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Liked It “Strange, but I really liked it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Track 5 Focus II at 0:39 & 1:35. |
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“Strange, but I really liked it.”
Mom K wrote this review Saturday, July 16, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“creepy bloke - but clever wrting - you very soon come to dislike him but then feel sorry for him but by the end of the book you're beginning t think he might be evil and/or mad but still root for him. Very different again for SF!”
sue c wrote this review Friday, April 15, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Disappointing for a Faulks”
Paul Barratt wrote this review Thursday, February 10, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I had previously read Sebastian Faulk's Charlotte Gray, an historical novel of the best kind both for its historical accuracy and its dramatic characterization. In reading Engleby I found a psychological novel where characterization is brought to the fore with the presentation in the first person. That person, Mike Engleby, gradually becomes several characters as the novel progresses. Much like Dickens, notably in David Copperfield and Great Expectations, Sebastian Faulks's protagonist adopts different names for his persona over the course of the novel. The reader gradually begins to doubt the reliability of Engleby as narrator of his life story and with good cause, as he develops psychological characteristics that one may only categorize as pathological. Where these lead him I will leave to those readers interested in finding our for themselves. I found his story suspenseful, even as it began to repulse me. My interest was also piqued by his recurrent meditations like this one on time:
jwhenderson wrote this review Monday, February 7, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
"What is this present then? It's an illusion; it's not reality if it can't be held. What therefore is there to fear in it?"(p. 65)
This is early in the novel, he has later meditations on the nature of thinking itself, and you gradually wonder if these are not symptoms of his gradual loss of the ability to distinguish reality from imagination. His pathology includes a variant of voyeurism that allow the author to incorporate diaries and other documents into the narrative - perhaps to confirm Engleby's own views. The combinatorial effect of the narrative techniques made this an intriguing psychological novel and raised the author in my estimation. I look forward to reading more of his novels.”“This was a gripping read - a bit of a sophisticated murder mystery with a fascinating central character. A great study of mental disintegration, bullying and sexual obsession. The protagonist is a hugely intelligent young man who attempts to cover his tracks, until conscience gets the better of him and he slips up. Typically classy writing from Sebastian Faulks.”
Kathy R wrote this review Tuesday, January 25, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Great book - really enjoyed, one of my favourites!
Mark H wrote this review Tuesday, January 18, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
It is a book that I will probably read again some day and I can't think of to many books that I would put in that category.
I find that Sebastian Faulkes books (ones of have read at least) tend to get you submerged in the main characters.”“Track 5 Focus II at 0:39 & 1:35.
luang reap wrote this review Monday, January 17, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Track 6 Eruption at 5:08 & 6:14 & 9:17.
Something that's too representative can blind you with its own detail - like a painting by Canaletto - and stop you seeing through it.
There is a design flaw at the heart of our intelligence. It cannot grasp one of the dimensions it inhabits.
Swoop and grasp - people track their dogs with polythene gloves, ready to...
Someone is most intensely present just after they have left. ”“Surprised me that I enjoyed this as it's pretty dark, but it was an intriguing plot and I liked the Cambridge setting.”
Pamski wrote this review Tuesday, January 4, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A superb read. This book captivated me from beginning to end and I believe I will be thinking about it for a long time to come. Told from the point of view of Mike Engleby, this story follows him through school, University and later life, while the mystery of what happened to the missing girl he admires is often ignored but never forgotten. The ending was great (yay), and I thoroughly recommend this!”
Becky H wrote this review Monday, December 27, 2010. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This books is different, very different. Written in first person narrative style, with direct comments to the reader. You will end up being caught in a moral dilemma whether to befriend Mike (the narrator) or maybe you will decide to loathe him. But before that point you will be trying to make a big decision - did he or didn't he? Well there are not many laughs (any?) but it is thought provoking, well written and different.”
rob i wrote this review Sunday, October 23, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
