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alexandre_rl's review against another edition
5.0
Un coup de cœur instantané. Je ne connaissais pas Jonathan Coe et je ne me souviens même plus comment j’ai découvert ce livre, mais son résumé m’a tout de suite accroché.
Une satire percutante de la haute bourgeoisie britannique, doublée d’une critique politique presque acerbe, mais sans jamais perdre le charme et l’humour qui caractérise tout le roman et qui en font une lecture des plus divertissantes. Les personnages sont riches et bien développés, le style facile d’approche et les clins d’œil aux classiques du whodunit à la britannique sont habiles et bien dosés.
Une satire percutante de la haute bourgeoisie britannique, doublée d’une critique politique presque acerbe, mais sans jamais perdre le charme et l’humour qui caractérise tout le roman et qui en font une lecture des plus divertissantes. Les personnages sont riches et bien développés, le style facile d’approche et les clins d’œil aux classiques du whodunit à la britannique sont habiles et bien dosés.
ciara33's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
gabrielf94's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
meggxh's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A cleverly written murder mystery/political satire, a combination I have not come across often. Even though the book started slowly, and halfway through I was almost confused by the barrel of characters that were added, the ending was satisfying and neatly tied up. One thing I did struggle with was the balance between the grittiness of reality and hyperboles for satire; some parts were so unbelievable it took me out of the narrative. I would still recommend this though!
rworrall78's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-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
3.0
A disjointed book in the service of a clever-clever ending. Too many characters to be enjoyable. And each part of the story not really very connected to the next. it all becomes clear when each of them dies in a way befitting their lives. But there's no satisfaction in it. Nothing that came before it made it feel meaningful.
And although Roddy's treatment of women was part of his being despicable, I didn't find Michael's thoughts about women much more appealing.and whilst it might not technically be rape because she consented (reluctantly) the manner that. Roddy got Phoebe to sleep with him was coercive and dishonest. It feels felt pretty close to rape.
And although Roddy's treatment of women was part of his being despicable, I didn't find Michael's thoughts about women much more appealing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Rape and Sexual content
thebobsphere's review against another edition
5.0
One little fear I have when I reread a favourite book is if I dislike it. This is the third time I’ve read Jonathan Coe’s fourth novel What a Carve Up! and not only did I like it more than the previous 2 readings but I discovered how deep Coe’s sense of satire is.
The centerpiece of the book could be The Winshaws, the awful aristocratic family or Michael Owen, the person who has been commissioned to write biography about the Winshaws but in reality, I would say that the film What a Carve up! is the true link between everything that happens in the novel.
The film itself is a British horror comedy which Michael Own watches as a birthday treat. Unfortunately his mother deems the film unsuitable and pulls Michael out of the cinema midway and all the way through adulthood he incorporates his life within the film. Not only that but Michael has other vivid memories about his childhood; the farm he grew up on, the walks in the park, the death of his father and his first forays into writing. All are linked to the Winshaws.
The Winshaws are an example of upper class people at their worst. Each of the siblings or parents have controlled a certain aspect of society; for example, Hilary, the youngest Winshaw works as a gossip columnist and damages reputations, Roddy, her brother works as an Art Dealer and screws people in every way possible. Mark, their cousin is an arms dealer, Dorothy, their aunt works in animal husbandry and so on. All Winshaws will stop at nothing to achieve their aims, even if it means killing the people closest to them. Coe has picked a perfect metaphor on politics: generally people who don’t understand the profession or do not care about the welfare of others, wreaking havoc on the common folks while earning a handsome profit.
As Michael is chosen to write a biography on these people, he begins his research and the more he discovers the horrors these people commit, the more he realises how they have affected his life from childhood. Murders, disappearances, wars: all are linked to The WInshaws. Yes that includes the film What a Carve Up! as well.
What a Carve up! is no ordinary satire. It doubles as a murder mystery, especially during the ending, which resembles an elaborate game of Cluedo. Coe doesn’t stop there. The book contains high comedy, adventure and horror. Despite the complexity and cleverness of this novel, it is readable and entertaining.
This paltry review just skims the surface of this deep book. I could also mention how Coe manages to link all details in the most surprising way, how the Dorothy chapter will give you nightmares, how he can make a person eating a cheeseburger sound amazing. There are more surprises but it is more fun if you discover them.
Considering that Coe’s previous three novels were ok, What a Carve Up! is clearly an artistic leap. With ….Carve Up! Coe has managed to combine experimental techniques and make them accessible. I cannot stress that this is a work of genius and I am not exaggerating. Read Read Read this novel.
The centerpiece of the book could be The Winshaws, the awful aristocratic family or Michael Owen, the person who has been commissioned to write biography about the Winshaws but in reality, I would say that the film What a Carve up! is the true link between everything that happens in the novel.
The film itself is a British horror comedy which Michael Own watches as a birthday treat. Unfortunately his mother deems the film unsuitable and pulls Michael out of the cinema midway and all the way through adulthood he incorporates his life within the film. Not only that but Michael has other vivid memories about his childhood; the farm he grew up on, the walks in the park, the death of his father and his first forays into writing. All are linked to the Winshaws.
The Winshaws are an example of upper class people at their worst. Each of the siblings or parents have controlled a certain aspect of society; for example, Hilary, the youngest Winshaw works as a gossip columnist and damages reputations, Roddy, her brother works as an Art Dealer and screws people in every way possible. Mark, their cousin is an arms dealer, Dorothy, their aunt works in animal husbandry and so on. All Winshaws will stop at nothing to achieve their aims, even if it means killing the people closest to them. Coe has picked a perfect metaphor on politics: generally people who don’t understand the profession or do not care about the welfare of others, wreaking havoc on the common folks while earning a handsome profit.
As Michael is chosen to write a biography on these people, he begins his research and the more he discovers the horrors these people commit, the more he realises how they have affected his life from childhood. Murders, disappearances, wars: all are linked to The WInshaws. Yes that includes the film What a Carve Up! as well.
What a Carve up! is no ordinary satire. It doubles as a murder mystery, especially during the ending, which resembles an elaborate game of Cluedo. Coe doesn’t stop there. The book contains high comedy, adventure and horror. Despite the complexity and cleverness of this novel, it is readable and entertaining.
This paltry review just skims the surface of this deep book. I could also mention how Coe manages to link all details in the most surprising way, how the Dorothy chapter will give you nightmares, how he can make a person eating a cheeseburger sound amazing. There are more surprises but it is more fun if you discover them.
Considering that Coe’s previous three novels were ok, What a Carve Up! is clearly an artistic leap. With ….Carve Up! Coe has managed to combine experimental techniques and make them accessible. I cannot stress that this is a work of genius and I am not exaggerating. Read Read Read this novel.
ynnctz's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
elena_ceuppens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
jasondcrane's review against another edition
4.0
I was enjoying this until the end, and then I was loving it. It's a satirical novel about England in the 90s. I've never set foot in England, but I'm enough of an Anglophile, and I lived through enough of what's being satirized, to feel welcomed into the world of the book. And wow, did he stick the landing.