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tonimarshall84's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
juuliaseppala's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
muggsyspaniel's review
5.0
A minor masterpiece this.
At times it felt like reading about my own workplace, much of the book is taken up with arguments about non scientists or scientists of different disciplines sticking their respective oars into things they know nothing about but don't let that leave you thinking this is a dull workplace drama. From the two books of Balchin's I have read it seems that he enjoyed showing every little detail in his protagonists life leading up to the crisis point and so we frequently encounter the apparent beginnings of sub plots that then go nowhere or are completely dropped. At first I was a little confused by this but now I think I get it, we are witnessing every moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant or unrelated, that nudges our 'hero' towards his own dramatic ending.
It's another of Balchin's habits to happily talk of things well out of the range of many readers knowledge without explaining anything and this too works out just fine. You never find yourself wanting to look things up to make it clear what is going on despite not understanding the technical talk, it's like a little magic trick Balchin plays on the reader, making things they don't understand perfectly clear and logical.
Cracking stuff.
Just finished rereading this and struck by what a magnificent ending it has.
At times it felt like reading about my own workplace, much of the book is taken up with arguments about non scientists or scientists of different disciplines sticking their respective oars into things they know nothing about but don't let that leave you thinking this is a dull workplace drama. From the two books of Balchin's I have read it seems that he enjoyed showing every little detail in his protagonists life leading up to the crisis point and so we frequently encounter the apparent beginnings of sub plots that then go nowhere or are completely dropped. At first I was a little confused by this but now I think I get it, we are witnessing every moment, no matter how seemingly insignificant or unrelated, that nudges our 'hero' towards his own dramatic ending.
It's another of Balchin's habits to happily talk of things well out of the range of many readers knowledge without explaining anything and this too works out just fine. You never find yourself wanting to look things up to make it clear what is going on despite not understanding the technical talk, it's like a little magic trick Balchin plays on the reader, making things they don't understand perfectly clear and logical.
Cracking stuff.
Just finished rereading this and struck by what a magnificent ending it has.
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