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jof68's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A light easy read
Minor: Suicide
bethpaws's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
A beautifully and acerbically written short satirical book. The story centres around English poet Dennis Barlow who works at the pet cemetery Happier Hunting Grounds. While arranging a funeral at Whispering Glades he starts a relationship with Thanatogenos the cosmetician. She is torn between Dennis and the senior mortician Joyboy and seeks advice from a very un-bothered advice columist Guru Brahmin. The discovery that the poems Dennis is quoting to her are not his own, and learning where he works (facilitated by Joyboy) results in Thanatogenos seeking and taking more (rather awful) advice from Guru Brahim. Dennis and Joyboy find a grim solution and the English Dennis ends the story one up on the Americans.
So much more social commentary that I have missed as I am unaware of the social backgrounds to the other themes in the book of Hollywood and the death culture Waugh despised in America. But I read for pleasure not analysis.
So much more social commentary that I have missed as I am unaware of the social backgrounds to the other themes in the book of Hollywood and the death culture Waugh despised in America. But I read for pleasure not analysis.
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Suicide
emily_britton's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Too clever by far.
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Animal death
cousinrachel's review against another edition
DNF but I read the ending. How does such a goofy book end up this tedious?
I would have thought I’d at least enjoy being annoyed at the characters but the way it’s written is so BORING. He did this. She did that. Then he said XYZ. I guess it’s supposed to be dry humor but I didn’t connect with the one-dimensional, self-absorbed characters at all.
And the end was wacky… by that point I’d lost interest though.
I would have thought I’d at least enjoy being annoyed at the characters but the way it’s written is so BORING. He did this. She did that. Then he said XYZ. I guess it’s supposed to be dry humor but I didn’t connect with the one-dimensional, self-absorbed characters at all.
And the end was wacky… by that point I’d lost interest though.
Graphic: Death and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Racism and Racial slurs
poppylovesbooks's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Dennis Barlow is the most boring narrator I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading. He had no character development and continuously displayed pretentious, nationalist qualities that overall put me off him.
I was disappointed in Waugh’s storytelling this book. It was a far reach from Brideshead Revisited and other books that are a courtesy to his writing.
The only character I found profoundly interesting was Aimée. A mortician’s cosmetologist who worked alongside a respected embalmer in the Whispering Glades Funeral Home. Her complex emotions regarding the men in her life and the eventual tragedy that struck it were deeply emotional for me. It brought out emotions that none of the other characters provoked inside me.
I was disappointed in Waugh’s storytelling this book. It was a far reach from Brideshead Revisited and other books that are a courtesy to his writing.
The only character I found profoundly interesting was Aimée. A mortician’s cosmetologist who worked alongside a respected embalmer in the Whispering Glades Funeral Home. Her complex emotions regarding the men in her life and the eventual tragedy that struck it were deeply emotional for me. It brought out emotions that none of the other characters provoked inside me.
Graphic: Suicide
ceirid's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I honestly don't know what I just read but I don't think I'm analytical enough to find any meaning
Graphic: Suicide
_mineru's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Suicide
Minor: Gaslighting
lulotteum's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
so actually brideshead revisited is my favorite book ever. and one of my goals is to read a bunch of other books written by evelyn waugh.
actually i didn‘t enjoy reading this particular book. i know about irony and humor and all other things that are related to his other works. but this was too much. (thankfully) dark humor isn‘t my thing.and one of the last lines where a dead woman is being compared to a dead dog… shit i know that it shows the stupidity of the main character but actually TF.
i‘ve read vile bodies and liked it way more. so it‘s not about the style. it‘s about the plot.
actually i didn‘t enjoy reading this particular book. i know about irony and humor and all other things that are related to his other works. but this was too much. (thankfully) dark humor isn‘t my thing.
i‘ve read vile bodies and liked it way more. so it‘s not about the style. it‘s about the plot.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, and Suicide
drnsh's review against another edition
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Snarky, british, really not as Clever as it thinks it is. Darkly humorous.
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Suicide
j_squaredd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Death and Suicide