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The Loved One
by
Start date
October 1, 2023
Finish date
October 31, 2023
Discussion
Short Story/Novella Collection
Why we're reading this
October 2023 Short Story/Novella

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What Members Thought

Chloe
Jan 24, 2008 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
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 ...more
Alex
Apr 29, 2016 rated it it was amazing
No one writes black humor like Waugh. Here he targets the funeral industry as exemplified by Los Angeles. His attacks are understated, oblique and brilliant. Expect no mercy.
Nadine in NY Jones
Sep 08, 2016 rated it liked it
Shelves: fiction, classic
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. ...more
Heather L
Oct 18, 2023 rated it really liked it
Shelves: classics, novella, 2023
Quite the unexpected ending.
Julie
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 ...more
Suvi
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. ...more
Ray
Feb 21, 2008 rated it liked it  ·  review of another edition
KK
Sep 01, 2008 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Kristina
Oct 15, 2009 marked it as to-read
Theresa
JoLynn
Oct 18, 2011 rated it really liked it
Laura Benton
Jan 22, 2012 rated it it was amazing
Meagan
Feb 09, 2012 marked it as owned-but-not-yet-read
Shelves: classics
Pip
Apr 12, 2013 marked it as to-read
Kristen
Apr 25, 2014 marked it as to-read
Bárbara
Jul 20, 2014 marked it as wishlist-notapriority
Idit
Feb 09, 2018 marked it as to-read
Carrie
Feb 13, 2019 marked it as to-read
RJ - Slayer of Trolls
Dec 24, 2019 marked it as wish-list
Shelves: unread-guardian
Brenda
Jan 10, 2020 marked it as to-read
Shelves: classics
Kallie
Apr 24, 2022 rated it liked it
Kris
Sep 24, 2023 marked it as to-read
Andrei Rybin
Feb 08, 2025 marked it as to-read
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