A review by frasersimons
Some Hope by Edward St Aubyn

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5

Back in form. Possibly better than the first book, for me, which I liked quite a bit. There’s a lyrical, almost modern myth or folklore-type voice that transplants the realism of a man emerging from a heavy set of addictions the causation of which from childhood trauma. It opens the door for narratives typically about working class people dealing with these issues—and them not being Actual issues in privileged, beyond the upscale resort that makes treatment portrayed as blasé (typically)—into the upper crust in a manner that does class criticism and grounds recovery as a universality. 

It also cleverly becomes cyclical, echoing certain motifs that make the emotional component resonate more so. It’s charming, well-written, and biting. I really like narratives that don’t kiss up to the privileged, and this is critical of the right people on the right way, contributing to the fairytale-esk quality mentioned previously.