Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Absolutely masterful writer whose exacting choice of singularly apt words will often have you reaching for the dictionary. But unlike other books, this is part of the charm of this novel. (Actually, this would be a great book for e-reading, as you could look up words as go.) Although a book about...” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 2 members found this review helpful“not my thing. i'm not a cerebral-introspective-prose-y go-nowhere type of bookreader. i like more story and less eloquence. i'm sure it's wonderful to people who like that kind of stuff...but it was much too flowery and seemed to try too hard to be so.” see full review » see other reviews » |
“Not a book to read if you are in low spirits.”
Kim Harris wrote this review yesterday. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“It is definitely not an easy book to read, because of the form and because of the story. Grieving after the beloved person sometimes can open surprising places in our memories, not necessarily connected with the loved one. I think Max is closing a long period of his life – that spent with other people around. Death took his wife and he is trying to say goodbye not only to her, but also to other important women from his past. I am surprised how little attention he pays to his own daughter, the only important woman in his presence. ”
Aga M. wrote this review Monday, March 18, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Max is a man that isn't sure how to cope with the loss of his wife. So shortly after he passing he goes back to the place where he first fell in love, but not with her, the Seaside town of Ballyless.
I'm not sure that I fully got this one. It was a short read but it kind of dragged on for me. I didn't like that it only had two sections and not chapters. And because of that I felt that Banville bounced around a lot between plots, past and present, as well as characters. I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and why they were important. I'm not sure that I could recommend this to anyone. I didn't like it and was so thankful that it was over. ”
“Tussendoor, vanweg de Booker Prize The Sea herlezen. Ook al omdat ik onlangs als een ander tussendoortje een detective van Benjamin Black las en dat bleek a. John Banville te zijn en was b. een zeer matig (geschreven) boek. En juist Banville is een proza-poeet. Ik moest dus tenminste controleren of ik mij niet in Banville had vergist. Gelukkig niet. The Sea is nog steeds hetzelfde beklemmende boekje dat ik eerder las.”
G. de Bruin wrote this review Friday, March 8, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I have to say this book was good but mostly dreary. Don't think this will give you a "pick me up". It is a personal journal and the journey one takes as he remembers his adventures at the sea as a young child. ”
Stephanie Laurino wrote this review Wednesday, March 6, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Sanjay's recommendation to Steve”
Jane Elizabeth wrote this review Wednesday, February 20, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“First, I don't know what this has to do with the sea, other than he does spends the first half of the book reflecting on family trips to the beach and another family that also vactations there. Shades of another Banville book, the young narrator is also obsessed with the wife/mother of this family. I didn't wake up until the second half when he spent more time talking about the loss of his wife and interacting with his own grown daughter. ”
Rita M wrote this review Friday, January 18, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“BOOKER PRIZE 2005”
Maria Raju wrote this review Thursday, October 25, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“not my thing. i'm not a cerebral-introspective-prose-y go-nowhere type of bookreader. i like more story and less eloquence. i'm sure it's wonderful to people who like that kind of stuff...but it was much too flowery and seemed to try too hard to be so.”
*Theresa* wrote this review Saturday, September 8, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No