Reviews

A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul

nainatai's review against another edition

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2.0

Mr. Biswas 's character was rather infuriating. So many times, I nearly gave up on him. I finally managed to make it to the end. The man led a sad life. I am glad the book is over so I can move onto better stuff.

pinecone60's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative sad 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

5.0

klinejosh94's review against another edition

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5.0

When you sick you forget what it is to be well. And when you well you don’t really know what it is to be sick.”

clitbooks's review against another edition

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5.0

my heart, my heart!— the colonial middle class, the rummaging for better. the start of the immigrant’s need for education. and thick, humid prose: the trinidadian sun is always suffocating here; the displaced, indentured servant’s culture clings ever on.

14. to have lived without even attempting to lay claim to one’s portion of the earth; to have lived and died as one had been born: unnecessary and unaccommodated.
59. being able to hold a cigarette between his greasy fingers and greasy lips without staining it.
222. to amuse her, he read from his novels, expounded Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, made her learn the quotations hanging on the wall, made her sit still while he unsuccessfully tried to sketch her.

——
248. what do you want me to do with the food you feed me? what?
—-

357. I raised my hand but I did not know if it got to the top. I opened my mouth to cry for help. water filled it. I thought I was going to die, and I closed my eyes because I did not want to look at the water.
413. at first, this was only a pose, and imitation of his father.


450. what about the crosswords, mohun. couldnt you make me win just one?


545. while they waited for the revolution, life had to be lived
546. I’ll break the bow over her parents head. people starving, not getting enough to eat in Trinidad, and she playing the violin in Canada!
588. Mr Biswas needed his son’s interest and anger. in all the world, there was no one else to whom he could complain.

ctf149's review against another edition

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

1.0

sarahrussell's review against another edition

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

4.0

tctas2024's review against another edition

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

1.0

The last 180 pages were amazing, the rest of the book was hard to get into. The main character was rather un-relatable and his moodiness made it hard to cheer for him at times. The feeling of being stuck and wanting to find a new life was something that resonated, but the methods of going about achieving that other life were not as much. 

carolynmorgan's review against another edition

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reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

3.5

zaira_frank_2108's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5