A review by kamrynharned
Half a Life by V.S. Naipaul

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Can’t deny that V. s. Naipaul is a great writer, and he masterfully worked his themes throughout this book. That being said, I didn’t find any piece of this story redemptive.  That’s honestly the point (Half A Life is such an accurate name), and while I can appreciate the art, I did not enjoy the experience of reading this book, especially towards the end when it really falls of the rails.  The main character is just unlikeable. You can’t even root for him because he’s so pitiful.  He had a challenging childhood, but he was never able to get away from the idea that he only had half a life, even when the whole world of opportunity was open to him.