Reviews

Day for Night by Jean McNeil

leahar's review

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jimothymax's review against another edition

The audio book was difficult to follow while working. I will try a paper copy

nicolelilac's review against another edition

emotional inspiring slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Oh, how badly I wanted to dnf this in the first half (Richard began to get on my nerves massively), but the twists and new life that part 2 brings was needed. Suddenly the criticism I had was addressed plainly by McNeil, 'not so silly now is it'. So glad I stuck with it, while it does at fall flat (out-of-touch, dated) to me, that's probably because this is showing a perspective of ~2018 that I would not have lived through myself, that of someone older and established in London, and because the last 5 political years panned out in a way we couldn't have expected then, let alone have written a critical book about.
3.5/5

maplegrey's review

reflective 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

3.0

emiliej's review against another edition

3.0

I'm not completely sure what to think of this book. I started reading expecting more exploration of gender, for some reason. I may have looked a bit too hard for hints of that when looking for a book to read. In this regard, the book was disappointing. 
I throughly enjoyed being in the main characters head the first half of the book. It was interesting to witness the things going on in his mind with what was happening in his life. However, once the narrator switched half way through the book, I almost didn't continue reading. I'm glad I did, still, but I think what I enjoyed with this book was mostly just being in Richard's head and how his thoughts were written out, more than what was actually going on outside of his mind. 

thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition

challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War and Antisemitism

jpog_blue's review

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

crafalsk264's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• 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

3.5

During the last years of BREXIT negotiations and the early days of COVID, this novel was published (~2018). The novel uses the contemporary current events as a means of comparing itself to Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando”. 

The issues used to examine are the writings of a German Jewish intellectual, William Benjamin, as he faced the rise of the NAZI regime. One issue common to both their writing is focusing on an immigrant crisis as a spur to the rise of populism and right wing politics and using Virginia Woolf’s “Orlando” as a guide. The issues are compounded when Richard hires a young actor named Elliot for the film version. Richard and Joanna both become enamored of Elliot. 

The book is very intellectual. Elliot’s physical appearance, personal magnetism and intelligence are mixed to create exactly what each one of our characters will find most appealing.The author’s prose is beautiful, although sometimes overdone. There are way too many characters and in order to place them there is a lot of information. There’s even a part when a ghost joins the dialogue. Way too much information and not enough story. I don’t anticipate reading anything else by this author, but if you enjoy literary fiction, British literature and current events compared to past experience, this one may be for you.

tullyndmom's review against another edition

3.0

As someone who's studied Walter Benjamin's essay on translation, I was really excited about this book.

I almost gave up on this book numerous times.

In the end, I'm glad I read it, but it won't appeal to everyone, by a long shot.

My favorite quote: "The future, having been stolen, does not restore itself, even if more favourable conditions emerge. That is the great triumph of fascism."

There's some interesting things here about Brexit and the rise of right-wing movements around the world. The author tries to draw parallels to the rise of fascism in the 1930s, but that argument could have benefitted greatly by broadening the discussion beyond Brexit.

claire60's review

3.0

Like other reviewers I found this book confusing not least because there are gaps where a few words or half a sentence appear to be missing, it makes it hard to follow the action and dialogue at times, not sure if that is the style of the book or a glitch in the ARC. The main character is a film director and therefore his view of the world is quite cinematic, everything is described by him in his head and out loud as if we were watching a film, it may have made a better film. He is also free in sharing his thoughts and observations on the world as he finds it, which I could identify with at times but also felt a little obvious especially the reflections around Brexit. Perhaps more time needs to go by. Sadly I found this distracted me from the purpose of the book and hid the glimmer of insight it was trying to highlight. Certainly nothing like Orlando on which it was modelled.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.