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blairmahoney's review against another edition
4.0
In the book I'm currently reading, Suppose a Sentence, Brian Dillon mentions "Beckett's own merciless efforts to rid himself of Joyce's influence" and he certainly hadn't done that in this, his first novel. There's a lot to admire here, and at times I found myself gasping with admiration or noticing an internal chuckle even as I struggled through the thickets of obscure verbiage and allusion. But ultimately it felt like a kind of admirable parody of Joyce and enjoyable as that is (for me, at least) it doesn't match what Beckett would go on to achieve when he found his own voice.
dcsilbertrust's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
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? It's complicated
2.75
ishpreet404's review against another edition
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
ronanmcd's review against another edition
4.0
There are flashes of the brilliance to come in this early text by Beckett. He plays delightfully on the moments between moments. The making of toast becomes a rite of passage, a herculean task to perfection. The book is a series of happenings, each sublime in stilted awkwardness; a social misfit meanders his way through in and out of the narratives, being challenged by a confluence of female characters.
Beckett was fascinated by Joyce and this book of pan-Dublin scenes opens a dialogue with that author's own famous book of short stories.
Beckett was fascinated by Joyce and this book of pan-Dublin scenes opens a dialogue with that author's own famous book of short stories.
rasmussimmermann's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
topfife's review against another edition
4.0
Beckett beginning to show beyond the shadow of Joyce. Slight plot and narrative, glimpsing out from under the weight of great words and elaborately structured sentences. It’s a swim amongst vocabulary, sometimes for the delight of vocabulary’s own sake and sometimes for the sensation of those words and twists.
Rushed ending to a very enjoyable snapshot.
Rushed ending to a very enjoyable snapshot.
ampersunder's review against another edition
4.0
‰ЫПMrs bboggs was utterly nonplussed. How was it possible to name a woman without thinking? The thing was psychologically impossible. With mouth ajar and nostrils dilated she goggled psychological impossibilities at the offender.‰Ыќ
Remember: Blue-eyed cats are always deaf; the burrowing tucutucu is occasionally blind, but the mole is never sober.
Stories of similar/identical material to Dream of Fair to Middling Women, but published years before that book, which publication was not until after Beckett‰ЫЄs death, at his request. Thus not that much easier to understand, thus that much more interesting to me.
Remember: Blue-eyed cats are always deaf; the burrowing tucutucu is occasionally blind, but the mole is never sober.
Stories of similar/identical material to Dream of Fair to Middling Women, but published years before that book, which publication was not until after Beckett‰ЫЄs death, at his request. Thus not that much easier to understand, thus that much more interesting to me.