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A review by ameliasbooks
Cross Channel by Julian Barnes
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
2.5 plus an extra 0.5 only because of the writing.
This is a bit of a weird collection of short stories. It seems like they have been originally published in magazines and then just put together randomly for this collection. The stories take place in a period from the 19th century to 1996, which doesn't help the collection either in coming together as a whole.
The main theme is the bickery between the English and the French. There are a few funny scenes, but overall it is very posh and elitist. Although that might have been the point, it was a bit annoying to read in such an agglomerated way.
Barnes' writing skills saved it a bit for me, but apart from two stories I wasn't really that interested overall. I'm also tempted to say that Barnes would write these stories differently today.
This is a bit of a weird collection of short stories. It seems like they have been originally published in magazines and then just put together randomly for this collection. The stories take place in a period from the 19th century to 1996, which doesn't help the collection either in coming together as a whole.
The main theme is the bickery between the English and the French. There are a few funny scenes, but overall it is very posh and elitist. Although that might have been the point, it was a bit annoying to read in such an agglomerated way.
Barnes' writing skills saved it a bit for me, but apart from two stories I wasn't really that interested overall. I'm also tempted to say that Barnes would write these stories differently today.