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carolinerd's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Maurice Swift wants to become a successful writer and will do whatever it takes to achieve this. He ingratiates himself with influential people in the literary world, exploiting and manipulating them then callously casting them aside when they have served their purpose. He steals other writers' stories and passes them off as his own. He is a fascinatingly loathsome sociopath who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. His behaviour becomes more and more twisted as the novel progresses. Just when you think you have seen it all, he shocks you again.
It paints an interesting picture of the literary/publishing world, capturing the rivalries and bitchiness, the pretentiousness and snobbery and the obsession with literary prizes. The cutting exchanges between Maurice and the other characters are quite funny at times.
Actually, Maurice isn't the most horrible character in the book. Watch out for Rebecca, his sister-in-law, who is even more hateful and toxic. Then there is Maja, a particularly unpleasant creative writing student and Erich, the elderly author who grew up in Nazi Germany and has a chilling secret. I can't remember the last time I read a book with so many unlikeable characters in.
It is certainly a dark, disturbing read but also utterly compelling.
It paints an interesting picture of the literary/publishing world, capturing the rivalries and bitchiness, the pretentiousness and snobbery and the obsession with literary prizes. The cutting exchanges between Maurice and the other characters are quite funny at times.
Actually, Maurice isn't the most horrible character in the book. Watch out for Rebecca, his sister-in-law, who is even more hateful and toxic. Then there is Maja, a particularly unpleasant creative writing student and Erich, the elderly author who grew up in Nazi Germany and has a chilling secret. I can't remember the last time I read a book with so many unlikeable characters in.
It is certainly a dark, disturbing read but also utterly compelling.
melmac79's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mellkayy's review against another edition
- guys, John Boyne is a genius and I think he’s one of my new favourite authors.
I read this in March (I am SO far behind on reviews), and I LOVED IT!
This book is about an aspiring writer, Maurice Swift, who will do just about anything to get published. This was such a compelling, thrilling read that I just couldn’t put down. Boyne is a master storyteller.
If you haven’t read this, DO IT! And pick up The Heart’s Invisible Furies while you’re at it
I read this in March (I am SO far behind on reviews), and I LOVED IT!
This book is about an aspiring writer, Maurice Swift, who will do just about anything to get published. This was such a compelling, thrilling read that I just couldn’t put down. Boyne is a master storyteller.
If you haven’t read this, DO IT! And pick up The Heart’s Invisible Furies while you’re at it
kellyth's review against another edition
4.25
had no idea what to expect from this but just read it cause john boyne and he didn't let me down. so tense and a lot darker than i was expecting but great story. that gd ending
loling at the amount of times the author made fun of US schools for having metal detectors. like cmon
loling at the amount of times the author made fun of US schools for having metal detectors. like cmon
zenjief's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dethruki's review against another edition
2.0
The two stars this one earned is mostly for the interesting way the story is told, and the first portion being decent.
I was disturbed to find in a book I thought was about queer people the only character I liked ended up being the cishet Edith.
All of the gay men perpetuate the pedo stereotype (save for one 15yr boy in a flashback who was, surprise, taken advantage of by an older man) and the asexual character is a sociopath.
The main character seems to be a fully fleshed out person, but the moment you step to the left you find him to be flat as cardboard. ‘I wanna be a successful writer!!!!’ Why? There is no depth there. There is no why. The answer seemingly is ‘just because’. He only seems to have drive for drives sake and it’s incredibly boring.
Someone here describes the prose as ‘plodding along’ and I honestly can’t think of a better descriptor. Another says they will be forever indebted to themselves for the 11 hours wasted on this book, and now I find myself in the same position.
I was disturbed to find in a book I thought was about queer people the only character I liked ended up being the cishet Edith.
All of the gay men perpetuate the pedo stereotype (save for one 15yr boy in a flashback who was, surprise, taken advantage of by an older man) and the asexual character is a sociopath.
The main character seems to be a fully fleshed out person, but the moment you step to the left you find him to be flat as cardboard. ‘I wanna be a successful writer!!!!’ Why? There is no depth there. There is no why. The answer seemingly is ‘just because’. He only seems to have drive for drives sake and it’s incredibly boring.
Someone here describes the prose as ‘plodding along’ and I honestly can’t think of a better descriptor. Another says they will be forever indebted to themselves for the 11 hours wasted on this book, and now I find myself in the same position.
billymac1962's review against another edition
5.0
This is the third novel I've read by John Boyne. The first two, The Absolutist and The Heart's Invisible Furies, I rated five stars.
A Ladder to the Sky is the best I've read from him, so another five stars for you, John. Three for three.
I'll go back once again with one thing that bothered me about the last two novels,the same situation he pulled off in both stories, and I threw back my head with an "Arrrrrgh!" when it happened AGAIN in this book! I won't go into details about that, you can read those reviews and peek into the spoiler tags if you wish, but despite that I had still rated those as five star reads. However, immediately after it had happened in A Ladder to the Sky, I reeled myself back in a bit and forgave the character based on the time and place in history, and the raging hormones of a 17 year old boy in love.
But enough about that. This is a stupendous read. Unlike the previous two, A Ladder to the Sky is more of a psychological suspense story, surrounding a writer and his goal of becoming highly recognized and successful. I could hardly put it down. John Boyne has a style that made this such a compulsive read, it was all I could do to get through the work day and grab precious time over lunch and the commutes to and from work to get back into this, totally losing myself in this story.
Very highly recommended, and as is always the case, I fear another book hangover coming on and some DNFs in my immediate future. Such is the price when you read something as terrific as this.
A Ladder to the Sky is the best I've read from him, so another five stars for you, John. Three for three.
I'll go back once again with one thing that bothered me about the last two novels,the same situation he pulled off in both stories, and I threw back my head with an "Arrrrrgh!" when it happened AGAIN in this book! I won't go into details about that, you can read those reviews and peek into the spoiler tags if you wish, but despite that I had still rated those as five star reads. However, immediately after it had happened in A Ladder to the Sky, I reeled myself back in a bit and forgave the character based on the time and place in history, and the raging hormones of a 17 year old boy in love.
But enough about that. This is a stupendous read. Unlike the previous two, A Ladder to the Sky is more of a psychological suspense story, surrounding a writer and his goal of becoming highly recognized and successful. I could hardly put it down. John Boyne has a style that made this such a compulsive read, it was all I could do to get through the work day and grab precious time over lunch and the commutes to and from work to get back into this, totally losing myself in this story.
Very highly recommended, and as is always the case, I fear another book hangover coming on and some DNFs in my immediate future. Such is the price when you read something as terrific as this.
courtneysbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Maurice Swift is absurdly handsome, narcissistic, cruel, manipulative, and above all else, incredibly ambitious. I’ve never hated a main character as much as I hate Maurice Swift.
A Ladder to the Sky is a disturbingly dark novel that delves into the trials of writing and publishing. Maurice Swift wants to be the greatest writer in the world; however, he can’t seem to create any stories. Thus commences Swift’s cycle of becoming a vicious con-artist in the hopes of eternal success.
John Boyne’s writing is detailed and addictive in this psychological thriller. This book left me feeling unbalanced and upsetti spaghetti. Excuse me while I go read everything John Boyne has ever written.
cw: antisemitism; rape; murder; racism; homophobia; underage sex
A Ladder to the Sky is a disturbingly dark novel that delves into the trials of writing and publishing. Maurice Swift wants to be the greatest writer in the world; however, he can’t seem to create any stories. Thus commences Swift’s cycle of becoming a vicious con-artist in the hopes of eternal success.
John Boyne’s writing is detailed and addictive in this psychological thriller. This book left me feeling unbalanced and upsetti spaghetti. Excuse me while I go read everything John Boyne has ever written.
cw: antisemitism; rape; murder; racism; homophobia; underage sex