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cagillies's review against another edition
1.0
This is Bennett's earliest novel and part-based on his biography. However, it is certainly amateur and the protagonist's failure to write might have echoed Bennett's first attempt. The main character is very frustrating. He comes from a provincial background to London where he constantly idealizes women and his future until the final page where he concludes to 'live in the now'. Not impressed by Bennett this time, much preferred Old Wives Tale.
klwpvfc's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Chosen only as a reading challenge option. I found the book difficult to get through and boring. There wasn’t much of a story at all and the ending felt very rushed and premature. Can’t say I will be reading any of the following books! Not for me.
amyrhoda's review against another edition
3.0
Even though this book was published in 1898, it's painfully relatable and makes me wonder if all those self-help books are doing us a blind bit of good as a society, or if we're just all doomed to make the same mistakes, generation after generation.
Richard Larch is new to London and he loves life in the city. He feels that his destiny is to make a name for himself as an author, although he's working as a clerk in a law office (for now).
But he's distracted by life in the city, and his desire for feminine company -- any feminine company. He's fairly sure that he's cleverer and more special than most people, but he can't seem to focus on writing for long enough to produce anything of merit. (Even without the Internet!) He tries setting himself a daily word target, rearranging the furniture, buying all new furniture, waiting for the New Year. All with limited success.
Latch waffles between committing himself to the life of a writer or surrendering to domestic life with a wife in a suburban house, alternately convincing himself that one or the other is his proper destiny. At the end of the book we leave him at one extreme of the pendulum swing, but unconvinced that he will remain there.
Richard Larch is new to London and he loves life in the city. He feels that his destiny is to make a name for himself as an author, although he's working as a clerk in a law office (for now).
But he's distracted by life in the city, and his desire for feminine company -- any feminine company. He's fairly sure that he's cleverer and more special than most people, but he can't seem to focus on writing for long enough to produce anything of merit. (Even without the Internet!) He tries setting himself a daily word target, rearranging the furniture, buying all new furniture, waiting for the New Year. All with limited success.
Latch waffles between committing himself to the life of a writer or surrendering to domestic life with a wife in a suburban house, alternately convincing himself that one or the other is his proper destiny. At the end of the book we leave him at one extreme of the pendulum swing, but unconvinced that he will remain there.
carolwolverine's review against another edition
3.0
Novela de iniciación donde un joven se muda a Londres y donde se vislumbra los primeros pasos del escritor en ese mundo. Esta bien escrito para ser su primer libro pero nada más.
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