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hecaldwell's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stats
I felt that I wanted more from Elfrida’s character and there was something missing from Talbot’s character too. I felt I didn’t really know Anny enough to feel sad for her at the end. Maybe because this didn’t hold the same weight as Talbot and Elfrida’s? Theirs was more open to interpretation as well as what had already been read. Anny’s character annoyed me slightly with her moping about.
Having said that the book held a steady pace throughout so it was an easy read.
I felt that I wanted more from Elfrida’s character and there was something missing from Talbot’s character too. I felt I didn’t really know Anny enough to feel sad for her at the end. Maybe because this didn’t hold the same weight as Talbot and Elfrida’s? Theirs was more open to interpretation as well as what had already been read. Anny’s character annoyed me slightly with her moping about.
Having said that the book held a steady pace throughout so it was an easy read.
bookworm_713's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.25
alyssone's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.0
cowilks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
patrick_dale91's review against another edition
2.0
This was spectacularly, consistently mediocre all the way through: as if the book was happy to stay in second gear from start to finish. Three people, a closeted guy man, an alcoholic novelist and a famous actress are all connected with the making of a film, living secret lives in some shape or form. There was nothing good whatsoever about this book: the characters, the prose, the plot, all distinctly sub-par. The unbelievablitiy of it all really annoyed me as well, the quite blasé decisions of some of the characters on whims for staggeringly important decisions is both unreal and lazy writing; a good writer lays the groundwork in terms of innerthoughts and the such for their character's actions- no such thing here. A complete waste of time. I didn't actively hate it and hence the two stars
the_eggelstone's review against another edition
4.0
My first novel by William Boyd and I really like the characterizations, language and wit of the book. The stories of three characters linked to a movie shoot in 1968 in Brighton are all well drawn and interesting even though it becomes soon clear that the titular ‚Trio‘ is in fact more of a ‚Duo‘.
The storyline of the alcoholic novelist felt a little unconnected to the other two and I was wondering when her story would intertwine stronger with the other characters. But this never really materialized.
Even though I liked reading the book a lot, it felt at times a bit random in its plot. There was never a real cohesive story or drama or intrigue going on it fell at times a bit fluff.
The closeted movie producer Talbot Kydd turned out to be the most interesting character in the end with a much more satisfying ending than that of Anny Viklund, the famous actress. I found her fate in the end a rather lazy cop-out of something that was building up all novel long.
To sum it up: Loves the characters, the language and the style of the story, which could have been a bit more focused and stringent.
The storyline of the alcoholic novelist felt a little unconnected to the other two and I was wondering when her story would intertwine stronger with the other characters. But this never really materialized.
Even though I liked reading the book a lot, it felt at times a bit random in its plot. There was never a real cohesive story or drama or intrigue going on it fell at times a bit fluff.
The closeted movie producer Talbot Kydd turned out to be the most interesting character in the end with a much more satisfying ending than that of Anny Viklund, the famous actress. I found her fate in the end a rather lazy cop-out of something that was building up all novel long.
To sum it up: Loves the characters, the language and the style of the story, which could have been a bit more focused and stringent.
abigailshurrock's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
daja57's review against another edition
3.0
This novel is set in 1968 during the making of a movie in Brighton, England. It charts a few weeks in the lives of the three main characters:
Anny is an American film star, whose ex-husband is on the run from the FBI for terrorism offences, is enjoying a delightfully innocent and purely physical sexual relationship with her co-star, a failing pop singer.
Elfrida is an alcoholic novelist with writer's block who is married to the film's director.
Talbot, the film's producer, has a wife and children and a wholly secret flat in London where he is known by another name.
For each of them, their problems multiply until they reach a crisis, at which point each of them finds a different resolution.
It was an interesting story but I found it hard to really empathise with any of the characters. The novel is told from the alternating point of view of the three main characters and, each time, you are inside their heads, feeling what they sense and experiencing their thoughts. But I never felt I was actually inside their heads and I think this was because it was told in the third person and the past tense which kept me at a distance. In film terms it was as if I was watching the actors from a standard camera without any extreme close ups (or any long distance shots).
It is formally divided into three books entitled Duplicity, Surrender and Escape. I suppose the theme of the book is that all of these characters are trying to locate their true self ... and it is only when you know who you truly are that you can be happy.
Anny is an American film star, whose ex-husband is on the run from the FBI for terrorism offences, is enjoying a delightfully innocent and purely physical sexual relationship with her co-star, a failing pop singer.
Elfrida is an alcoholic novelist with writer's block who is married to the film's director.
Talbot, the film's producer, has a wife and children and a wholly secret flat in London where he is known by another name.
For each of them, their problems multiply until they reach a crisis, at which point each of them finds a different resolution.
It was an interesting story but I found it hard to really empathise with any of the characters. The novel is told from the alternating point of view of the three main characters and, each time, you are inside their heads, feeling what they sense and experiencing their thoughts. But I never felt I was actually inside their heads and I think this was because it was told in the third person and the past tense which kept me at a distance. In film terms it was as if I was watching the actors from a standard camera without any extreme close ups (or any long distance shots).
It is formally divided into three books entitled Duplicity, Surrender and Escape. I suppose the theme of the book is that all of these characters are trying to locate their true self ... and it is only when you know who you truly are that you can be happy.
amberw27's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
3 people, linked by a film in production, trying to work out who they are and what to do next.
Bit of a struggle to finish it
Bit of a struggle to finish it
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
3.0
I’m chasing the next 5-star read from Boyd. Ever since I picked up the most uninteresting-looking copy of A Good Man in Africa, struggled my way through the first chapter, and then upon getting going again with chapter 2, discovered one of my favorite books of all time; I’ve been waiting on the next piece of brilliance from this author. Oh well, Trio isn’t it. Not too bad, but still searching for that next mind-blowing experience. Occasional glimpses of the greatness of A Good Man in Africa, but he never captures it in the long run.