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katykelly's review
4.0
4.5 stars
I have no knowledge of Watson as a comedian, and saw this mentioned and purely liked the sound of a novel set in a hotel - I always enjoyed Hotel Babylon, and I did think of it numerous times as I read this.
Watson is a very good writer. Assured, confident and funny, he also manages moments of emotion and warmth.
This is the story of a hotel. An opulent London hotel, from its inception by a Harry Selfridge-like rich dreamer Howard York to the present day. Narrated by two men, our first is the concierge Graham, hired on a whim by York and there to oversee its trials and triumphs over a forty-year span. Our second is Chas, Howard's blind adopted son, raised in the hotel and reclusive in his disability...
We see changes over the decades, we see stories develop, old secrets unearthed, and society altering around the hotel, which valiantly tries to keep up.
I loved how the story develops, how Chas's adolescent then adult narrative complements Graham's as we see the hotel's story from their differing points of view, and their views of the entrepreneur Howard. It's a fascinating, and at times heartbreaking tale.
Graham's narrative says a lot by what he doesn't say - his repeated meal at home, his loyalty to his work. Chas's world of darkness is on the surface, the more moving tale, though his growth over time to me meant the constant Graham looked even more set in his ways - not embracing changes in technology, wistfully remembering the past.
And both have good reason to try and forget the past...
I really, really liked this. I've already ordered a copy of the author's 'Eleven', and his is a name I'll be looking out for again. Well-developed plot (though I thought Howard the weakest character actually), with some very human characters and plot turns you become very involved in.
I didn't read on to the 100 extra tales (told by other hotel guests), I liked the story standing on its own and didn't feel the need to explore further, though I liked the idea.
A little mystery, a hotel-set 'family saga' of sorts exploring change in the 20th and 21st century - a modern Selfridges tale.
I have no knowledge of Watson as a comedian, and saw this mentioned and purely liked the sound of a novel set in a hotel - I always enjoyed Hotel Babylon, and I did think of it numerous times as I read this.
Watson is a very good writer. Assured, confident and funny, he also manages moments of emotion and warmth.
This is the story of a hotel. An opulent London hotel, from its inception by a Harry Selfridge-like rich dreamer Howard York to the present day. Narrated by two men, our first is the concierge Graham, hired on a whim by York and there to oversee its trials and triumphs over a forty-year span. Our second is Chas, Howard's blind adopted son, raised in the hotel and reclusive in his disability...
We see changes over the decades, we see stories develop, old secrets unearthed, and society altering around the hotel, which valiantly tries to keep up.
I loved how the story develops, how Chas's adolescent then adult narrative complements Graham's as we see the hotel's story from their differing points of view, and their views of the entrepreneur Howard. It's a fascinating, and at times heartbreaking tale.
Graham's narrative says a lot by what he doesn't say - his repeated meal at home, his loyalty to his work. Chas's world of darkness is on the surface, the more moving tale, though his growth over time to me meant the constant Graham looked even more set in his ways - not embracing changes in technology, wistfully remembering the past.
And both have good reason to try and forget the past...
I really, really liked this. I've already ordered a copy of the author's 'Eleven', and his is a name I'll be looking out for again. Well-developed plot (though I thought Howard the weakest character actually), with some very human characters and plot turns you become very involved in.
I didn't read on to the 100 extra tales (told by other hotel guests), I liked the story standing on its own and didn't feel the need to explore further, though I liked the idea.
A little mystery, a hotel-set 'family saga' of sorts exploring change in the 20th and 21st century - a modern Selfridges tale.
kayleem93's review against another edition
1.0
Things this book was sold to me as having -
Mystery
Unexplained happenings
Devious Goings On
A Veritable Soup of Secrets
Inexplicaple Disappearances
Thing this book did not have -
Mystery
Unexplained happenings
Devious Goings On
A Veritable Soup of Secrets
Inexplicaple Disappearances
Mystery
Unexplained happenings
Devious Goings On
A Veritable Soup of Secrets
Inexplicaple Disappearances
Thing this book did not have -
Mystery
Unexplained happenings
Devious Goings On
A Veritable Soup of Secrets
Inexplicaple Disappearances
helenlouise0304's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
rachandnors's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
keetzwitch's review
4.0
This was a great little light hearted book that feels more like a circle of diaries mushed together of fantastic lives
snoakes7001's review
5.0
I always enjoy Mark Watson's books. He writes great stories with engaging believable characters. This one is set in the Hotel Alpha and the chapters alternate between Graham, the Hotel's concierge and the owner's son. Both are equally beholden to the larger than life owner Howard and all along you wonder if he really is all he purports to be.
Highly entertaining, it zips along, much as the years do in the book.
There is a companion volume of 100 stories related to the guests. These were available on a website, but that appears to have gone so you now have to buy it. My kindle version came with a sample of 8 of these, and while I enjoyed them, I don't feel its necessary to buy the rest - the tale stands on its own quite happily.
This would make a good holiday read.
Highly entertaining, it zips along, much as the years do in the book.
There is a companion volume of 100 stories related to the guests. These were available on a website, but that appears to have gone so you now have to buy it. My kindle version came with a sample of 8 of these, and while I enjoyed them, I don't feel its necessary to buy the rest - the tale stands on its own quite happily.
This would make a good holiday read.
eskimosmurf's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Watson has a fantastic ability at writing characters that are engaging and interesting to read even of nothing much is happening.
autisticmisabel's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes