chirson's review against another edition
4.0
An elegant and moving conclusion. I don't think it had quite the same power as the first three volumes, but it was worth sticking around to read the end.
I will definitely think about it for time to come.
I will definitely think about it for time to come.
tierneybrook's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
chloelikedolivia's review against another edition
5.0
Finishing this book on July 4 feels appropriate, as Patrick finds a kind of independence from his parents’ abuse. This novel is just as cerebral as the rest of the series, but with quick glimpses into the inner minds of many of the characters that had littered the earlier books, fleshing them out for brief moments, while recognizing that their entire humanity can’t be captured.
boose's review against another edition
3.0
“Bedeni, gömülü duygulardan bir mezarlıktı.”
Bu kitaptaki travma diyalogları çok ama çok hoşuma gitti. Özellikle en son kısım ve victimisation referanları… Patrick’in çocuklarıyla olan iletişimi… Onlar sayesinde kendi inner childını iyileştirmeye adım atması… öfff ağlıcam
Bu kitaptaki travma diyalogları çok ama çok hoşuma gitti. Özellikle en son kısım ve victimisation referanları… Patrick’in çocuklarıyla olan iletişimi… Onlar sayesinde kendi inner childını iyileştirmeye adım atması… öfff ağlıcam
uniskorn's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Felt like this one focused too much on other characters’ perspectives. A couple made sense but on the whole, I’d rather see Patrick’s internal response to what happens. Was also surprised at the lack of time passage. This was the dullest one and I expected a lot more dark humor.
caroparr's review against another edition
4.0
Even more than the earlier novels, this one concentrates on consciousness, or, as a reviewer has noted, "the mercilessly examined life." “I was thinking that life is just the history of what we give our attention to. The rest is packaging,” Patrick says. An astonishing series of novels.
ssconsequat's review against another edition
Compared to the other books, I didn’t feel as interested to know where Patrick’s life had ended. Despite being the shortest of all the other Melrose books, this one dragged out the most with side stories that were greatly unneeded.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Rape and Child death
katrinky's review against another edition
3.0
St Aubyn's philosopher characters are always over my head, and it's unlikely that every single person in Patrick's life would be able to keep up with his blisteringly complex reflections on existence, addiction, love, abuse, etymology, etc. And this is the first book where I thought a character (in this case, Patrick's broke and selfish fallen heiress of an aunt, Nancy) was over the top. Her vanity and desperation to remain relevant in English high society were cartoonish. The children, Robert and Thomas, pensive, joyful geniuses that they are, continue to be my favorite. And I appreciate that Patrick seems like he just maybe will work through the mire of his awful parents' legacies.
Best scene: the roundtable of characters' thoughts during the songs and readings at Eleanor's fuenral. Erasmus, obsessed with the philosophy of consciousness during a Porgy and Bess song; Nancy and Nicholas, horrified at Yeats poetry that implies there is good to be found outside of possessions; Annette, getting overcome by her own prowess in reading; Johnny, Patrick's best friend and former drug dealer, now a psychoanalyst, retroactively diagnosing Eleanor via the poetry used to remember her; and Patrick, desperate for the whole thing to be over so he can get back to his bedsit and think about what it all means for his psyche. St Aubyn is so good at jumping from character to character, x-raying motivation and weakness ruthlessly and wholly. These are some of the smartest books I've ever read.
Best scene: the roundtable of characters' thoughts during the songs and readings at Eleanor's fuenral. Erasmus, obsessed with the philosophy of consciousness during a Porgy and Bess song; Nancy and Nicholas, horrified at Yeats poetry that implies there is good to be found outside of possessions; Annette, getting overcome by her own prowess in reading; Johnny, Patrick's best friend and former drug dealer, now a psychoanalyst, retroactively diagnosing Eleanor via the poetry used to remember her; and Patrick, desperate for the whole thing to be over so he can get back to his bedsit and think about what it all means for his psyche. St Aubyn is so good at jumping from character to character, x-raying motivation and weakness ruthlessly and wholly. These are some of the smartest books I've ever read.
carolyngrace's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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? Yes
3.5