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kristin's review
4.0
I would like to thank netgalley and Watkins Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A rather strange mash up of biography and fiction. Written by Wilde's grandson it imagines a fictional conversation with Wilde about his life.
I learned a lot and have lots of recommendations to read more about Wilde. The conversation did sound as you would imagine Wilde to sound, if only because the author has taken quotes from Wilde's work and life, taken them out of context and mashed them up.
A rather strange mash up of biography and fiction. Written by Wilde's grandson it imagines a fictional conversation with Wilde about his life.
I learned a lot and have lots of recommendations to read more about Wilde. The conversation did sound as you would imagine Wilde to sound, if only because the author has taken quotes from Wilde's work and life, taken them out of context and mashed them up.
ws_bookclub's review
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. This book will be available to purchase on June 11th.
I was interested in this book for two reasons: First, I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray. Second, the idea of a fictional conversation with Wilde is fantastically original. The closest to that setup I’ve read is The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, which I really enjoyed, and of course there’s no biographical angle with that.
This book was so much fun! Oscar Wilde was larger than life in many ways, which Holland conveyed with ease. During the course of this book, I realized that I knew far less about his life than I thought. Despite his levity, Oscar Wilde’s life was tragic in many ways.
What set this apart from many other biographies is the sense of fun the entire book had about itself. It really did feel like an interview over cigarettes. I would gladly read more books written in this style by this author.
At less than 200 pages, this books can easily be read in an afternoon, but the facts thrown in, combined with the engaging conversational feel will keep you thinking about it long after you finish the last word. I definitely recommend this fun fact-based fiction.
I was interested in this book for two reasons: First, I loved The Picture of Dorian Gray. Second, the idea of a fictional conversation with Wilde is fantastically original. The closest to that setup I’ve read is The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, which I really enjoyed, and of course there’s no biographical angle with that.
This book was so much fun! Oscar Wilde was larger than life in many ways, which Holland conveyed with ease. During the course of this book, I realized that I knew far less about his life than I thought. Despite his levity, Oscar Wilde’s life was tragic in many ways.
What set this apart from many other biographies is the sense of fun the entire book had about itself. It really did feel like an interview over cigarettes. I would gladly read more books written in this style by this author.
At less than 200 pages, this books can easily be read in an afternoon, but the facts thrown in, combined with the engaging conversational feel will keep you thinking about it long after you finish the last word. I definitely recommend this fun fact-based fiction.
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