Scan barcode
A review by rubygranger
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.25
The first half of this book was EXCELLENT - and the reason that it has merited the star rating it has - I love the flaneur narrator, the Oxford setting and the complex family workings at play. Brideshead Revisited, like The Go-Between, is a cutting examination of wealth inequality and pressures in early 20th century England.
HOWEVER, the second half of the book was actually just really boring (I'm sorry!). We end up following the narrator into his adult life as an artist and, while there are echoes of his youth, it's pretty minor. It's almost like two different books. The ending redeems it, but I wish we'd seen more of Sebastian, because he's easily the most interesting character and just seems to disappear.
It's sacrilegious to say, but, in my opinion, you could just read book one of this and not miss out on much!
HOWEVER, the second half of the book was actually just really boring (I'm sorry!). We end up following the narrator into his adult life as an artist and, while there are echoes of his youth, it's pretty minor. It's almost like two different books. The ending redeems it, but I wish we'd seen more of Sebastian, because he's easily the most interesting character and just seems to disappear.
It's sacrilegious to say, but, in my opinion, you could just read book one of this and not miss out on much!