Reviews

Mr Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood

pradha's review against another edition

informative mysterious tense 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? No

3.0

jormungad's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

karkarvroom's review against another edition

mysterious sad tense medium-paced

3.5

A slow start but exciting ending. This book provides an interesting exploration into the lives of eccentric characters heading into WW2 Berlin. At times was confused by the plot but it all came together at the end .

kosuke_miura's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

miranda_bird's review against another edition

dark funny informative fast-paced

4.0

henry_edwards1's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.0

seyj's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective medium-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? Yes

4.0

julesmd16's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

4.5

steg's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.0

dennis_j's review against another edition

4.0

Most splendid and terribly delightful! Mr Norris Changes Trains is dry, witty and amusing journey from beginning to end. The character gallery and their vividly described, almost made-for-film-cinematic interactions is the focal point of this story. The point of view character, William, while not a perfect human being, is a perfect host though whom we have the opportunity to get to know Arthur Norris, one of the most fascinating and multilayered, despicable and lovable, zaney and scary. Then there's Kuno, the naïve and tragic romantic Baron. Norris' servant, the zealous Schmidt, and the passionate landlady Frl. Schroeder. There is a precision with which Isherwood describes them. None of them are total caricatures, but all are capital C Characters. I was somewhat surprised by the frankness of some of it's themes. The particular "perversions" of some of the characters were very clearly pointed out, which is something I would have thought was rare for a piece of literature published in 1935.

On a background of the red and brown politics of Europe in the 30's, this chronicle of a few years of an unlikely friendship serves up some british tounge-in-cheek at its finest.