calcitestar's review against another edition
Phew! a LONG read but good I think.
It's about an art exhibition. It's about Northampton. It's about a family. It's about politics. It's about the oddballs. It's a ghost story. It's a history book. It's a brick of adjectives. It's about hope and despair, the then and now and later.
It's about an art exhibition. It's about Northampton. It's about a family. It's about politics. It's about the oddballs. It's a ghost story. It's a history book. It's a brick of adjectives. It's about hope and despair, the then and now and later.
omni_i's review against another edition
Boyfriend said I didn't deserve this book so I flung it at him & said I'm not fucking reading it then
nanc_282's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Reading this book is a bit like training for a marathon. You have to really commit to the end point to get through the rough patches.
It’s got some brilliant parts <spoiler alert> I particularly enjoyed the adventures of little Michael and the dead dead gang <spoiler alert> and some monstrous descriptions of assault and abuse. At then end of it, I felt I could have walked through the Boroughs and known all the inhabitants. The links with Bunyan and Snowy Vernon pacing through time as a pilgrim, and William Blake’s Jerusalem are cleverly done.
But it is really long and it employs some narrative devices less successfully, one chapter is in verse, another in the style of Finnegan’s Wake.
It’s got some brilliant parts <spoiler alert> I particularly enjoyed the adventures of little Michael and the dead dead gang <spoiler alert> and some monstrous descriptions of assault and abuse. At then end of it, I felt I could have walked through the Boroughs and known all the inhabitants. The links with Bunyan and Snowy Vernon pacing through time as a pilgrim, and William Blake’s Jerusalem are cleverly done.
But it is really long and it employs some narrative devices less successfully, one chapter is in verse, another in the style of Finnegan’s Wake.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Incest, Alcohol, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Classism, and Cursing
Moderate: Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Addiction, Confinement, and Racial slurs
Minor: Slavery
cryptoclastic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
joepasaran's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
patkohn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jammasterjamie's review against another edition
5.0
I think I have a new favourite novel and I can't wait to read it again. If you're just starting it or are stuck on some of the more difficult parts, stick through and savour every word because it all comes back beautifully by the end.
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Second read review - May 2017
Although I'm a big fan of rereading, it's not often that I'll go back to the same book within a year (especially one as long as this one), but Jerusalem has been taunting me from my bookshelf and haunting me in my mind, so dive back in I did and without a moment's regret. In fact, I got so much more out of it and garnered such a greater appreciation for the symmetry and art of the whole novel that I'm already starting to think about reading it again! Jerusalem is not a beach book, nor is it for the prude or light-hearted. Jerusalem is The Truth as perceived by Alan Moore, and you only deserve to read it if you're willing and able to give it the time and introspection that it's due. Everything's connected and even the ugly things can be beautiful. This novel is a journey, and it's one I look forward to walking again. And again.
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Fourth read - Feb/Mar 2020
Yeah, this is pretty much my favourite novel at this point. It's just perfect in its symmetry and I'm still picking up on new and exciting details and discoveries. I'm already thinking about when I'm going to read it again.
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Fifth read -Feb 2021
It just gets better and deeper with its intricate detail with every reread, and I'm still picking up jokes and running gags that I either previously missed or forgot. The whole thing really came together as a solid for me this time, and even the Lucia Joyce chapter was a breeze this time. This book is a great testament to everything a novel can be with the right amount of imagination and organization behind it. A lot of reviews here say that Moore could have used an editor, and to that I can only say that he obviously had a great one and that reviewers who say this aren't aware of how much thought, detail, and connectivity went into pretty much each and every sentence.
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Sixth Read - March 2022
This is my all-time favourite novel. Period. Truly transcendent story-telling.
---------------------------------------------------
Second read review - May 2017
Although I'm a big fan of rereading, it's not often that I'll go back to the same book within a year (especially one as long as this one), but Jerusalem has been taunting me from my bookshelf and haunting me in my mind, so dive back in I did and without a moment's regret. In fact, I got so much more out of it and garnered such a greater appreciation for the symmetry and art of the whole novel that I'm already starting to think about reading it again! Jerusalem is not a beach book, nor is it for the prude or light-hearted. Jerusalem is The Truth as perceived by Alan Moore, and you only deserve to read it if you're willing and able to give it the time and introspection that it's due. Everything's connected and even the ugly things can be beautiful. This novel is a journey, and it's one I look forward to walking again. And again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Fourth read - Feb/Mar 2020
Yeah, this is pretty much my favourite novel at this point. It's just perfect in its symmetry and I'm still picking up on new and exciting details and discoveries. I'm already thinking about when I'm going to read it again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fifth read -Feb 2021
It just gets better and deeper with its intricate detail with every reread, and I'm still picking up jokes and running gags that I either previously missed or forgot. The whole thing really came together as a solid for me this time, and even the Lucia Joyce chapter was a breeze this time. This book is a great testament to everything a novel can be with the right amount of imagination and organization behind it. A lot of reviews here say that Moore could have used an editor, and to that I can only say that he obviously had a great one and that reviewers who say this aren't aware of how much thought, detail, and connectivity went into pretty much each and every sentence.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sixth Read - March 2022
This is my all-time favourite novel. Period. Truly transcendent story-telling.
j4ndo's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
chris_fiebelkorn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
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
3.5
tiggytiggy's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0