eweindesign's review against another edition
2.0
I initially had high hopes for this novel... a story about the author of Sherlock Holmes involved in solving a real life mystery? But while the problem was intriguing, how do I put this... I was nearly 2/3 through the book by the time the game was truly afoot.
Barnes spends so much time introducing us to the origins of the two protagonists, Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji, with the minutiae of their life's work and interests, things that could have been dispensed of in pat sentences were multiple chapters.
One particularly overdone exposition was the nature of Doyle's fascination with psychical practices. Very creepy the theological theories he held to, and the dangerous stuff he was playing with.
There was far too much build up and biographical trivia to keep the momentum of the story. This pedantic pace combined with Barnes' tendency to get caught up in description of every meal, every costume...
Sorry to have wasted my time on this one. I committed to finishing it to find out the ending. It felt like slogging through quicksand, honestly. Ultimately found myself doing some extreme skimming on the last quarter of the book.
If you want a well-crafted novel which imagines Doyle in a sleuthing adventure, I recommend you pick up The Sherlockian by Graham Moore.
Barnes spends so much time introducing us to the origins of the two protagonists, Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji, with the minutiae of their life's work and interests, things that could have been dispensed of in pat sentences were multiple chapters.
One particularly overdone exposition was the nature of Doyle's fascination with psychical practices. Very creepy the theological theories he held to, and the dangerous stuff he was playing with.
There was far too much build up and biographical trivia to keep the momentum of the story. This pedantic pace combined with Barnes' tendency to get caught up in description of every meal, every costume...
Sorry to have wasted my time on this one. I committed to finishing it to find out the ending. It felt like slogging through quicksand, honestly. Ultimately found myself doing some extreme skimming on the last quarter of the book.
If you want a well-crafted novel which imagines Doyle in a sleuthing adventure, I recommend you pick up The Sherlockian by Graham Moore.
helenkat's review against another edition
4.0
Slow to start in a biographical manner dealing with George and Arthur as children. Followed by the events in their lives until they meet. Angst on both sides - George and his persecution, Arthur loving a woman not his sick wife and the ghost of Sherlock Holmes constantly with him.
Two people who could not have been any different if they tried - loud boisterous Arthur and quiet, systematic George. There is a sadness to both I found.
Themes of injustice, racism, honour, love, preconceptions and spirituality. In part detective novel, in part biography, in part a look at humanity during the Victorian age.
One thing that surprised me was for such a more forward thinking man , Doyle didn't agree with the vote for women (not told if he changed his mind in later life). That did disappoint me. Though I still found myself liking him thanks to his determination to see George cleared of any crimes. He seems a complex man who needed to be active. Needed to have a task or a cause.
I have been slowly reading the Sherlock Holmes stories and so seeing this, I wanted to know a little about his creator.
Two people who could not have been any different if they tried - loud boisterous Arthur and quiet, systematic George. There is a sadness to both I found.
Themes of injustice, racism, honour, love, preconceptions and spirituality. In part detective novel, in part biography, in part a look at humanity during the Victorian age.
One thing that surprised me was for such a more forward thinking man , Doyle didn't agree with the vote for women (not told if he changed his mind in later life). That did disappoint me. Though I still found myself liking him thanks to his determination to see George cleared of any crimes. He seems a complex man who needed to be active. Needed to have a task or a cause.
I have been slowly reading the Sherlock Holmes stories and so seeing this, I wanted to know a little about his creator.
greebytime's review against another edition
2.0
Utterly perplexed what the hook is here. The prose was nice but the plot was fairly thin and, I’ll just say it, not really interesting in any real way. I’ve long heard the praises of Julian Barnes but man this was not a great introduction to him for me.
erink87's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
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? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Racism
mazza57's review against another edition
2.0
takes too long to get going spends too long telling what comes after and only a miniscule amount on Doyle's investigation into the events. Not interesting enough
anonblueberry's review against another edition
3.0
I'm ashamed to say this took me well over a year to read. I started it as required reading for a university module, and while I had been hooked on it, I had to put it down so I could get the rest of my reading finished, and so it languished.
That said it was a really interesting and engaging read.
That said it was a really interesting and engaging read.
shahrun's review against another edition
4.0
The subject matter was a fascinating surprise for me. I certainly felt for George, as someone with a similar genetic make up Who is living now I experience much of the same (minus the penal servitude). I used to love reading Sherlock Holmes books as a child, but knew nothing of the author so this book was a great starting point to broaden my knowledge. For subject matter I had no previous experience of, I felt the author did a great job or imagining what went on. It all felt very authentic. It was just a bit dry. I was enjoying reading it but didn’t feel compelled to zip through it.
dileksayed89's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first time I have read a book by Julian Barnes, and I'm very impressed. This was meticulously researched, and beautifully written. Barnes was quite thorough, beginning at childhood for both the main characters, so it is not until the halfway of the novel that Arthur and George finally meet. While this provides richness to the story, it also makes for a rather VERY slow start to the book.
That being said, I do look forward to reading Barnes' "Levels of Life." I have heard that Barnes has special skills in writing about complexities of love with key understandings. We also witness that in this novel.
This is an enjoyable and historically accurate account of the intersecting lives of George Edalji and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The former being the earnest son of a country Vicar, a myopic solicitor, who also happens to be half South Asian in ancestry. The latter being the fascinating, chivalrous, athletic, literary inventor of Sherlock Holmes. Their lives meet for less than a year, when Sir Doyle comes across Edalji's case - one which can only be described as a grave miscarriage of justice and racism - and does everything in his power to right George's wronged name.
The story of Arthur and George is told alternately, like two separate train tracks, before they are skillfully merged. Parts I and II proceed very slowly as the distinct background of Arthur and George is fleshed out and offer the reader a grasp of their core identity. This is important as the strength of this story rests on our confidence in the integrity of the key characters, particularly George. Therefore, Part III that centers on the Edalji case and drives the plot makes for compelling reading. Questions asked in this section are the following:
-What is the motive behind the vicious attacks to frame an innocent man?
-Why would a mild-mannered man with few acquaintances have enemies bent on ruining his career and reputation?
-Is it racially motivated?
Also, we see how ludicrous that Edalji is convicted in the absence of evidence, motivation, and opportunity for him to commit the crimes of which he has been accused. We also see similar examples of racist-motivated convictions to this day.
This novel is an exploration of the theme of perception and its implications for human judgment and behavior. Sir Arthur is an ophthalmologist. George is "as blind as the proverbial bat". Sir Arthur has eyes afforded by his medical training to judge rightly at his first meeting with George. In his own words, "I do not think. I do not believe. I know." On the other hand, the police and the legal system perceive George as a half-caste, and attribute blame to the pull of his Parsee blood.
In the background, we also read Sir Arthur’s love story. It raises questions about what it means to live a life of chivalry and honor. Three years after Touie (his wife) becomes terminally ill, Sir Arthur falls in love with Jean Leckie. Arthur conducts himself as honorably as he can in his relationship with Jean; their meetings are carefully planned. Jean is his "mystical wife" while his wife lives.
Lastly, Arthur and George is a novel about being English. The root of Englishness, Sir Arthur believes, resides in "the long-gone, long-remembered, long-invented world of chivalry."
That being said, I do look forward to reading Barnes' "Levels of Life." I have heard that Barnes has special skills in writing about complexities of love with key understandings. We also witness that in this novel.
This is an enjoyable and historically accurate account of the intersecting lives of George Edalji and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The former being the earnest son of a country Vicar, a myopic solicitor, who also happens to be half South Asian in ancestry. The latter being the fascinating, chivalrous, athletic, literary inventor of Sherlock Holmes. Their lives meet for less than a year, when Sir Doyle comes across Edalji's case - one which can only be described as a grave miscarriage of justice and racism - and does everything in his power to right George's wronged name.
The story of Arthur and George is told alternately, like two separate train tracks, before they are skillfully merged. Parts I and II proceed very slowly as the distinct background of Arthur and George is fleshed out and offer the reader a grasp of their core identity. This is important as the strength of this story rests on our confidence in the integrity of the key characters, particularly George. Therefore, Part III that centers on the Edalji case and drives the plot makes for compelling reading. Questions asked in this section are the following:
-What is the motive behind the vicious attacks to frame an innocent man?
-Why would a mild-mannered man with few acquaintances have enemies bent on ruining his career and reputation?
-Is it racially motivated?
Also, we see how ludicrous that Edalji is convicted in the absence of evidence, motivation, and opportunity for him to commit the crimes of which he has been accused. We also see similar examples of racist-motivated convictions to this day.
This novel is an exploration of the theme of perception and its implications for human judgment and behavior. Sir Arthur is an ophthalmologist. George is "as blind as the proverbial bat". Sir Arthur has eyes afforded by his medical training to judge rightly at his first meeting with George. In his own words, "I do not think. I do not believe. I know." On the other hand, the police and the legal system perceive George as a half-caste, and attribute blame to the pull of his Parsee blood.
In the background, we also read Sir Arthur’s love story. It raises questions about what it means to live a life of chivalry and honor. Three years after Touie (his wife) becomes terminally ill, Sir Arthur falls in love with Jean Leckie. Arthur conducts himself as honorably as he can in his relationship with Jean; their meetings are carefully planned. Jean is his "mystical wife" while his wife lives.
Lastly, Arthur and George is a novel about being English. The root of Englishness, Sir Arthur believes, resides in "the long-gone, long-remembered, long-invented world of chivalry."