Reviews

Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

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hadeanstars's review against another edition

3.0

Unarguably well written, but rather depressing and unsettling - in equal measure. I am not sure if Greene was depressive, but I suspect he was a misanthrope. This novel contains a range of singularly unprepossessing and unlikable characters. In fact, only one character, Ida Arnold, had any redeeming qualities, while almost everyone else was to one degree or another dreadful. Apart from Ida, they all sported a seriously defective moral compass too. So, very accomplished, not very uplifting.

romeolover's review against another edition

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3.0

wouldve received a higher rating if not for the authors deluded idea boobs can display emotion?

vilgot's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

unfaith's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

lucahws's review against another edition

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2.5

This book is murky, like the seafront in the dark, characters are hard to distinguish as are places and actions. More clarity would have been better, I thought Ida was the most compelling character but she lacked time in the novel and even when she did feature the author was yapping about her breasts. Nice ending though.

jackroche's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense 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

A passionate case that not InCels but VolCels are the true psychos.

Greene has been the author I’ve been most excited to try for over a year, so disappointment was somewhat inevitable. As a crime thriller it’s not that riveting, possibly a product of “inflation”. The tightening of the noose around Pinkie’s neck is a little too slow for my taste; there’s some escalation, but very few changes in direction, and not all that much incident. Better as a piece of Catholic literature. Greene’s prose style sells the damnation his characters are constantly considering. And most of the characters are great - his goons all have distinct flavors, between Spicer’s cowardly rationalizing, Cubitt’s wallowing self-pity, Dallow’s gruff groundedness, Drewitt’s pretentious entitlement. It’s no wonder they fall into the orbit of a 17 year-old. Pinkie’s youth is also delicately handled - his insecurity and self-loathing MAKE him the monster he is. And poor Rose… I’m a sucker for characters of her type, soft-hearted fools too sweet for the world, wounded animals who will follow the first person to throw them a scrap. It’s Ida who has aged the worst, her “bawdy vitality” feeling one note by the end.

I was starting to get more pulled in by the end, with all the talk of choosing damnation because it’s all you’ve ever known and shunning a heaven that won’t take the one you love. I know Greene considered this one of his “entertainments”, so I’ll probably give him one more shot.