teslis's review against another edition
It’s so different from what I usually read and my brain is not processing what the book is about. If I would finish this book I would not give the book a fair review, so I decided to DNF right now and then re-read it in the future instead!
karaklos's review against another edition
2.0
So many 4 and 5 stars for Old Filth and I am not in agreement. Old Filth is sort of the life story of Eddie Feathers, an attorney and judge. I say sort of because while the book tells the story of Eddie’s life, it does so at such a high, detached level that I could not connect to the story or the characters. The story jumps around from past to present haphazardly making the reader have to pause and think “where are we now?”. I like a story that flows and this just didn’t.
I didn’t see any commonality between young Eddie and old Eddie (Filth). While the author keeps telling us that people are drawn to Filth and how respected he was, she didn’t show us that in the actual telling of the story. Nor did we get to experience how he met his wife, how he acquired his arch nemesis, etc. It just happened at some point; let’s move on.
There’s an event the author keeps referencing from his childhood but doesn’t tell us what it is until the end. By that point I was very frustrated and the actual emotions behind the act were never described. Again, told in a very high level, detached way.
There were a number of British references I did not understand that gave me pause. People describe this book as very funny and very British but I found it to be sad.
I didn’t see any commonality between young Eddie and old Eddie (Filth). While the author keeps telling us that people are drawn to Filth and how respected he was, she didn’t show us that in the actual telling of the story. Nor did we get to experience how he met his wife, how he acquired his arch nemesis, etc. It just happened at some point; let’s move on.
There’s an event the author keeps referencing from his childhood but doesn’t tell us what it is until the end. By that point I was very frustrated and the actual emotions behind the act were never described. Again, told in a very high level, detached way.
There were a number of British references I did not understand that gave me pause. People describe this book as very funny and very British but I found it to be sad.
rainbow_janebow's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
_anika_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
5.0
If you want a Masterclass in stream-of-consciousness writing, read a scene in a Jane Gardam book where the characters are in a car.
I loved this book and look forward to reading the other two in the trilogy.
I loved this book and look forward to reading the other two in the trilogy.
gmganderson's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
laura_jager's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mlafaive's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
snuckols's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-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
4.0
pamiverson's review against another edition
4.0
An enjoyable book that led to an enjoyable Book Group discussion. Gentle humor in the story of a Raj orphan who was sent from Asia to his ancestral English homeland. Back to Hong Kong for his law career, then retired to England again. Good characters. I'd like to read the author's book about his wife.