited to do a scoop on a team building weekend in a remote Scottish country hotel and it expected that he will cast his caustic and critical eye on the ideas of business management. What could go wrong ?
Well don't expect a quiet read as a series of villainous right wing individuals create mayhem and the body increases in dramatically bloody and comic ways. Not for the faint hearted but incredibly black comedy , definitely a favourite series.
Well don't expect a quiet read as a series of villainous right wing individuals create mayhem and the body increases in dramatically bloody and comic ways. Not for the faint hearted but incredibly black comedy , definitely a favourite series.
minotaursmaze's review
4.0
The rants the rants, but then I giggle like a loon and all is forgiven.
Lots of disturbing headless bodies.
Lots of disturbing headless bodies.
calicocatkin's review
4.0
3.5 Not his strongest, takes a wee while to get going but a fun romp once it does.