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rosekk's review against another edition
3.0
The sarcastic humour of the book kept it from being too much of a trial to read. Unfortunately, it was still a bit of a slog. It was too repetitive in stating it's arguments. The same ideas were stated in almost the same words every few chapters. They also weren't presented very subtly, and often opportunities to weave themes into the story more nearly were ignored. For instance, Owen often lectures his fellows on Socialist principles (and he's no great orator - I'm not surprised few of his companions are convinced), and the narrator frequently offers the same views. Both tell us that the root cause if inequality is the system everyone lives within, and not one person or policy. At one point we're even told by the narrator to sympathise with the otherwise villainous Hunter, because anyone in his position would be driven to act in the same way. I can envision an alternate version of the novel where Owen (our socialist hero), is put in a similar position to Hunter and is forced to put his principles against the crushing system he hates. It would have made for a more interesting story, and would have given more dimension to his character. Instead, we just get told these things and never see it play out.
The book had a lot of potential. Since it was written by someone who had worked in the industry he wrote about, it offered detail and understanding of the characters lives & livelihoods. It was amusing in places, but never lost sight of the dire circumstances most of the characters existed in. Sadly, it seemed the writer didn't trust his audience to understand him without spelling out simplistic arguments over and over, which damaged the quality of the book both as a story and as a persuasive political piece.
The book had a lot of potential. Since it was written by someone who had worked in the industry he wrote about, it offered detail and understanding of the characters lives & livelihoods. It was amusing in places, but never lost sight of the dire circumstances most of the characters existed in. Sadly, it seemed the writer didn't trust his audience to understand him without spelling out simplistic arguments over and over, which damaged the quality of the book both as a story and as a persuasive political piece.
freyacurtiis's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
finn681414's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
elaineruss's review against another edition
5.0
What a great book. An instant favourite. If you've any interest in social history or our political systems it's a must read. In fact it could have been written yesterday to be fair.
As one of the other reviews mentions below, I think it's strength lies in it's focus, not on the outliers of society, not on the completely impoverished, but on those who have been working solidly all their lives and who have helped maintain a society that is designed to keep them at "their level". Essentially, the majority of us, the working classes.
Occasionally the narrative is lost as the author gets caught up in his explanations of socialism but I never once tired of it.
Truly a worthy read (in the most positive sense) and as relevant today, in this divided Britian, as it ever was I imagine.
As one of the other reviews mentions below, I think it's strength lies in it's focus, not on the outliers of society, not on the completely impoverished, but on those who have been working solidly all their lives and who have helped maintain a society that is designed to keep them at "their level". Essentially, the majority of us, the working classes.
Occasionally the narrative is lost as the author gets caught up in his explanations of socialism but I never once tired of it.
Truly a worthy read (in the most positive sense) and as relevant today, in this divided Britian, as it ever was I imagine.
libraryofcalliope's review against another edition
5.0
This is my favourite book. I hadn’t reread it in a while and I also appreciated rereading it now that I’m “grown up” and more used to novels written in that time period. The story follows the period of a year and a bit of a town called Musborough (based on Hastings). The town has a poverty problem. The majority can barely afford to pay their rent and bills despite working as much as they are able to. But what are the causes of poverty? Is it laziness? Is it the lack of Plenty of Work? Is it mismanagement? Is it drunkenness? Or is the answer money itself? Tressell uses this set up to discuss and promote the idea of socialism as a solution to poverty. Much like a Socratic dialogue, his character Owen walks through the benefits of socialism in the lunch breaks of his coworkers while the novel’s narrative demonstrates the need for it. However, while you can lead the horse to water but you can’t make him drink. The novel is a really interesting and influential, and I highly recommend everyone read it. It’s timely as ever and while it doesn’t address all inequalities of society, so many of the points are still painfully relevant.
brtuck's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mazza57's review against another edition
4.0
it is amazing that reading this a century on from its own timespan little has changed in the political nature of our country. The characters are also easily identifiable in today's society. The depth of poverty - thankfully is not so extreme and i wonder if our benefit society today appreciates what they do have. There are many questions that i have asked myself whilst reading this - my answers are varied and often not complete. For the main part it is an easy read although it does g on a bit - sort of over egging the pudding. I am firmly of the belief that any book over 600 pages has an excess of repetition in it.
guinness74's review against another edition
2.0
For want of an editor, this book might have been a lot better...and a lot shorter. I subscribe to the Socialist theory of life; I've never made bones about that. Consequently, I enjoy reading works that cater to that theory. This particular tome is one that espouses Socialism in a similar manner to Bellamy's "Looking Backward." However, chapter after chapter is the same story again and again, and the fiction doesn't hold up as well as the cause that it purports to edify. It's a good story, and one I think would do a lot of good if people were to clear their minds and understand how things would work...but maybe leave out 10-20 of the 53 chapters and you'd be better off. Anyway, it's an okay book, but it's just too darn long for what it has to say.
woolfardis's review against another edition
5.0
Read as part of The Infinite Variety Reading Challenge, based on the BBC's Big Read Poll of 2003.
Just wonderful. At times sickening, but also heartening and exactly what one needs in this era, for good and bad. Moreso brilliant for what it stands for rather than how it is written or the plot, but even so the plot is worthy in its own right. Full review to follow.
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Just wonderful. At times sickening, but also heartening and exactly what one needs in this era, for good and bad. Moreso brilliant for what it stands for rather than how it is written or the plot, but even so the plot is worthy in its own right. Full review to follow.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy