Scan barcode
indiabulman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Brilliant. Couldn’t put it down. I’ll think about this one for a while.
jcoryv's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this on Audible.
I almost didn’t get through the first section, but it gets better.
I almost didn’t get through the first section, but it gets better.
jenpaul13's review against another edition
4.0
Ambition is generally seen as a positive thing, but when a necessary component, such as talent, is missing as it is for one character in A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne, the path to success and fame can be filled with manipulation.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
A handsome and charming man, Maurice Swift believes that he is destined for great things, if only it weren't for his lack of talent. Undeterred by a key component to creative success, Maurice manages to befriend and benefit from the stories that other writers tell about their lives or generic plots they have yet to develop into a novel. Starting off his cycle of appropriating other people's ideas is a chance encounter with author Erich Ackermann in 1988, where Maurice was able to ingratiate himself into his life as an assistant for Erich's latest book tour and slowly tease out an incredibly personal war story that he later uses for his well-received book. Having experienced the glories of literary success, Maurice continues to find ways to continue capturing that high, deceiving and manipulating many people along the way.
A detestable character and an engaging plot drive this story that's comprised of well-crafted prose. Covering a wide range of time, the narrative demonstrates the lengths, sometimes extreme, that Maurice has gone, and is willing to go to, in order to secure the level of notoriety he believes he deserves from writing and within the publishing industry. While the three parts of the novel work well together to create a cohesive representation of Maurice at the end, when initially reading through I found that the perspectives of Erich and Maurice's wife Edith were tonally so distinct that they greatly impacted the pacing and felt as if they belonged to a different story altogether.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
A handsome and charming man, Maurice Swift believes that he is destined for great things, if only it weren't for his lack of talent. Undeterred by a key component to creative success, Maurice manages to befriend and benefit from the stories that other writers tell about their lives or generic plots they have yet to develop into a novel. Starting off his cycle of appropriating other people's ideas is a chance encounter with author Erich Ackermann in 1988, where Maurice was able to ingratiate himself into his life as an assistant for Erich's latest book tour and slowly tease out an incredibly personal war story that he later uses for his well-received book. Having experienced the glories of literary success, Maurice continues to find ways to continue capturing that high, deceiving and manipulating many people along the way.
A detestable character and an engaging plot drive this story that's comprised of well-crafted prose. Covering a wide range of time, the narrative demonstrates the lengths, sometimes extreme, that Maurice has gone, and is willing to go to, in order to secure the level of notoriety he believes he deserves from writing and within the publishing industry. While the three parts of the novel work well together to create a cohesive representation of Maurice at the end, when initially reading through I found that the perspectives of Erich and Maurice's wife Edith were tonally so distinct that they greatly impacted the pacing and felt as if they belonged to a different story altogether.
larsenfoster's review against another edition
1.0
I hate to start the year off on such a negative note because I really wanted to like this. It's rated so highly I thought I would but something about the characters and story really fell flat for me. I thought the first like 50 pages were interesting and then it just dragged on and on.
mereljk's review against another edition
4.0
Ik denk niet dat ik ooit een boek heb gelezen waar ik de hoofdpersoon zó veel haat. Het hielp dat de eerste twee delen zijn geschreven vanuit het pov van anderen. Ik kon het derde deel echt niet aan namelijk haha. Ik heb meerdere keren uit frustratie het boek aan de kant gelegd en even een rondje door mijn kamer gelopen. Verder geeft wel echt een goed beeld van (de hunkering naar) macht en hoe het uiteindelijk allemaal kan instorten
hrbie's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
samanthanotsam's review against another edition
3.0
As is true in real life, the "bad guy" was bad throughout his entire life. His retribution came way too late in the story and was very short lived. Boyne wrote this novel so well (as it brought out a rollercoaster of emotions) but man did I hate the main character! I did enjoy the style choice of all the different characters speaking from first person POV, but that made each manipulation that much more heartbreaking. I just wish Maurice had been a better person but since he wasn't...couldn't his "come up ance" have been more satisfying?! Jail time? big deal! A teaching position on the inside- another victim. To quote Billy Joel, only the good die young.
Looking forward to reading another book by John Boyne.
Looking forward to reading another book by John Boyne.
littlefreeinterrobang's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is only the second novel I’ve read from this author, but he’s solidified himself as one of my favorites. His prose is straightforward but sharp, painting a vivid world populated with evocative characters. I don’t want to go into too much detail about why I loved this particular book lest I spoil some of the fun, but suffice to say it’s a captivating character study on pathological ambition — as the story traverses across multiple years of the antagonist’s life, his escalating ruthlessness leaves you eagerly awaiting his comeuppance, and it’s hard to put the book down for want of seeing it fulfilled.
On the critical side, the behavior of the main and one other unsavory character sometimes verges on cartoonishly awful, and a pivotal plot point in the middle of the story hinges on a bit of a cliche. That same arc is concluded with an arguably gimmicky twist, and the story continues to stretch the boundaries of believability as it progresses to its conclusion. I found all these to be forgivable detractions, however, because it’s still a decidedly enjoyable ride.
On the critical side, the behavior of the main and one other unsavory character sometimes verges on cartoonishly awful, and a pivotal plot point in the middle of the story hinges on a bit of a cliche. That same arc is concluded with an arguably gimmicky twist, and the story continues to stretch the boundaries of believability as it progresses to its conclusion. I found all these to be forgivable detractions, however, because it’s still a decidedly enjoyable ride.
skynet666's review against another edition
4.0
So well done.....I wasn't expecting something this good.
aritrigupta's review against another edition
4.0
I am a fan of John Boyne now.
I loved this book, and if this is how he writes, then I will lap up the rest of his work.
The book was masterful, witty, deliciously dark and real. Maurice's journey was a clever tale of ambition and what it does to you when you succumb to it's hold over you. And to have set the story in the publication backdrop was intriguing and opened up and entirely new field to me.
I loved each of the characters, dark and selfish Maurice, the introverted Erich, the hopeful Edith. Each of them served their purpose in the story and Boyne described all of them with dexterity.
I can spout accolades throughout my review and it would still fall short of how impressive the plot was. This is not a feel good book. It is, as I mentioned before, dark, cynical and the story will not bore you for even a minute.
It is a recommendation for everybody.
I loved this book, and if this is how he writes, then I will lap up the rest of his work.
The book was masterful, witty, deliciously dark and real. Maurice's journey was a clever tale of ambition and what it does to you when you succumb to it's hold over you. And to have set the story in the publication backdrop was intriguing and opened up and entirely new field to me.
I loved each of the characters, dark and selfish Maurice, the introverted Erich, the hopeful Edith. Each of them served their purpose in the story and Boyne described all of them with dexterity.
I can spout accolades throughout my review and it would still fall short of how impressive the plot was. This is not a feel good book. It is, as I mentioned before, dark, cynical and the story will not bore you for even a minute.
It is a recommendation for everybody.