Reviews

Le buone maniere by Molly Keane

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patsmith139's review against another edition

3.0

Probably a 3.5 in reality. Molly Keene’s writing is undoubtedly very accomplished-I certainly felt sympathy for the very unlovely main character. There was so much hidden and I’m sure I missed some of the references to affairs with servants, masturbation, alcoholism, homosexuality and more besides. And what exactly did cause Aroon’s mother’s death at the beginning of the novel? I liked the ending but it was bittersweet because you just had to go back to know everything did not end happily ever after. A sad tale about many many unfulfilled lives that was just a bit too bleak for me.

carolyneaton's review against another edition

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dark sad slow-paced

Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Good Behaviour is about a decaying genteel Anglo Irish family in the 1920s. The story is told by the daughter of the house, yet she does not grasp what is going on at all. It’s a very clever novel in its construction, but the characters are fairly grotesque and so I found it hard to like.

elaineofastolat's review against another edition

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2.0

I must have missed something, because I didn’t think there was anything at all funny about this book. It was downright depressing. Poor Aroon. The only saving saving grace was the last two pages.

This is the last time I read a book because I love the cover.