miketheboy89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
An engaging, if unsatisfying, take on a classic.
Was that guy into a lizard the whole time?
Was that guy into a lizard the whole time?
lazygal's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting reworking of Othello, with the action taking place in some unnamed South American country with serious race issues. OthelloOtello is a black footballsoccer star, traded to an almost all-white southern team. At a party to meet the Very Important People in his new city, he's introduced to DesdemonaDesmerelda (or Dezi), a Shakira-clone. IagoDiego, his manager, sets the tragedy in motion; the other players (Michael Cass, Hector Brabanto, Paul Faustino) all do their best to keep the plot rolling. There's even a Bianca, an Emilia and the Shakespeare PR company. Just in case you've missed the similarities. Oh, and some of the action takes place in movie/play format.
The problem is, it works. The themes of race, class and celebrity are timeless and Peet does a good job of showing that they haven't gone away. The setting - football/soccer, South America - keep the action just foreign enough to interest students, while more astute readers will realize that this could just as easily happen here in America.
According to the jacket, this is the third Paul Faustino novel (and yes, I know Faust isn't one of Shakespeare's creations). Guess I'll have to look up the first two.
The problem is, it works. The themes of race, class and celebrity are timeless and Peet does a good job of showing that they haven't gone away. The setting - football/soccer, South America - keep the action just foreign enough to interest students, while more astute readers will realize that this could just as easily happen here in America.
According to the jacket, this is the third Paul Faustino novel (and yes, I know Faust isn't one of Shakespeare's creations). Guess I'll have to look up the first two.
thebooksupplier's review against another edition
3.0
It's still a tragedy, but at least they didn't die.
janebranson's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great read, and I've realised I need to put all Mal Peet's novels on my to-read list. It's a loose retelling of Othello, updated with the hero recast as an iconic footballer (Otello's number is Beckham's 23) and his wife the pop-star daughter of a South American politician with her own cult-celeb status. Like Shakespeare, Peet explores some absorbing and philosophical themes - obsession, love, fame, family, jealousy- but he's also developing his sports journalist character Paul Faustino, for whom this is a third outing in a series of football themed books. I'm no sports fan, but the tight and pacy writing, as well as the Shakespeare links, had me completely hooked. There is a tense subplot, involving the fate of three street kids, that throws the corrupt state, the pointless media (El Sol, anyone?) and the decadence of the main characters into sharp relief. It's true that the motivations of Diego, Otello's agent, remain unclear, but then Iago's evil is pretty pure in form too. All this, and Peet writes the kind of prose that makes you forget you are reading.
bookswitheleni's review against another edition
3.0
2.5
I read this book for school.
Therefore, my opinion of this book is slightly tainted as I didn’t want to read it.
The connection to Othello was done fairly well, but it was a bit over dramatic, rushed and unrealistic. The characters were not developed and the ending was abrupt and poorly planned.
Some parts were fast paced and entertaining, but overall this was a very average book and a less than enjoyable read...
I read this book for school.
Therefore, my opinion of this book is slightly tainted as I didn’t want to read it.
The connection to Othello was done fairly well, but it was a bit over dramatic, rushed and unrealistic. The characters were not developed and the ending was abrupt and poorly planned.
Some parts were fast paced and entertaining, but overall this was a very average book and a less than enjoyable read...
tharina's review against another edition
3.0
So this is Othello as a famous South American soccer player. I would probably have enjoyed Exposure more if I had more than a passing acquaintance with the source material; it felt like there were a few inside jokes that flew right over. It is interesting to see what Mal Peet does with the original, the writing is solid and the characters are satisfyingly human.
clairehargreaves01's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderfully well-written story of celebrity, love and compassion, Exposure is based in part on Othello. I find Mal Peet's characters completely fascinating and enticing and his written style is effortless and captivating.