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bougainvillea's review against another edition
2.0
I really don't get what all the fuss is about wrt this book.
jgwc54e5's review against another edition
5.0
This a dark novel yet there’s plenty of black humour in amongst some gruesome scenes.
Brown, Jones and Smith are three men who meet on a boat to Haiti.
Brown, the narrator, owns a hotel in Port-au-Prince.
Major Jones is more of a mystery, he may be a war veteran or just a braggart.
Smith, is “the presidential candidate”. American, he and Mrs Smith want to spread vegetarianism, to end “acidity” and therefore violence.
Are they major players or just comedians on the great stage of life?
Haiti is under the control of “Papa doc” Duvalier, and his violent secret police, the Tonton Macoutes.
There’s murder, corruption, political repression and in this Cold War era the CIA backs this murderous regime supposedly as a bulwark against communism but of course there’s plenty of profiteering.
“The ambassador said, ‘Come on, cheer up, let us all be comedians together. Take one of my cigars. Help yourself at the bar. My Scotch is good. Perhaps even Papa Doc is a comedian.”
Wikipedia says “Duvalier attacked The Comedians in the press. His Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a brochure entitled, "Graham Greene Demasqué" (Finally Exposed). It described Greene as "A liar, a cretin, a stool-pigeon... unbalanced, sadistic, perverted... a perfect ignoramus... lying to his heart's content... the shame of proud and noble England... a spy... a drug addict... a torturer."”
That is funny!
Brown, Jones and Smith are three men who meet on a boat to Haiti.
Brown, the narrator, owns a hotel in Port-au-Prince.
Major Jones is more of a mystery, he may be a war veteran or just a braggart.
Smith, is “the presidential candidate”. American, he and Mrs Smith want to spread vegetarianism, to end “acidity” and therefore violence.
Are they major players or just comedians on the great stage of life?
Haiti is under the control of “Papa doc” Duvalier, and his violent secret police, the Tonton Macoutes.
There’s murder, corruption, political repression and in this Cold War era the CIA backs this murderous regime supposedly as a bulwark against communism but of course there’s plenty of profiteering.
“The ambassador said, ‘Come on, cheer up, let us all be comedians together. Take one of my cigars. Help yourself at the bar. My Scotch is good. Perhaps even Papa Doc is a comedian.”
Wikipedia says “Duvalier attacked The Comedians in the press. His Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a brochure entitled, "Graham Greene Demasqué" (Finally Exposed). It described Greene as "A liar, a cretin, a stool-pigeon... unbalanced, sadistic, perverted... a perfect ignoramus... lying to his heart's content... the shame of proud and noble England... a spy... a drug addict... a torturer."”
That is funny!
buzzroz's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
tense
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? Yes
3.5
geemont235's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
dbocus's review against another edition
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
eely225's review against another edition
4.0
Although Greene seems to mimic his introduction from Quiet American here by alluding to the conclusion, the tension established early does not re-emerge until the last 50 pages or so. This is in line with Greene's tendency to maximize time establishing the complex interpersonal dynamics of his characters, but because it comes exclusively through the voice of his ever-present avatar, in this case manifested as Mr. Brown. The world-weary, self-aware cynicism of the narrative works best when it is challenged, but because there are so few points at which Brown is confused, the tone can itself drag down the narrative.
The novel is at its best in its characterization of Smith and Jones, both pictures of heroism by means of idealism and self-deception. Because so much more time is spent on Brown's affair, which due to the retrospective narrative voice we known to be doomed, the best bits can be drowned out. The Smiths are, perhaps, Greene's best picture of a loving marriage yet. There's a good amount of them, but somehow not quite enough.
In retrospect, this title kind of blends in with The Heart of the Matter where Greene does not appear to challenge his tendencies, particularly in terms of his narration. The conclusion does a great deal, with the late characterization of Jones as well as of the Smiths throughout, but it takes a while to get there.
The novel is at its best in its characterization of Smith and Jones, both pictures of heroism by means of idealism and self-deception. Because so much more time is spent on Brown's affair, which due to the retrospective narrative voice we known to be doomed, the best bits can be drowned out. The Smiths are, perhaps, Greene's best picture of a loving marriage yet. There's a good amount of them, but somehow not quite enough.
In retrospect, this title kind of blends in with The Heart of the Matter where Greene does not appear to challenge his tendencies, particularly in terms of his narration. The conclusion does a great deal, with the late characterization of Jones as well as of the Smiths throughout, but it takes a while to get there.
margardenlady's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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? No
4.0
Political intrigue and a side of debauchery could be what you take from this. But that’s not all. In this story about four strangers who meet on a ship bound for Haiti, we see how unlikely friendships develop and we find that our true self is seldom what we reveal to the public. Most of these story comes to U.S. through there voice of Mr Brown, a man doomed to be an ex-pat by his heritage.
cjeanne99's review
4.0
I was looking for a novel about Haiti - which brought me to my first Graham Greene novel. Really enjoyed his dialogue, his characters, especially our primary narrator, Mr. Brown. Haiti under the rule of Duvalier is a land in turmoil. Mr. Brown has been on a business trip, hoping to find a buyer for the hotel he recently inherited from his mother. He returns to Port-au-Prince on a Dutch ship - during the voyage he meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith was an unsuccessful presidential candidate running against Truman on a platform of Vegetarianism; and Major Jones, a British/Indian ex-pat with more imagination than true life experiences. The three of them form a bond - the Smiths spend a few nights in Brown's hotel while Mr. Smith tries to discuss building a vegetarian center in Haiti and Major Jones has to talk his way out of being arrested.
Mr. Brown tries to navigate his life in a Haiti controlled by a corrupt government and determine if there is any future in his relationship with the wife of the Uruguayan Ambassador. Mr. and Mrs. Smith decide to take their vegetarian platform to the Dominican Republic, Major Jones learns he needs to leave Haiti before he is imprisoned.
Interesting story - and a good break for me from the crime/thriller novels that usually populate my TBR shelf.
Mr. Brown tries to navigate his life in a Haiti controlled by a corrupt government and determine if there is any future in his relationship with the wife of the Uruguayan Ambassador. Mr. and Mrs. Smith decide to take their vegetarian platform to the Dominican Republic, Major Jones learns he needs to leave Haiti before he is imprisoned.
Interesting story - and a good break for me from the crime/thriller novels that usually populate my TBR shelf.
cayleigh_sorella's review against another edition
2.0
My fourth semester English teacher gave this book to me, so I felt obliged to read it.
I'm not a fan of twentieth-century novels, and this one kind of reminded me why. There isn't much of a plot and the climax only hits really far to the end, like in the last hundred pages. It was a quick read but hard to get into in the beginning, until the pace quickens once in Haiti.
I'm not a fan of twentieth-century novels, and this one kind of reminded me why. There isn't much of a plot and the climax only hits really far to the end, like in the last hundred pages. It was a quick read but hard to get into in the beginning, until the pace quickens once in Haiti.