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A review by entrancedbywords
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I've owned a copy of Oscar and Lucinda for a short while, one of the main reasons I brought it was cause Ralph Fiennes is on the cover and I'm a sucker for Mr Fiennes.
For such a little book, I'm shocked to see it has 111 chapters. Yep. One hundred and eleven chapters.
I started reading this after a 50hour work week and my body was on the depths of exhaustion.
It's interesting to read Victoria and Parramatta being used as a back drop for a book set in the early 1800s, though I'm assuming with Australia still being in its baby stage, it was probably the easiest places to think of for the time.
This book was released in the late 1980s, set in the 1800s. With the setting I kinda understand the narrative chosen but it did frustrate me. I know books pre-70s were written in a particular way and I know if it's a period piece that the writing style is set in stone. Unfortunately this meant the narrative jumps a lot. From 1st person to 3rd person to what I assume is 4th person (not either Lucinda or Oscars pov but rather someone else's that has yet to be revealed).
At times even saying "though this character doesn't know their about to live through xyz events" or "the actions caused will have a ripple effect xyz years later." It's quite jarring to read even though like I said a certain set of books have this style.
For such a little book, I'm shocked to see it has 111 chapters. Yep. One hundred and eleven chapters.
I started reading this after a 50hour work week and my body was on the depths of exhaustion.
It's interesting to read Victoria and Parramatta being used as a back drop for a book set in the early 1800s, though I'm assuming with Australia still being in its baby stage, it was probably the easiest places to think of for the time.
This book was released in the late 1980s, set in the 1800s. With the setting I kinda understand the narrative chosen but it did frustrate me. I know books pre-70s were written in a particular way and I know if it's a period piece that the writing style is set in stone. Unfortunately this meant the narrative jumps a lot. From 1st person to 3rd person to what I assume is 4th person (not either Lucinda or Oscars pov but rather someone else's that has yet to be revealed).
At times even saying "though this character doesn't know their about to live through xyz events" or "the actions caused will have a ripple effect xyz years later." It's quite jarring to read even though like I said a certain set of books have this style.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexism