niamhreadsbooks 's review for:

Troubles by J.G. Farrell

3.5

challenging dark funny mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I'm really not sure what to review this! I think in retrospect this novel is good, but it didn't blow me away. It's written well but does ramble on, to what effect I'm not sure. I think when you know the history of Ireland it's interesting to read this allegorically: the Major as British presence in Ireland but with no real understanding as to why they're there; Edward Spencer as the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, vitriolic against Irish rebels, unsympathetic and in denial about the crumbling of the pre-independence Ireland, much like the crumbling of the hotel. It felt like a faulty towers type situation with the hotel in particular especially as the long-term guests just accept the dire state of the place. The Major's inability to question what exactly is going on with Angela, his lack of interest in marrying her, his sudden obsession with Sarah and her distant regard for him in return all make for frustrating and interesting reading. One thing I took from this novel, however, was the comedy. I genuinely thought this book was laugh-out-loud funny at some many points, almost every page, and it was written so drily and subtly you could almost miss it. This made it more enjoyable for me. I think if read as a novel minus the allegorical connections then this is less interesting or at least perhaps less enticing. I read this for university so would not have picked it up otherwise, and unfortunately I'll not be picking up the other books in this trilogy!