hermestri's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
avalon111's review against another edition
3.0
Some wonderful writing in this. Well, pages and pages of it.
Disturbing sometimes, but never confusing or incoherent. I'd say it's like nothing I've read before, but the reality is most Mike Harrison books are like this.
There's one particular element I love about 'Course; it travels about a bit. That is, quite a few locations are featured, and strangely-enough, I know quite a few of them. Such as Huddersfield, which I visit twice-a-year. Manchester, Carnforth (at the edge of Cumbria) London...When the reader actually knows the locations a writer employs, it does create a special connection with a book.
Disturbing sometimes, but never confusing or incoherent. I'd say it's like nothing I've read before, but the reality is most Mike Harrison books are like this.
There's one particular element I love about 'Course; it travels about a bit. That is, quite a few locations are featured, and strangely-enough, I know quite a few of them. Such as Huddersfield, which I visit twice-a-year. Manchester, Carnforth (at the edge of Cumbria) London...When the reader actually knows the locations a writer employs, it does create a special connection with a book.
peapod_boston's review against another edition
3.0
Any book with a character who says, "China's in the heart, Jack" starts out ahead of the game. Another beautiful and disturbing outing from Harrison.
kittenscribble's review against another edition
1.0
As someone who greatly enjoys both classic literature and speculative fiction, I was greatly disappointed by "The Course of the Heart," which promised to meld the two. The writing is overwrought and frequently incoherent. The reader is given no motivation whatsoever to continue reading the book; the characters are interchangeable madmen, unsympathetic and bereft of will. Their background is withheld throughout in a fashion that would be maddening, if the reader could be brought to care. No foundation is laid, no tension is built, and no conclusion is reached when the characters finally drift offstage at the end.
I have not read anything else by M. John Harrison, who seems to be a well-respected author; for all I know, he could have more than earned his acclaim with other works. I would not recommend this one.
I have not read anything else by M. John Harrison, who seems to be a well-respected author; for all I know, he could have more than earned his acclaim with other works. I would not recommend this one.
jessriguez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
carmelitasita's review against another edition
2.0
This is a beautifully worded book, very descriptive and evocative. The story is based on an occurance that is never fully explained, but that affects the characters' day-to-day experience for the rest of their lives. I can't say I enjoyed the story, but the way it was written made it easy to read.
anarchistaesthete's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
heyhawk's review against another edition
5.0
https://www.danscanon.com/2020/08/the-course-of-heart-by-m-john-harrison.html