Scan barcode
A review by molsballou
Toby's Room by Pat Barker
1.0
I am flabbergasted by the positive reviews of this book. I will say that Pat Barker is obviously knowledgeable and adept at communicating the horrors of WWI. That part was very good. But that section aside it is a really not good book.
I’d have to reveal a giant spoiler to explain why, so stop reading if you’re sensitive to minor spoilers, but, like... read the first chapter and ask yourself how the plot point that unfolds in those first 12 pages has anything to do with the description you read on the back of the book. If you read to the end to find out how... you might be disappointed. Other stuff happens in the middle, sure. Some of it is compelling, even.
What doesn’t happen in the middle is effective character development.
I’d have to reveal a giant spoiler to explain why, so stop reading if you’re sensitive to minor spoilers, but, like... read the first chapter and ask yourself how the plot point that unfolds in those first 12 pages has anything to do with the description you read on the back of the book. If you read to the end to find out how... you might be disappointed. Other stuff happens in the middle, sure. Some of it is compelling, even.
What doesn’t happen in the middle is effective character development.