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dr_stiv's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.75
vortimer's review against another edition
2.0
Read and thoroughly enjoyed McDonald Frazer's Flashman novels about a decade ago, a cheeky spinoff of this 19th Century novel - perhaps a book more known than read these days.
As I plan to start a re-read of the Flashman novels this year, it felt right to tackle this first.
I was expecting dated, and these expectations were not subverted.
Even as someone who read and enjoyed obsolete public school adventures as a state school kid in the late 70's and early 80's, I can't imagine reading this now for pleasure, only in experiencing the Ur-text of a major subgenre that was revived with massive success by JK Rowling.
As I plan to start a re-read of the Flashman novels this year, it felt right to tackle this first.
I was expecting dated, and these expectations were not subverted.
Even as someone who read and enjoyed obsolete public school adventures as a state school kid in the late 70's and early 80's, I can't imagine reading this now for pleasure, only in experiencing the Ur-text of a major subgenre that was revived with massive success by JK Rowling.
willwork4airfare's review against another edition
4.0
Reading for school. Had to skim a lot of stuff like long descriptions of scenery or sports, but not the worst. Interesting to see the school narrative and correlations to Harry Potter.
lemeilleurs's review against another edition
3.0
I must say this book was interesting, to say the least. It took me a while to get into the story of the young boy, Tom Brown, and his adventures at the public school, Rugby. Much of the subject matter confused and intrigued me, because all I really know of British culture, I know from Harry Potter. It was pretty cool to see the stark differences in adolescent, not only in the late 1800s, but the differences in culture. Overall, I am glad to have read the book and think it is much deserved to have such high acclaim in the young adult literature world.
forget_me_knots's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jowmy4's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
katewutz's review against another edition
2.0
Deadly dull until maybe halfway through, and the slang leaves this book open to a LOT of homoerotic innuendo -- and then you hit the part where it kind of isn't innuendo, and Hughes is actually trying to say that sometimes boys screw other boys, but he's doing it in his staunch British way and it's just awkward on all levels.
pickett22's review against another edition
2.0
There was nothing I really disliked about this book, but also nothing that stood out strongly to me. The story was engaging enough, more interesting than some, but a bit long-winded in places. Hughes loves England. A lot. And Public Schools. A lot.
All in all, while I have nothing to say against it, my feelings towards this book are summed up in the phrase, "meh. It was good."
All in all, while I have nothing to say against it, my feelings towards this book are summed up in the phrase, "meh. It was good."
readwithbeth_'s review against another edition
1.0
I had to read this for my course and I hated it so much. I struggled to finish.