cathdm's review against another edition
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
bookishwendy's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting as a historical document, but choppy and hard to get into from a reader's perspective. This "satirical" history of the fictional Rackrent estate, as related by an aged family servant, has its moments but left me feeling drained, like I'd just spent hours listening to a shaggy dog joke. My favorite part was the glossary, which either pokes fun at the Irish, or pokes fun at the English poking fun at the Irish--I'm not sure, but the humor came through for me here in a way it didn't in the actual narrative.
flock5229's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
bookmarkhoarder's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
quisby's review against another edition
4.0
Mini-novella. Surprisingly funny. Narrated by the over-loyal servant of four generations of Irish ne’er-do-wells.
jadereads_'s review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
isabellaweise's review against another edition
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
karenreader's review against another edition
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Ridiculous, over the top, but funny satirical novel. Published in 1800 but easy to read.
ronanmcd's review against another edition
4.0
It's a classic, and a worthy enough one. While it lacks any definable plot it does examine a lost period in Irish history as the aristocracy faced the 19th century. There is uncertainty in hiberno-british relations, the old plantations cannot sustain the spending of their inheritors and the class structure is changing regardless. These are the stories of people who were neither truly Irish nor English.
It's a fascinating period.
It's a fascinating period.