Reviews

The Way of All Flesh: by Samuel Butler

robdob's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes

3.5

roseanne80's review against another edition

5.0

Another English classic that I still enjoy re-reading.

allan_p's review against another edition

5.0

Truly an excellent novel, Butler does have a slight tendency towards over zealous digression, but this book is absolutely stellar.

Pontifex is purely an idea...

"He had crossed his rubicon- not perhaps very heroically or dramatically, but then it is only in dramas that people act dramatically."

jen52's review against another edition

3.0

While there are many reasons for the modern reader to be frustrated by this classic, and for many reasons I was, it has redeeming qualities. At its worst moments, it's long-winded and confusing. At its best, there are nuggets of truth and little criticisms of society (they truly don't just apply to Victorian society - many are still valid). One of my favorites near the end:

“It rather fatigues him, but "no man's opinions," he sometimes says, "can be worth holding unless he knows how to deny them easily and gracefully upon occasion in the cause of charity.""

It's these little splashes of color that kept me coming back to a book if otherwise have stopped reading long ago. I must admit, I'm being lazy and wasn't prepared for such a difficult read.

helsbelles's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

skochara's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

outcolder's review against another edition

4.0

I laughed out loud a lot in the beginning but towards the end the preachy, self-satisfied tone overwhelmed the strident criticism of preachy, self-satisfied Victorians. The morals of the stories have held up well in the hundred years since it was first published, but the weird abuses of Darwin and the lack of any reflection on the unfairness of British Classism left me feeling like some of the resolution is dangling open. Like, his alcoholic “wife.” A beautiful servant girl who has brought a dozen illegitimate children in to the world and served a number of prison terms deserves more sympathy then either Earnest or Mr. Overton can muster.

When I was about half way through, I was thinking of so many people I would recommend this to, but now that I am finished, I just want to leave it in the take-one, leave-one book box on Margaretenplatz and get on with my life.

jmm11's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

3.0

evgeorge's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

sarahrussell's review against another edition

dark hopeful informative reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0