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dcsilbertrust's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
ishpreet404's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ronanmcd's review against another edition
4.0
There are flashes of the brilliance to come in this early text by Beckett. He plays delightfully on the moments between moments. The making of toast becomes a rite of passage, a herculean task to perfection. The book is a series of happenings, each sublime in stilted awkwardness; a social misfit meanders his way through in and out of the narratives, being challenged by a confluence of female characters.
Beckett was fascinated by Joyce and this book of pan-Dublin scenes opens a dialogue with that author's own famous book of short stories.
Beckett was fascinated by Joyce and this book of pan-Dublin scenes opens a dialogue with that author's own famous book of short stories.
rasmussimmermann's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-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
4.0
topfife's review against another edition
4.0
Beckett beginning to show beyond the shadow of Joyce. Slight plot and narrative, glimpsing out from under the weight of great words and elaborately structured sentences. It’s a swim amongst vocabulary, sometimes for the delight of vocabulary’s own sake and sometimes for the sensation of those words and twists.
Rushed ending to a very enjoyable snapshot.
Rushed ending to a very enjoyable snapshot.
ampersunder's review against another edition
4.0
‰ЫПMrs bboggs was utterly nonplussed. How was it possible to name a woman without thinking? The thing was psychologically impossible. With mouth ajar and nostrils dilated she goggled psychological impossibilities at the offender.‰Ыќ
Remember: Blue-eyed cats are always deaf; the burrowing tucutucu is occasionally blind, but the mole is never sober.
Stories of similar/identical material to Dream of Fair to Middling Women, but published years before that book, which publication was not until after Beckett‰ЫЄs death, at his request. Thus not that much easier to understand, thus that much more interesting to me.
Remember: Blue-eyed cats are always deaf; the burrowing tucutucu is occasionally blind, but the mole is never sober.
Stories of similar/identical material to Dream of Fair to Middling Women, but published years before that book, which publication was not until after Beckett‰ЫЄs death, at his request. Thus not that much easier to understand, thus that much more interesting to me.
flowersisbritish's review against another edition
3.0
This is a book I might reread at the end of the year to see if I get a better handle on. Beckett's a weird guy, and writes some weird dudes, this book is no exception. Each 'chapter' is essentially a different story revolving around this guy named Belecqua who is 1) kind of a contrarian and 2) magically able to get a lot of woman to love him... somehow.
I knew nothing about this going in, my only exposure to Becket being a bit of Molloy, but trying to decipher it blind was a good experience. To me, this is mostly a novel about how dumb love can be. Woman keep falling for Belecqua to the point it gets really ridiculous, and their involvement with him tends to lead to equally ridiculous events I won't go into detail about. Needless to say, loving Belecqua seems to be a sure fire sign of misfortune.
The novel is clearly supposed to be a comedy, with a lot of genuinely funny moments, and probably more that went right over my head. Still though, I found a lot of the chapters to be tedious to read, and the actions involved to be difficult to follow. Sure, there were some fun moments, and a couple really great vignettes, but was the slog worth it?
Again, I plan on rereading the novel if only to see it it's one of those books that's better the second time once you know the punch line.
I knew nothing about this going in, my only exposure to Becket being a bit of Molloy, but trying to decipher it blind was a good experience. To me, this is mostly a novel about how dumb love can be. Woman keep falling for Belecqua to the point it gets really ridiculous, and their involvement with him tends to lead to equally ridiculous events I won't go into detail about. Needless to say, loving Belecqua seems to be a sure fire sign of misfortune.
The novel is clearly supposed to be a comedy, with a lot of genuinely funny moments, and probably more that went right over my head. Still though, I found a lot of the chapters to be tedious to read, and the actions involved to be difficult to follow. Sure, there were some fun moments, and a couple really great vignettes, but was the slog worth it?
Again, I plan on rereading the novel if only to see it it's one of those books that's better the second time once you know the punch line.
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