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A review by aront
The Liar by Stephen Fry
2.0
I agree with most reviews: Love Fry and that's the only reason this book is worth reading.
I gave it 3 then switched it 2 because
1. Fry is showing off too much - the multiple languages, the obscure academic references, and so on were more than a bit too much. I mean this is QI on steroids
2. If you never went to British public school huge parts of the story are boring & incomprehensible - sorry don't have a clue about cricket
3. The unbelievable personal life story is more believable than the spy bits - only because I read Fry's autobiography first. But even so, it's like he took his own life story and jacked it up to 11 on the scale of 10.
3a. The spy bits were just hilariously awful
4. None of the characters are all that interesting
5. No real emotion or insight
When it comes down to it, of all his many talents, writing is not Fry's best. His autobiographies suffer some of the same failings as this novel. Still love him though.
I gave it 3 then switched it 2 because
1. Fry is showing off too much - the multiple languages, the obscure academic references, and so on were more than a bit too much. I mean this is QI on steroids
2. If you never went to British public school huge parts of the story are boring & incomprehensible - sorry don't have a clue about cricket
3. The unbelievable personal life story is more believable than the spy bits - only because I read Fry's autobiography first. But even so, it's like he took his own life story and jacked it up to 11 on the scale of 10.
3a. The spy bits were just hilariously awful
4. None of the characters are all that interesting
5. No real emotion or insight
When it comes down to it, of all his many talents, writing is not Fry's best. His autobiographies suffer some of the same failings as this novel. Still love him though.