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By Bob , Short Story Classics · 29 posts · 72 views
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What Members Thought

While not my favorite book in the world, I have to say I enjoyed this macabre little satire. Perhaps the somewhat unusual humor appealed to me. I tend to find such things as funeral parlors and crematoriums amusing. I do not, however, find the story to be quite as condescending towards Americans as some people have said it was. The British characters were not especially intelligent, either. In fact, I would say that there are no attractive characters in the story. Which is part of the reason why
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I was still in high school when I read this, all I knew was it was by the guy who wrote Brideshead (I had watched the Masterpiece show religiously and crushed on Anthony Andrews), and it was supposed to be funny. I was so confused! I was too young and really didn't understand it yet.
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Two and a half stars. I can't quite get myself to say "I like it". I'm glad I read it but I wouldn't recommend to anyone. This is my second Waugh and probably my last. There are too many other authors out there to waste time on ones that don't speak to you. I read Brideshead Revisited a few years ago and the primary emotion I felt was irritation over Waugh's snobbery. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and try this satirical comedy. I was hoping the snob act was more Charles(the hero
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2.5 stars. I knew beforehand that apart from Brideshead Revisited, Waugh's novels are quite light and humorous, which was why I have been avoiding reading more of his stuff. This didn't make any exception in my aversion for reading humorous literature. I can still appreciate the sharpness that black humour gives to the story, but I still didn't care for the caricaturish characters. Then again, the personalities of the Los Angeles British community were quite good.
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Oct 15, 2009
Kristina
marked it as to-read

Apr 12, 2013
Pip
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Apr 25, 2014
Kristen
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Jul 20, 2014
Bárbara
marked it as wishlist-notapriority

Feb 09, 2018
Idit
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Feb 13, 2019
Carrie
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Aug 15, 2019
lethe
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review of another edition
Shelves:
c-record-correct,
a-adult,
l-eng,
t-bereavement,
p-owned,
g-modern-classics,
d-20th-c,
g-satire

Sep 24, 2023
Kris
marked it as to-read

Feb 08, 2025
Andrei Rybin
marked it as to-read