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alexcurtisnb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
Weird and enjoyable book. I like Barry's writing and his style. I didn't read the about the book before borrowing from the library, and didn't think about the title. Not sure why, but I didn't. So, I was a bit loopy at first. Overall I am not sure that a lot happens here, but the writing is interesting and the flow is creative.
thebobsphere's review
4.0
For the past five minutes I have been deleting and re-writing sentences for this review. Sure I can say that this book is great, especially if you are a fan of The Beatles and experimental literature but somehow that does not cut it.
Beatlebone's appeal is by many things. For starters the language used is poetic. Think of short sentences stuffed with puns and Beatles references. Then there's a the plot. John Lennon is visiting one of the islands (in reality he did have an island of his own) he owned in order to get his creative juices running and to escape society. ). The rest of the book is divided into certain set pieces. There's a part in a hotel, another in a pub and the main theme that emerges is that age can change you - in a good or bad way. Throughout the book we get snippets of Lennon's life and need for solitude thus tying up the island as a metaphor thread nicely.
The centrepiece of the book though, is when author Kevin Barry has a section, where he talks about the inspiration behind Beatlebone and his attempt to recreate John Lennon's visits to his private island. Is this meaning that author and character are the same thing but shouldn't be? This is the only part of the book which is written
In all Beatlebone is a brilliant book. DOes it help to be a Beatles fan? yes but don't let it be a detraction.
Beatlebone's appeal is by many things. For starters the language used is poetic. Think of short sentences stuffed with puns and Beatles references. Then there's a the plot. John Lennon is visiting one of the islands (in reality he did have an island of his own) he owned in order to get his creative juices running and to escape society. ). The rest of the book is divided into certain set pieces. There's a part in a hotel, another in a pub and the main theme that emerges is that age can change you - in a good or bad way. Throughout the book we get snippets of Lennon's life and need for solitude thus tying up the island as a metaphor thread nicely.
The centrepiece of the book though, is when author Kevin Barry has a section, where he talks about the inspiration behind Beatlebone and his attempt to recreate John Lennon's visits to his private island. Is this meaning that author and character are the same thing but shouldn't be? This is the only part of the book which is written
In all Beatlebone is a brilliant book. DOes it help to be a Beatles fan? yes but don't let it be a detraction.
rebekah_l's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-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
3.0
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/02/23/review-1620-beatlebone/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2021/02/23/review-1620-beatlebone/
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
A strange and hallucinatory trip of a novel in the company of John for most of the novel (there is a section where the author (?) injects himself in to the story, but I did actually find that pretty helpful) as he heads towards an island in west Ireland. It's really interesting and different, and rather funny at various points. I think the fandom went over my head at points, but I enjoyed reading the prose nonetheless even if it was a strange trip.
jwrosenberg69's review against another edition
3.0
I saw a review on Amazon where the reviewer said that if this book didn’t give you whiplash, you weren’t reading the same book. I completely agree. I absolutely loved the beginning of the book (and everywhere else) where John meets Cornelius and they interact and have conversations. I also enjoyed the scene in the Amethyst Hotel/Inn. But I didn’t enjoy the rest of the book, especially the next to last chapter.
tommyhousworth's review against another edition
3.0
John Lennon bought an island off the coast of Western Ireland but never spent much time there. This fictionalized account of Lennon, circa 1978, sets the legendary artist in restless motion toward his island for "3 days of solitude" to get his head together, get away from the Dakota & the press, and find some peace. Cornelius O'Grady, his appointed driver, helps Lennon dodge the press, maintain a level of anonymity, and passes along a healthy dose of cosmic Irish Zen wisdom along the way.
Along the way, there are encounters with a number of colorful characters, but it's John's reliance on the guidance (both literal and emotional/spiritual) of Cornelius that anchors this book.
Kevin Barry has a keen ear for language, both the rhythms of his native Irish characters and the turn of a phrase so that it lands with a stark, visual, always honest punch. In some ways, he reminds me of a cross between Tom Robbins (in spirit) and Cormac McCarthy (the terseness of some of his better sentences). More than anything, I am reminded of a more whimsical version of "Coming into Slaugther", the Michael Odjante's book about pioneer jazzman Buddy Bolden.
It's a challenging book to follow in terms of shifting narrative, the lack of quotation marks, and a bit of a jarring third act which shifts to the author's account of his research for the book before taking us back into the final days of Lennon's adventure. Does it help to be a Beatles fan? Yes. Do you need to be? Possibly, but if you aren't, really, what are you fishing around this book title for, anyway? Some readers might get frustrated and give up. It's not your typical narrative approach, but I found it to be inventive much of the time.
It's a fun and revealing ride, stronger at the start than at the end for me, but worth getting inside John's presumptive head for a few days. I'll likely seek out more from Barry.
Along the way, there are encounters with a number of colorful characters, but it's John's reliance on the guidance (both literal and emotional/spiritual) of Cornelius that anchors this book.
Kevin Barry has a keen ear for language, both the rhythms of his native Irish characters and the turn of a phrase so that it lands with a stark, visual, always honest punch. In some ways, he reminds me of a cross between Tom Robbins (in spirit) and Cormac McCarthy (the terseness of some of his better sentences). More than anything, I am reminded of a more whimsical version of "Coming into Slaugther", the Michael Odjante's book about pioneer jazzman Buddy Bolden.
It's a challenging book to follow in terms of shifting narrative, the lack of quotation marks, and a bit of a jarring third act which shifts to the author's account of his research for the book before taking us back into the final days of Lennon's adventure. Does it help to be a Beatles fan? Yes. Do you need to be? Possibly, but if you aren't, really, what are you fishing around this book title for, anyway? Some readers might get frustrated and give up. It's not your typical narrative approach, but I found it to be inventive much of the time.
It's a fun and revealing ride, stronger at the start than at the end for me, but worth getting inside John's presumptive head for a few days. I'll likely seek out more from Barry.
jawlor's review against another edition
4.0
Went in blind because I loved City of Bohane and Night Boat to Tangier so the narrative switch which reveals the John Lennon twist really was an unexpected twist for me. Fantastic book, Kevin Barry stands alone in modern Irish writing.
lilcoop71's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not even sure what to say about this book. There were 8 distinct sections and I really liked the first 3, as well as the 6th, which was the author breaking in and discussing his research (in fact I learned some things about John Lennon that I'd simply never heard before). I really did not enjoy the 4th section, the rest was okay, kind of a let-down. I would say that if you are a huge John Lennon fan it's a good book for you--at least I'd check out the 6th section.