Reviews

The Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark

vincentkonrad's review against another edition

5.0

surreal and sharp and silly but also v dry

Six months later I’m still thinking about this book.

barbiealsmalerin's review against another edition

dark lighthearted mysterious

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

gosia_maria99's review against another edition

2.0

Read it in one afternoon, didn't love it. Some good Flannery'esque depictions of human nature.

upyourmother's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.5

mothlau's review against another edition

4.0

3.5

dougal douglas the menace to society you are

jimmypat's review against another edition

2.0

A well written, but obtuse novel; I was never quite sure what the point was and never found it particularly funny.

kateheas's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

madamelacy's review

challenging dark funny lighthearted tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Bits of this story were really funny and there were some surprising dramatic bits thrown in too. I loved how Dougal had a “fatal flaw” and couldn’t be around ill people. 

Overall I found the story quite disjointed and I kept losing track of the characters. Not my favourite Muriel Spark book. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Injury/Injury detail

lifesaverscandyofficial's review against another edition

interesting to see muriel do her take on master & margarita though it's very difficult to tell whose side she is on here? I laughed. great final sentence.

lnothstine's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0