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vezrity's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
westernb's review
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Highly absorbing 'political Gogglebox', a cross-sectional comic look at modern Britain.
I didn't think I would like this so much, but listening to this and reliving the past decade with the characters, the Olympics, elections, riots, Brexit, I found myself thinking back over events as well as enjoying seeing said events through various lenses and viewpoints.
An eclectic cast of characters, young and old, parents and children, Londoners and Midlanders, live through the most recent decade in England, offering us social commentary on a Gogglebox scale, with multiple viewpoints on key events as they live their own lives.
Characters fall in love, marry, split, suffer losses, study, work... and react to the news that readers will all recall, but with varying reactions. It all feels quite nostalgic in a way, sections like the scenes as everyone watches the Olympic opening ceremony had me feeling patriotic and remembering the time.
It felt strange reliving elections, and blackly humorous as we see relationship struggle to survive the Brexit vote.
A wonderful listen, the one voice manages a range of ages, genders and accents with ease, I completely forgot I was listening to one narrator and had no issue knowing who was 'speaking'. Even the running length didn't feel at all a hindrance, it sped by as I settled in to reliving my last decade with familiar characters going through it with me.
A great choice from Audible, it felt like I was looking through a lens at the lives presented. Dark humour, some highly realistic characters representing various walks of life, all the way up to the top of the political life.
Highly recommended, whatever your political persuasion. May not go down as well overseas with people less familiar with recent British social and political history.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
I didn't think I would like this so much, but listening to this and reliving the past decade with the characters, the Olympics, elections, riots, Brexit, I found myself thinking back over events as well as enjoying seeing said events through various lenses and viewpoints.
An eclectic cast of characters, young and old, parents and children, Londoners and Midlanders, live through the most recent decade in England, offering us social commentary on a Gogglebox scale, with multiple viewpoints on key events as they live their own lives.
Characters fall in love, marry, split, suffer losses, study, work... and react to the news that readers will all recall, but with varying reactions. It all feels quite nostalgic in a way, sections like the scenes as everyone watches the Olympic opening ceremony had me feeling patriotic and remembering the time.
It felt strange reliving elections, and blackly humorous as we see relationship struggle to survive the Brexit vote.
A wonderful listen, the one voice manages a range of ages, genders and accents with ease, I completely forgot I was listening to one narrator and had no issue knowing who was 'speaking'. Even the running length didn't feel at all a hindrance, it sped by as I settled in to reliving my last decade with familiar characters going through it with me.
A great choice from Audible, it felt like I was looking through a lens at the lives presented. Dark humour, some highly realistic characters representing various walks of life, all the way up to the top of the political life.
Highly recommended, whatever your political persuasion. May not go down as well overseas with people less familiar with recent British social and political history.
With thanks to Nudge Books for providing a sample Audible copy.
a_billion_lives's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
mindoflucie's review
emotional
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
heloisebrown's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jgresh's review
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
woahitsfaye's review
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
millypip's review
3.0
The Rotter’s club has bumbled into middle age in middle England. While the country is upheaved by Brexit, Doug finds he has become estranged from the values of his youth,and his daughter. Benjamin learns to accept his failures (and successes). Louis barely makes an appearance at all. Middle England is easy to read but lacks the spark of Coe’s earlier novels. Ironically, it’s full of the moral preachiness that it’s characters decry.