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verydazedragon's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
At first, I found the stories witty and clever, but by the end of it, I was just waiting for the book to end. The writing towards the end was not as eccentric and charming as the writing in the beginning. It says if Chesterton sort of lost his steam in the course of writing the column. it would’ve been better if it was shorter, as not, all of the mysteries were satisfactory.
endofpricetag's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Antisemitism
mborer23's review against another edition
4.0
G.K. Chesterton, perhaps better known as a theologian, was also the creator of a singular sleuth, Father Brown. Since I enjoyed the TV series so much, I wanted to read the stories that inspired it. Although very different from their corresponding TV plots, the stories are interesting reads, and I really enjoyed Father Brown's gentle methods of detection. I do wonder if these stories inspired Agatha Christie, particularly with their use of a detective named Hercule. Hmmm.
The thing to remember about these stories is that they were published such a very long time ago (beginning in 1910 and ending in 1936.) Because of that, they come from a different world. Of interest to the sensitive reader, there are some racist and anti-Semitic statements. Recommended for those interested in the origins of the modern solitary sleuth.
The thing to remember about these stories is that they were published such a very long time ago (beginning in 1910 and ending in 1936.) Because of that, they come from a different world. Of interest to the sensitive reader, there are some racist and anti-Semitic statements. Recommended for those interested in the origins of the modern solitary sleuth.
mph483's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.5
I don’t know what compelled me to finish this book of short stories. 5% were good and the rest were retreads. If a black person shows up, skip the story or you’ll read the most out of left field unrelated to the story racism.
bookherd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
This is a collection of ALL of the Father Brown stories by GK Chesterton. In retrospect, although I mostly enjoyed them and I finished the book, 718 pages was too much for me. The stories contain quite a bit of social criticism--of people's ideas about science and the supernatural, the place and purpose of religion in life, among other things.
The stories are full of melodrama and strangeness. Quite a few of them involve characters from former British colonies, especially India, or British people who had served in the colonies. A common framework for one of these stories has a somewhat lurid atmosphere and characters who are afraid that supernatural forces are at work. Father Brown, a Catholic priest who seems to have a lot of time off from his regular duties, serves in these stories as the dispeller of superstition. He applies reasoning to his astute observations and shows how an ordinary human being accomplished the crime and why. As he does this, he also cautions his observers that the answers he provides are not less disturbing than the supernatural explanations they originally feared.
The copyright on this volume is 1963, with copyrights from the original books starting in 1911. The attitudes towards people and ideas from the former British colonies reflect the attitudes from those times. Racial slurs are used with no consciousness that they are offensive.
I also have a bone to pick with the publisher, Penguin, who calls Father Brown "Fiction's best loved amateur sleuth" on the cover of this volume. I would argue that title belongs to Sherlock Holmes.
The stories are full of melodrama and strangeness. Quite a few of them involve characters from former British colonies, especially India, or British people who had served in the colonies. A common framework for one of these stories has a somewhat lurid atmosphere and characters who are afraid that supernatural forces are at work. Father Brown, a Catholic priest who seems to have a lot of time off from his regular duties, serves in these stories as the dispeller of superstition. He applies reasoning to his astute observations and shows how an ordinary human being accomplished the crime and why. As he does this, he also cautions his observers that the answers he provides are not less disturbing than the supernatural explanations they originally feared.
The copyright on this volume is 1963, with copyrights from the original books starting in 1911. The attitudes towards people and ideas from the former British colonies reflect the attitudes from those times. Racial slurs are used with no consciousness that they are offensive.
I also have a bone to pick with the publisher, Penguin, who calls Father Brown "Fiction's best loved amateur sleuth" on the cover of this volume. I would argue that title belongs to Sherlock Holmes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Xenophobia
warrior42107's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
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
5.0
Although some episodes are like the book, the book is way better than the British TV show.
jeansbooks's review against another edition
Too racist for me. I know it’s an old book but I just can’t
chrstn's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5