ellenorange's review
4.0
This book is odd and eccentric but entirely readable, clever and very funny. Alexander Bruno is a Bond-like character who travels Europe and Asia gambling and cheating rich men out of their money via the sexy pursuit that is... backgammon. Until the Blot gets in the way. The Blot pervades the whole novel, with plenty of symbolic pointers to the idea of being covered, obscurity and cancer in general. However, while the book was incredibly entertaining, the Blot, somewhat ironically, obscured any larger point or meaning to the book. Or maybe it just doesn't have any.
giomarg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
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