Reviews

The English Patient is one of my favourite books, I read it years ago.
I’ve had this book on my TR pile for a really long time. I love some of the writing but overall the structure of the narrative pushed me away rather than drew me in, I was occasionally confused too.
Reading about Buddy and life at that time made me anxious. I had the feeling this was a male view and way of living (at that time) that I couldn’t connect to.
I’m glad I read it because of the beauty of the prose but overall not for me.

megankgates13's review

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dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

psantic's review

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challenging dark mysterious reflective sad fast-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

3.75

chelseycatterall's review against another edition

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2.0

So this wasn't something I would ever pick to read on my own (read for school), and although it was interesting in its own way, I found it really hard to get into. I disliked most of the characters and the prose (which I suspect is styled in a jazz flow/ to mimick the mind of a mad man) threw me off completely. A little to dark for my liking, but still interesting nonetheless.

jatridle's review

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5.0

This book is more a collection of great passages than a cohesive novel. You can pick it up and read a page or two for the language alone, then put it back up on the shelf for awhile. Some may not like the scattered form or lack of a tight, cohesive plot. I think the form works well for depicting the life of Buddy Bolden, an enigmatic Jazz legend who was never recorded and who no one really knows much about.

talineshaya22's review

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challenging dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

imitira's review

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5.0

This is an amazing book. The story isn't really all that interesting (unless you happen to be fascinated by jazz history, I suppose), but the writing is utterly captivating. You can't simply read it; every paragraph must be felt, which, in retrospect, fits rather well with the subject matter. If it was much longer, I'd likely have gotten bored, but it's perfectly sized and quite magical.

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