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faintgirl's review against another edition
3.0
Robert is the exceedingly precocious child of a once wealthy British family. After narrating his own birth, we are introduced to the rest of his family, his attachment parenting mother who has forsaken her husband for her children and his father, who feels injured by both his wife and mother and their inability to notice how important he is. As the father gets more and more sozzled, his wit gets more acerbic, and we realise that all their behavior stems from a reaction to their own mothers and the care they received growing up. However nobody is particularly sympathetic and the whole thing is a little strained aside from some snarky but amusing observations.
inescore's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. Just wanted to point out that if someone who is reading this, just watched the mini-series... I think you should read this one. I love Mary, I love Robert and I love Thomas, and in the tv show.. I just loved Patrick. Actually, there is not a lot of Patrick’s perspective in here, and that was nice to see. It’s a problematic book of course, but I really enjoyed this one.
ladygaga's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
slow-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
4.25
coffeemybook's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Thanks for reiterating that children are a pain in the ass
mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition
5.0
This is a second reading, this having been the first of the Melrose novels I came across two years ago - now all the richer for the hinterland not only of Patrick's appalling childhood but also his drug fuelled teens and twenties. His mid life muddle is much like everyone else's and characterised by the uselessness of trying to order or change anyone else, especially one's parents. One more book to go...
cmgreen's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
tense
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
4.0
miss_blackbird's review against another edition
4.0
On holiday with rebirth, death, and depression, life is but a fleeting guest.