Rupert Mollusc

Lacks narrative clarity

Revisado: 02-13-25

I had to give up in confusion, which is a pity because there are important ideas in this book.
My biggest gripe is that the descriptions of prominent events become so convoluted that I ended up wondering who was who and who did what and which side they were on.
References to “northern southern states” and “southern northern states”, while useful in principle become mind boggling when he uses the concepts to describe the mindset of Buchanan - he’s a southern northerner with more in common with northern southerners than northern northerners - I think - and let’s not even speak of southern southerners or folk from the Midwest….
Finally he’s not above a bit of dimestore psychology- the account of the Brooks- Sumner incident is a case in point.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A deep and broad assessment of American slavery

Revisado: 06-19-23

The scope and detail are impressive. The narrator’s seesaw intonation grates. Definitely worth a listen.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Wonderful narration by Stephen Fry, but the radio play is still superior

Revisado: 05-20-23

If you’ve heard the radio play from which the book is derived you might think it falls a bit flat. Nonetheless Fry brings each character to life and the whole story is thoroughly entertaining.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Tiresome

Revisado: 04-29-23

Bit of a predictable pot boiler plot that eventually leaves you feeling bored and annoyed.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Important story but the narrator is awful

Revisado: 03-09-23

Oh my god the nasal twang is annoying and made the book unlistenable. A real pity.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Fantastic narration

Revisado: 04-07-20

Christian Rodska’s narration is excellent and voices each character very well.
The story is typical Waugh. Well meaning Catholic aristocratic introvert finds identity and worth by volunteering for the army only to find himself the victim of unsmiling fate. I’m reminded of Graham Greene as well as Brideshead Revisited. The strength of the novel lies in Waugh’s beautiful prose and vivid descriptions of times, places and characters rather than any particular sympathy for his hero.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 2 personas

Beaucoup, beaucoup trop long

Revisado: 02-27-20

C’est qui gâte ce roman c’est d’être trop long par un bon tiers ce qui fait que que idées importantes sont perdues. les acteurs sont trop souvent des caricatures - le médecin juif mondain , sa belle fille vulnérable, le soldat peintre etc.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Fascinating

Revisado: 01-29-20

Fiction or history? Observer or actor? Laurent Binet weaves his narrator inextricably into the events of history. Undoubtedly a masterpiece.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

War and Peace on Discworld

Revisado: 08-02-19

Love, duty, honour, courage, betrayal, gender roles, cross-dressing, geopolitics, fake news... Pratchett in a more thoughtful mood than usual channels Tolstoy, Remarque, Kubrick and de Beauvoir. Brilliant.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Not great...

Revisado: 10-18-18

I succumbed to the hype on this one. After all it was Barack Obama's favourite book of 2017, and he knows great literature, right ? Well, maybe not. Nicholas Guy Smith does a good job with the narration, but he can't overcome the material. Every detail seems contrived, Mr Towles has a poor grasp of idiom, his insights are trite, many of the character interactions seem implausible... I had to stop listening, as eventually the book's effect on me was like nails on a blackboard.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona