This review is a bit delayed (I've read another of the books since) so will probably be a bit short... It took me a long time to get into the book as I didn't really enjoy the first chapter and its meandering descriptions. I was intrigued by the mother character and felt she could have been explored further. I enjoyed the book more the more it went on but the radio / telegraphy side to it didn't interest me at all. 5/10
I was intrigued by the lay out of the house and gardens and ended up actually drawing a plan which helped me understand the activity and movements of the characters. The story itself presents a wealth of detailed information on various topics from bee keeping to the workings of weaponry. I found the intensity of these descriptions quite exhausting and have read the book in short bursts in order to prevent "brain ache". The section on the London drug scene bored me,it lacked any lustre, but perhaps it portrayed his aimlessness. my general comment being , a clever book with detailed research into specific studies. I do agree with Sarah that the mother was an interesting character and I would like to know more about her.I felt his sister to be not quite beleavable at times.
I was so intrigued by the description of the house and grounds I drew a plan so I could follow the logistics more clearly. This is an encyclopedia from silk production.bee keeping,taxidermy,radio hams and weaponry.I found this quite exhausting and had to read in short bursts, in order to prevent "brain ache".However I found myself having to look up the Hindu and Greek mythology references,which gave an extention to the book. I found the funeral scene most moving and encapsulated a truth about people and their reactions to such an event.The mother was giving herself in the gift of the shroud. I also would like to have known more about the mother. I did not enjoy the section on the war plain.I think because the topic has been saturated in the last few years, and I have read enough. I felt the child,Sophie was unbelieveably advanced in her ideas. I enjoyed the detail of the book and felt as though I had done a degree course at the end. 7/10
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ReplyDeleteThis review is a bit delayed (I've read another of the books since) so will probably be a bit short... It took me a long time to get into the book as I didn't really enjoy the first chapter and its meandering descriptions. I was intrigued by the mother character and felt she could have been explored further. I enjoyed the book more the more it went on but the radio / telegraphy side to it didn't interest me at all. 5/10
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by the lay out of the house and gardens and ended up actually drawing a plan which helped me understand the activity and movements of the characters.
ReplyDeleteThe story itself presents a wealth of detailed information on various topics from bee keeping to the workings of weaponry. I found the intensity of these descriptions quite exhausting and have read the book in short bursts in order to prevent "brain ache". The section on the London drug scene bored me,it lacked any lustre, but perhaps it portrayed his aimlessness.
my general comment being , a clever book with detailed research into specific studies.
I do agree with Sarah that the mother was an interesting character and I would like to know more about her.I felt his sister to be not quite beleavable at times.
Posted on behalf of Pat
ReplyDeleteI was so intrigued by the description of the house and grounds I drew a plan so I could follow the logistics more clearly.
This is an encyclopedia from silk production.bee keeping,taxidermy,radio hams and weaponry.I found this quite exhausting and had to read in short bursts, in order to prevent "brain ache".However I found myself having to look up the Hindu and Greek mythology references,which gave an extention to the book.
I found the funeral scene most moving and encapsulated a truth about people and their reactions to such an event.The mother was giving herself in the gift of the shroud. I also would like to have known more about the mother.
I did not enjoy the section on the war plain.I think because the topic has been saturated in the last few years, and I have read enough.
I felt the child,Sophie was unbelieveably advanced in her ideas.
I enjoyed the detail of the book and felt as though I had done a degree course at the end.
7/10