Absolute puerile crap. Got to halfway and gave up; life is too short.
Over the years Ive read other books by this author, but this one is just ludicrouAbsolute puerile crap. Got to halfway and gave up; life is too short.
Over the years Ive read other books by this author, but this one is just ludicrous. The 'characters' are just rehashed rubbish from her previous well of inanity: the men are feckless philandering bastards, the women long-suffering martyrs (bloody fools) who struggle gamely through life in Dublin, blah blah blah. Enough already.
There may be women happy to read this kind of drivel, but I'm not one of them....more
I got half way through the first chapter and just thought, nah, can't be bothered with this. It struck me immediately as pretentious and irritating anI got half way through the first chapter and just thought, nah, can't be bothered with this. It struck me immediately as pretentious and irritating and trying to be a bit too clever. There are so many great books out there waiting for me to read them, there's no point forcing myself to get in to something which is probably just going to piss me off....more
Yaaaaawn. Lots and lots and lots of wordy burbling. I felt I had taken up residence inside the heads of a bunch of very tedious people. Burble burble,
Yaaaaawn. Lots and lots and lots of wordy burbling. I felt I had taken up residence inside the heads of a bunch of very tedious people. Burble burble, impressions, vague emotions ... yeah, whatever. I'm afraid I don't find people's unedited stream of thoughts remotely interesting; I prefer thoughts to be stringently edited with a generous helping of wit and depth thrown in, otherwise it is utterly mind-numbingly boring to read. . If I can't relate in any way to the characters then you've lost me before you've even got going with all your droning, withering words; say what you mean and be quick about it is my motto, otherwise just be quiet. As for the silly, co-dependent Mrs Ramsay, so desperate to get meaning out of her dreary self-deprecating life ("Oh I could never understand books") (idiot), and the ghastly insecure weed-man that is Mr Ramsay, always fishing for approval, .... Fool.
Stream of consciousness? Stream of crap more like.
Probably the most cringeworthy, embarrassing book I've ever made myself finish. I have always admired Alison Weir for her detailed, academic biographiProbably the most cringeworthy, embarrassing book I've ever made myself finish. I have always admired Alison Weir for her detailed, academic biographies so I was delighted to be able to see her when she came to Kingston to promote this new novel. I quickly bought a signed copy, then as soon as she began to read an extract I knew I'd been premature with the purchase..
This feels like it's been written by some trashy chick-lit novelist rather than an intelligent academic. Worst of all are the dreadful sex scenes!! Embarrassing and naff!
Sadly, I should have stuck with her biographical account of Eleanor of Aquitaine, I'm sure I would have enjoyed that. ...more
I found this a difficult book to get into; finally on about page 340 (!) I started to get a bit interested, but not much. The atmosphere in the novel I found this a difficult book to get into; finally on about page 340 (!) I started to get a bit interested, but not much. The atmosphere in the novel was quite dark, so perhaps that is why I found it heavy-going. It was set just after the Spanish civil war/WWII so that was the pervasive atmosphere in the book. Not sure what the whole thing was on about. NOT a book I will revisit.
Glad to say it hasn't completely put me off visiting Barcelona.......more
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