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3.2 AVERAGE
3.2 AVERAGE
Clever, if a tad light weight with characters who were a bit thing. A nice fun read that satire's industry.
An OK read, amusing at times, but all a little too contrived to really get into it.
A satire on literary prizes like the Booker Prize, with the sharp wit and irony of writers like Eveyln Waugh or P.G. Wodehouse. A light read, but very amusing.
quick, sharp look behind the curtain of the literary world. my first read of this author... will be seeking out more.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really, REALLY wanted to like this, given how much I loved the Patrick Melrose novels. Sadly, though, it left me really flat. The first crime was that, as satire, it just wasn't that amusing. Maybe if I knew more about the personalities involved in the 2011 Booker Prize process (which is the basis for this book), I'd have found it funnier, but as it was, the humor felt rather forced.
In addition, the characters were all pretty awful. The women in particular were shallow, narcissistic, and had no real redeeming qualities. Again, I understand that it was satire, and the characters were painted rather broadly, but it didn't do anything for me.
Most importantly, though, is that I don't feel that it had the crisp language and cutting insights that I'd read in the Melrose novels.
Oh, and the ending was utterly unbelievable.
Other than that, I quite enjoyed it.
In addition, the characters were all pretty awful. The women in particular were shallow, narcissistic, and had no real redeeming qualities. Again, I understand that it was satire, and the characters were painted rather broadly, but it didn't do anything for me.
Most importantly, though, is that I don't feel that it had the crisp language and cutting insights that I'd read in the Melrose novels.
Oh, and the ending was utterly unbelievable.
Other than that, I quite enjoyed it.
The dust cover description of this novel is what drew my attention, but I soon found that not judging a book by its cover also pertains to favorable judgment. I enjoy books where there are storylines woven together across character relationships with a common thread strategically placed among them for the reader to pull out; this book promised that, but it did not deliver. The characters’ stories are fragmented and what seem to be major plot movements fizzle out, never to be resolved at the end. If you’re looking for intricate character weaving that drives plot, I suggest picking up Rachman’s “The Imperfectionists” instead.
I think I would have enjoyed this more if it wasn't for the slightly ironic tone and the pathetic/comical streak of most of the characters, it's just not a style that I enjoy. But I liked the idea of the panel to elect a book prize and it must have been fun for the author to try out the different styles in the book samples we were given to read. It wasn't a long book so not a great commitment. I found an interesting quote that could have potentially originated the Don't Look Up film:
"We would rather watch a movie about the threat of a meteor from outer space than contemplate the actual impact of the Capitalist meteor on the Earth." - pretty spot on.
"We would rather watch a movie about the threat of a meteor from outer space than contemplate the actual impact of the Capitalist meteor on the Earth." - pretty spot on.