beckykeister's review against another edition
3.0
I might not be smart enough for this book, but I did appreciate the snark and odd perspectives he chooses to tell these varied stories.
ishan31's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
kdaedwards's review against another edition
3.0
I thought I was settling in to read a bunch of short stories that maybe had a loose theme to them... and that is one way to describe this book, I guess. But really, some of them were more essay then story and while all were loosely related some were clearly built to be read together. Generally, they were well written and it was fun to see how they'd tie together.
reading_paula's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
suvaznudli's review against another edition
3.0
Připadalo mi to nerovnoměrné - některé části byly originální a zábavné, jinde jsem se strašně nudila. A rozečíst k tomu něco dalšího, tak už to nejspíš nikdy neotevřu. Tak jsem aspoň ráda, že jsem se po těch DVOU MĚSÍCÍCH dobrala relativně uspokojivého konce. A přijímám tipy na rychlé a lehce stravitelné knihy do 200 stránek.
andrew_russell's review
1.0
It's obvious that there are a great many who hold this book up as something approaching 'Masterpiece' status, and even more that simply rate it as an excellent work of literature. I guess then, that my opinion of Julian Barnes' A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters is in the main, driven by my own tastes as a reader.
Nonetheless, I found this novel (and by the way, it's questionable whether it actually is a novel) to possess several key characteristics, none of which are positive. Here they are;
1) It's unengaging. There simply isn't a hook on which to hang your hat. No solid characters, no well written setting and only the thinnest of philosophical themes on which to muse.
2) It's prose is dull, dull, dull.
3) I couldn't for the life of me figure out why it was written.
This is my 7th Barnes novel and so far the ratings are: 1 5 star, 2 4 stars, 2 3 stars and 2 1 stars. I'll persevere with my mini-project of completing his back catalogue for another couple of books but if they don't yield something decent, then I may go in search of a more enjoyable author. Added to this, I don't think I can claim any longer to hold Barnes up as my favourite author.
Nonetheless, I found this novel (and by the way, it's questionable whether it actually is a novel) to possess several key characteristics, none of which are positive. Here they are;
1) It's unengaging. There simply isn't a hook on which to hang your hat. No solid characters, no well written setting and only the thinnest of philosophical themes on which to muse.
2) It's prose is dull, dull, dull.
3) I couldn't for the life of me figure out why it was written.
This is my 7th Barnes novel and so far the ratings are: 1 5 star, 2 4 stars, 2 3 stars and 2 1 stars. I'll persevere with my mini-project of completing his back catalogue for another couple of books but if they don't yield something decent, then I may go in search of a more enjoyable author. Added to this, I don't think I can claim any longer to hold Barnes up as my favourite author.
suzannalundale's review against another edition
5.0
Bloody brilliant. I've been meaning to read this for years, and will be reading more Barnes very, very soon.
"And does history repeat itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce? No, that's too grand, too considered a process. History just burps, and we taste again that raw onion sandwich it swallowed centuries ago."
"And does history repeat itself, the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce? No, that's too grand, too considered a process. History just burps, and we taste again that raw onion sandwich it swallowed centuries ago."
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
This is a weird book for me. It came highly recommended, and I was excited to read it, but it took me a long time to get through what is a pretty short book. It's not history (though sometimes it's history-ish) and not always quite fiction. It's not quite a short story collection but also not quite a novel. The writing by and large isn't beautiful, but neither is it unbeautiful. It is I believe by design largely a book rooted in contradiction, which is likely part of why I'm unable to classify it in a straightforward way. It is certainly a book of ideas. I liked a lot of it and loved the last chapter. One day I'd like to read it again at a time when I'm less busy and can read it more closely over the course of two or three nights rather than scattered over several weeks.
damopedro's review
3.0
I struggled with this. Maybe only really got into two or three of the short stories. Fortunately it ended on a really good one.