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A review by lunaseassecondaccount
A Handful Of Dust by Evelyn Waugh
4.0
I was rather surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, because I typically struggle to read books written in this period. I can handle the language of those written between the Regency and Edwardian eras, but these 1920s - 1940s novels are typically written in a way that leaves me scratching my head in frustration.
But this? This I enjoyed.
I loved how selfish Brenda was. Okay, she'd be utterly intolerable in person, but I liked how she barely considered anyone but herself. It was fun to read. And John Beaver's inspid behaviour was such a fun match. Those to were destined to be awful for one another. Waugh's skill at having Brenda shoot herself in the foot with a simple, misplaced 'Thank God' was a stroke of mastery.
And though I don't think Tony's ending was justified (a rather extreme and miserable fate, isn't it?), he wasn't exactly perfect, either. His snapping at John Andrew was rather cruel. The poor lad did nothing wrong but cry.
But about that ending... it really came out of nowhere. Tony? Getting stuck in the Brazilian jungle? Reading Dickens for eternity? How did that relate to he rest of the novel? I understand Waugh had just converted to Catholicism before this was published, but... I truly don't understand the logic there, or the rationale.
But this? This I enjoyed.
I loved how selfish Brenda was. Okay, she'd be utterly intolerable in person, but I liked how she barely considered anyone but herself. It was fun to read. And John Beaver's inspid behaviour was such a fun match. Those to were destined to be awful for one another. Waugh's skill at having Brenda shoot herself in the foot with a simple, misplaced 'Thank God' was a stroke of mastery.
And though I don't think Tony's ending was justified (a rather extreme and miserable fate, isn't it?), he wasn't exactly perfect, either. His snapping at John Andrew was rather cruel. The poor lad did nothing wrong but cry.
But about that ending... it really came out of nowhere. Tony? Getting stuck in the Brazilian jungle? Reading Dickens for eternity? How did that relate to he rest of the novel? I understand Waugh had just converted to Catholicism before this was published, but... I truly don't understand the logic there, or the rationale.