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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
Not every coming of age story is about a teenager. Sometimes it takes a lifetime for it to happen. The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle tells the story of a man who lives a quite life before he realizes that there is joy all around him. Thank you Kensington Books and Between The Chapters for sending me this wonderful book.
"And it was becoming increasingly clear to him that the more he opened up to people, the more they liked and warmed to him." (p 216)
As an older gay man who's been a loner most of his life (mostly not by conscious choice), I find the experience and character of Albert to be both simplistic and unconvincing. In particular the thought (expressed in the quote above) that he would simply have to make overtures to people to accrue a group of friends borders on the offensive. If only it were that simple!
However traumatised as a teen someone may have been (and Albert's experience by no means as awful as Cain wants us to believe), I seriously doubt that they would wait 50 years to give some sort of expression (not necessarily in action) to their desires.
That Albert may want to remain in the closet, or even celibate, I can understand, but the private sphere and inner life of such an individual, particularly in a mediatic society now presenting many representations of gay lives, are unlikely to be as thwarted and atrophied as Albert's are. He often feels childish as a result, or as if those 50 years have been a void (which technically, due to the constraints of the narrative choices made by Cain, they are).
The book is an easy read, but, while it makes some valid general points about the way queer people have been (and often still are) treated by the wider society, it also flirts a little too much with easy sentimentality. A disappointment.
NB: The most interesting part, for me, were the real life testimonies of older gay men gathered at the end of my edition of the book.
As an older gay man who's been a loner most of his life (mostly not by conscious choice), I find the experience and character of Albert to be both simplistic and unconvincing. In particular the thought (expressed in the quote above) that he would simply have to make overtures to people to accrue a group of friends borders on the offensive. If only it were that simple!
However traumatised as a teen someone may have been (and Albert's experience by no means as awful as Cain wants us to believe), I seriously doubt that they would wait 50 years to give some sort of expression (not necessarily in action) to their desires.
That Albert may want to remain in the closet, or even celibate, I can understand, but the private sphere and inner life of such an individual, particularly in a mediatic society now presenting many representations of gay lives, are unlikely to be as thwarted and atrophied as Albert's are. He often feels childish as a result, or as if those 50 years have been a void (which technically, due to the constraints of the narrative choices made by Cain, they are).
The book is an easy read, but, while it makes some valid general points about the way queer people have been (and often still are) treated by the wider society, it also flirts a little too much with easy sentimentality. A disappointment.
NB: The most interesting part, for me, were the real life testimonies of older gay men gathered at the end of my edition of the book.
Interesting story of a man nearing retirement and realizing he has isolated himself and his opening up to look for his teenage love.
Backmatter includes older men talking about their difficulties in growing up when their homosexuality was criminalized and unaccepted.
Backmatter includes older men talking about their difficulties in growing up when their homosexuality was criminalized and unaccepted.
I won this book in a GoodReads giveaway. I thought it was good. I became quite invested in the main character, Arthur, and didn't want to put the book down. I wanted to find out if he ever reconnected with George. I thought this was a relatively quick but good read.
I received a copy of The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle in a Goodreads Giveaway. The book is very readable, with interesting characters that are well-defined. I especially enjoyed the side story about Nicole and her daughter; the friendship that evolves between Nicole and Albert is very sweet. Albert's story was rather drawn out, and it probably could have been tightened up a bit. Descriptions of the characters and their implicit feelings were excellent. Having recently had to visit a vet to euthanize a couple of dearly loved family cats, I was bawling when I read the very accurate description of Albert's final visit to the vet with Gracie. Each of the stories, Albert's as well as the minor characters, are tied up by the end of the book; I think I would describe the book as a bit Utopian, given how perfectly every story works out.
I wrote a nice long review of this immediately after finishing and it has disappeared, as many reviews seem to on Goodreads quite regularly. In summary, then: it’s a bit tooth-achingly sweet and also funny and also delightful. I enjoyed it immensely.
Lovely story, well told. Brought me into a world and feelings with which I was totally unaware.
I'm a sucker for the unlikely friendship books which have been enjoying a renewed popularity. This is the story of Albert, a nearly retired postman and Nicole, a 19 year old single mother. Albert has kept to himself for many years but his forced retirement has made him think about a life he could have had. One final sad event makes him to go for it and he enlists the help of Nicole, who has her own share of love problems.
I thought some of the story was a little predictable, yet I was still happy with the ending. I loved the various people he worked with at the post office, loved Nicole and her boyfriend's family, but most of all, I loved Albert. I was angry on his behalf. His parents were wrong. I cheered him.on from my reading chair the minute he hatched his plan. It's the second book I've read recently about an older generation of gay men in England having to hide who they were.
Everyone deserves to love who they love and to be loved, and everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are freely given.
I thought some of the story was a little predictable, yet I was still happy with the ending. I loved the various people he worked with at the post office, loved Nicole and her boyfriend's family, but most of all, I loved Albert. I was angry on his behalf. His parents were wrong. I cheered him.on from my reading chair the minute he hatched his plan. It's the second book I've read recently about an older generation of gay men in England having to hide who they were.
Everyone deserves to love who they love and to be loved, and everyone deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin.
Thank you, Netgalley, for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are freely given.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Tremendous, instantly sucks you in and makes you fall in love with every character. I’ll be thinking about Albert for a long time to come