Reviews

Double Blind by Edward St Aubyn

heidilreads's review

2.0

Benedict Cumberbatch narrated this .. I was convinced that it would be epic. I just never got it. Maybe I shouldn't have listened to it at 2x speed.

lauha_aaltonen's review

2.0

2,5.
Olipa hämmentävä kokemus.

tildabooks's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful reflective

• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

one of the best books I've read, like changed my brain wires a little - beautiful and full of play with thoughts!

madreader_7's review

challenging 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

1.5

ncghammo's review against another edition

challenging funny reflective fast-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

lulumoss's review

3.0

I liked it, but ultimately was unsatisfied by it. I found it hard to get started, and almost gave up on it. It's much more literate than the crap I usually read, which then made me feel guilty about the crap I usually read, so I forced myself to keep going. Then when I finally did get interested in the story - it ended. With all of the situations and conflicts left completely unresolved. Is Francis going to sleep with Hope or not? Is Lucy going to die? Is Olivia’s baby going to be a schizophrenic? Will Sebastian ever find out that Olivia is his sister? IS Olivia his sister? Will Happy Helmets work, and be a success? How will the church keep Father Guido down on the farm, now that he's seen Paree? What happens to all of Saul’s dreams of wealth? We are left hanging on all of it. Good book club book though, probably.

mi_chellewong's review

challenging reflective slow-paced

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

3.0

i had such high hopes for this book! it's been on my tbr for a couple years now, and when i finally cracked it open i thought i would really enjoy it. there's a piece of me in every one of the characters, but the book itself could not be propped up on that alone.

the story didn't really go anywhere- right when i thought it would it literally ended.

it is certainly an ambitious novel in the sense that there are many characters, deeply knowledgeable ones that must make known just how intelligent and knowledgeable they are, and they're all connected in some way. however, i felt that the book neglected to actually explore HOW these connections led to major events in their lives, rather than just WHAT the connections were. to be fair, the philosophical and academic ramblings were interesting but only in the context of being philosophical and academic ramblings, not as important drivers of plot or character development.

morrauror's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.5

chanelchapters's review

I liked the first bit of this when it was about the science facts.
Once it was about the character I got bored.

jmrprice's review

1.0

This novel plodded along like university lectures then I suppose a bell rung somewhere as evidenced by the abrupt endings.

This was my first St Aubyn novel and I think I’ll heed his work as titled by another of his works - Never Mind.