angus_mckeogh 's review for:

Hotel Du Lac by Anita Brookner

2.0

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Another mediocre Booker winner. Some of the shortlisted novels in 1984 appear to be extremely captivating (namely J.G. Ballard’s Empire of the Sun and David Lodge’s Small World) which is what makes this novel’s triumph so astounding. If you’re seeking something engrossing, it’s not here. If you’re wanting engaging plot lines and twists, it’s not here. If you’re wanting a story to move you emotionally, there’s perhaps a tiny bit of that here, but much too little. If you’re looking for a read where when you close the book you take a deep breath and say that was amazing, it’s not this book. It’s ultimately just rather dull. So the Booker Prize still continues to confound. About 50% of the time the winner seems pretty incredible, and the other 50% of the time the winner leaves me groaning when turning the next page. Luckily this one was short, but if you’re going to delve into the world of Booker winners, I wouldn’t suggest starting here.