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rocketiza's review against another edition
3.0
While I loved the atmosphere and writing style, the story wasn't that interesting.
sjg2023's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
magratajostiernos's review against another edition
3.0
Situado a principios del siglo XX en un pueblecillo inglés, Barbara Comyns nos presenta a unos personajes extraños y un ambiente sórdido que pilla por sorpresa.
Una insólita enfermedad asola al pueblo y desata el caos más absoluto, lo que desestabiliza aún más a la familia protagonista compuesta por la pérfida abuela, el zángano padre y los tres vástagos.
Me ha gustado muchísimo el estilo de la autora, cómo con unas pocas pinceladas logra describir a esa gente peculiar pero tan representativa de la raza humana.
Aún siendo una historia tan corta, es una auténtica montaña rusa, me ha gustado muchísimo el humor negro de la autora, esa mezcla de horror y locura que viene entremezclado con ese estilo típicamente inglés.
Al final queda por encima de todo la idea de que las pequeñas comunidades y el ser humano es capaz de sobreponerse a todo, incluso a las situaciones más terribles.
Una insólita enfermedad asola al pueblo y desata el caos más absoluto, lo que desestabiliza aún más a la familia protagonista compuesta por la pérfida abuela, el zángano padre y los tres vástagos.
Me ha gustado muchísimo el estilo de la autora, cómo con unas pocas pinceladas logra describir a esa gente peculiar pero tan representativa de la raza humana.
Aún siendo una historia tan corta, es una auténtica montaña rusa, me ha gustado muchísimo el humor negro de la autora, esa mezcla de horror y locura que viene entremezclado con ese estilo típicamente inglés.
Al final queda por encima de todo la idea de que las pequeñas comunidades y el ser humano es capaz de sobreponerse a todo, incluso a las situaciones más terribles.
dotorsojak's review against another edition
4.0
Quite a good little book. More a novella than a novel. I think the Grandmother is the main character, though she is thoroughly unlikable. Many deaths. Some hilariously funny lines. I never knew where this book was going, even with only 25 pages to go. Recommended. One guy in the book club liked it a lot. Everybody else was pretty meh.
alexandrara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.75
doobyus's review
4.0
What a wonderful, unusual, glorious book. Barbara Comyns’ voice is singular, and she paints this story, place, and time delightfully.
nmkeaney's review against another edition
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emmavardy2's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs and Death
sloatsj's review against another edition
5.0
'Of what has been and might have been
And who was changed and who was dead' - Longfellow
I became a Comyns fan this year, this being my third book by her.
This weird pastoral, and its delightful opening paragraph, begins with a flood that heralds a rash of madness and suicide in the small riverside town. The story centers on the eccentric Willoweed family, three motherless children and their unemployed father Ebin, and his erratic and tyrannical mother, plus the townsfolk and servants. It is funny and weird and also sad and tender. I love how Comyns just lets things happen, and the book is less driven by plot or character than simply a series of events: people die, spouses cheat, and dead peacocks float by on the river.
And who was changed and who was dead' - Longfellow
I became a Comyns fan this year, this being my third book by her.
This weird pastoral, and its delightful opening paragraph, begins with a flood that heralds a rash of madness and suicide in the small riverside town. The story centers on the eccentric Willoweed family, three motherless children and their unemployed father Ebin, and his erratic and tyrannical mother, plus the townsfolk and servants. It is funny and weird and also sad and tender. I love how Comyns just lets things happen, and the book is less driven by plot or character than simply a series of events: people die, spouses cheat, and dead peacocks float by on the river.
elfington's review
4.0
I came to this book from the Anthony Burgess 99 Novels podcast episode on Iris Murdoch's The Bell. The guest expert discussing The Bell was asked what book she would nominate for the 100th novel and she recommended this fairly obscure novel by Barbara Comyns.
If a novel could be called charmingly dark this would be it. I went in knowing very little about the plot and recommend that approach if you can. You'll be carried along, as if on one of the villager's boats, never really knowing exactly where you are going or why - but knowing you're being shown something in little glimpses on the bank.
Recommended (along with The Bell and the Ninety None novels podcast project.)
If a novel could be called charmingly dark this would be it. I went in knowing very little about the plot and recommend that approach if you can. You'll be carried along, as if on one of the villager's boats, never really knowing exactly where you are going or why - but knowing you're being shown something in little glimpses on the bank.
Recommended (along with The Bell and the Ninety None novels podcast project.)