A review by andyjnmcrae
The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore

funny sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Mr Lavelle is a certainly intoxicating and this novel does an excellent job of replicating implicitly queer pieces of classic literature like Dorian Gray and The Great Gatsby through its  enthrallingly enigmatic love interest. 
As a literature graduate I appreciate what it was trying to do.
However as a queer person I have to say the main bulk of writing felt like it reduced queer people to mere sexual objects (my first intention after reuniting with someone heavily involved in
my brothers death
would not be to shag him i dunno about anyone else) 
Then there is the ending. I won’t spoil it so that people may still read this review but it felt slightly like a slightly shoddy and lazy way to finish it off. I don’t want to critique the writer too heavily I’ve not read more of his books I don’t know his style but this ending just was so unfounded and left me shocked but not in a good way; like in a really that shit just happened okay wtf way.
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