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sidharthvardhan's review against another edition
4.0
Full of deceptively ordinary people with their little adventures, secrets and compromises, truths and lies, uninteresting lives and professions, and the very language hey speak in; 'Last Orders' brilliantly captures life few books ever manage to. Those are the people that you are likely to meet in your life - butchers, car dealers, insurance agents etc. The things they will do for their families and friends which show their character and courage will go unnoticed by the rest of the world.
Awesome as the book is, it is difficult to read - despite the very simple story. You want a character guide in your hand before you start it - book launches into story with out making any introductions to its characters. It doesn't help that the story is narrated by different characters and keeps on jumping back and forth in time.
Awesome as the book is, it is difficult to read - despite the very simple story. You want a character guide in your hand before you start it - book launches into story with out making any introductions to its characters. It doesn't help that the story is narrated by different characters and keeps on jumping back and forth in time.
rohnstrong's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
sledge_hm's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jangleresse's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
terrypaulpearce's review against another edition
4.0
This was nearly five stars, although I think it's probably best read by people who have begun to realise that they're not immortal, after all (only three years 'til I'm forty, ho ho). It's such a great reflection on Life, and on Englishness, and on getting old, and taking and missing chances, and on changing, and not changing. Written with a very wry sense of humour and a deadpan delivery, and very easy to read. Excellent stuff
ari_ceele's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it, though all the British-isms (and English not being my native language) made it a bit of a hard read.
Perhaps what I enjoyed the most was seeing how the characters' lives were intertwined in so many different ways that not even they were aware of... seemed to me like a very good (perhaps even outstanding) depiction of life and of what REAL lifelong, close-knit relationships are like, without the mushiness/corniness that so often mucks-up an otherwise great read.
All in all, I definitely recommend it and will add "Waterland" to my HUGE to-be-read pile.
Perhaps what I enjoyed the most was seeing how the characters' lives were intertwined in so many different ways that not even they were aware of... seemed to me like a very good (perhaps even outstanding) depiction of life and of what REAL lifelong, close-knit relationships are like, without the mushiness/corniness that so often mucks-up an otherwise great read.
All in all, I definitely recommend it and will add "Waterland" to my HUGE to-be-read pile.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
2.0
I did not get on with the writing, I don't know if it's just me but it feelt clunky and didn't have a good flow to it and I didn't find the story that interesting. Don't think Graham Swift is my kind of writer
micheleheather's review against another edition
3.0
Follows four English men who are trying to carry out thier friend's "last request" - to scatter his ashes at a specific location. Of course, it is much more about the relationships between the four men, an exploration into male friendship and loyalty, than about the ashes or where they end up.
A quiet book. Not alot of action, but the characters are fairly well created. My problem with it is that I didn't really connect well enough with any of the men, so while I enjoyed reading the book, I didn't fall in love with it.
A quiet book. Not alot of action, but the characters are fairly well created. My problem with it is that I didn't really connect well enough with any of the men, so while I enjoyed reading the book, I didn't fall in love with it.