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alicegns's review against another edition
4.0
At one particular point in my life, I was watching every morning the postman doing his route on my street. I was living in a ground floor flat and working from a desk by the window from where I could see the middle aged, thin postman with his bright red Royal Mail jacket and his trusted bag delivering letters in rain and sun (mostly rain since it was Scotland).
I did this for months, and I was sometimes making up stories in my head about where he would go and what letters he would deliver. Reading "The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman" was surprisingly rewarding as it was a fictional materialization of my fascination with people who deliver mundane or life-changing news to others.
The writing is superb and I was hooked from the first page. Bilodo is masterfully constructed and the unpredictability of the plot is rather remarkable.
I did this for months, and I was sometimes making up stories in my head about where he would go and what letters he would deliver. Reading "The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman" was surprisingly rewarding as it was a fictional materialization of my fascination with people who deliver mundane or life-changing news to others.
The writing is superb and I was hooked from the first page. Bilodo is masterfully constructed and the unpredictability of the plot is rather remarkable.
hevthemystic's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
cinnamonfox's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mirabennett's review against another edition
3.0
solid read, was really confused on where it was going & was very not pg13 at times but love the end. very clever
vegandanimal's review
3.0
An odd little book - I enjoyed it, but it left me rather cold. Perhaps that's the authors intention - the protagonist is an odd fellow whose 'quirks' come across as some kind of severe personality disorder when taken together, and whose actions range from the pitiful to borderline psychotic, while the language of the novel has an overly precise , almost clinical feel to it in places that it makes it hard to connect to the book emotionally (though that may just be the effect of the translation from the French).
I did enjoy the Haiku, which are very good, and the book comes alive in the sections that feature them most heavily - but at times these parts feel like they belong in a different book entirely, which leaves the book a tad uneven. (Reading in the afterword interview with Author that the Poetry and Japanese motifs where a late idea that necessitated a rewrite to work in was very interesting).
But having said all that, I still enjoyed it, and will check out the authors other work if I get the chance.
I did enjoy the Haiku, which are very good, and the book comes alive in the sections that feature them most heavily - but at times these parts feel like they belong in a different book entirely, which leaves the book a tad uneven. (Reading in the afterword interview with Author that the Poetry and Japanese motifs where a late idea that necessitated a rewrite to work in was very interesting).
But having said all that, I still enjoyed it, and will check out the authors other work if I get the chance.
amongstars's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
eve_ward's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
This was such an interesting read, Bilodo was a really cool protagonist to follow. This had quite a whimsical vibe, it really was poetry come to life. I’m not entirely sure how to describe this experience but it was certainly a ride. I’ll be honest, my interest did wane a tad in the middle but the ending really brought it back to life.
It’s very unlikely that I’ll read the sequel but I admit to being a tad curious about what it’ll involve. I wouldn’t have thought this story could go any further.
This was such an interesting read, Bilodo was a really cool protagonist to follow. This had quite a whimsical vibe, it really was poetry come to life. I’m not entirely sure how to describe this experience but it was certainly a ride. I’ll be honest, my interest did wane a tad in the middle but the ending really brought it back to life.
It’s very unlikely that I’ll read the sequel but I admit to being a tad curious about what it’ll involve. I wouldn’t have thought this story could go any further.
julia_helen's review
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
An Emily recommendation. Very weird and alot of sexy poetry; and I loved it honestly. Definitely interested in reading it again as it was so small and quick!
soupisreading's review against another edition
3.0
The only reason why I bothered continuing the book was to look for good haikus. Unfortunately, there were only few that stood out.
It was rather creepy of Bilodo to have such a hobby and it certainly made me wonder if any of the postman did the same. He invaded the privacy of others, just for his mere enjoyment. Poor Ségolène, if only she knew. Their poor love story would never had happened.
The plot was interesting and somewhat different. It tells of different Japanese literary art but honestly I do not understand nor remember what I learnt from it.
The ending was unexpected, but nonetheles, I loved it. It felt as if the entire story had come to a full circle. It also leaves me wondering, had 'Grandpré' really been Grandpré?
It was rather creepy of Bilodo to have such a hobby and it certainly made me wonder if any of the postman did the same. He invaded the privacy of others, just for his mere enjoyment. Poor Ségolène, if only she knew. Their poor love story would never had happened.
The plot was interesting and somewhat different. It tells of different Japanese literary art but honestly I do not understand nor remember what I learnt from it.
The ending was unexpected, but nonetheles, I loved it. It felt as if the entire story had come to a full circle. It also leaves me wondering, had 'Grandpré' really been Grandpré?