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lilami's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lola_rennt's review against another edition
2.0
Leider ist mir der Charakter von Lola etwas zu flach und meine Hoffnung, dass sie sich im Laufe des Buches weiterentwickeln würde und an etwas anderes als Diäten und das gestörte Verhältnis zu ihrer Mutter zu denken beginnt wurde leider enttäuscht. Trotzdem ist Lily Bretts Schreibsstil unterhaltsam und mir gefällt die selbstironische Art der Protagonistin.
peita_hansen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.0
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2013/07/2013-book-203.html
suzyq's review against another edition
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
ladiijenni's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't hate this book, but it was pretty awful. The writer jumps back and forth from timelines too often, the book reads like a fanfiction a teenager wrote, leaving for awkwardness as Cher and Mick Jagger are the only two icons mentioned in this novel who could defend themselves from any sort of defamation or libel (not saying it's not all true, but distaste she had for both Linda McCartney and Jim Morrison becomes awkward after a while). The only thing good about this book was the Jewish history sprinkled in there to give light and background to Lola's character.
mandi_m's review against another edition
3.0
Lola Bensky is a rock journalist and interviews the likes of Hendrix, Mama Cass, Mick Jagger and all the big names of the time. I enjoyed Lola's story and how her life went at different ages. A cleverly constructed novel for those who enjoy their music :)
juliemiaholmes's review against another edition
4.0
Lola is the kind of girl i'd like to be my friend. Self deprecating and hilarious, celebrity connections to boot! The death camp thing is a bit of a downer but it's linked so well to the 70s music scene it barely has time to get you down for too long. Jimi Hendrix talking about perms and hair curlers? yes please!
tricky's review against another edition
4.0
I love Brett's writing style it is concise and to the point. I love how this novel jumps backwards and forwards in time but with Brett's skill you always know where you are. I also love how in the first three or four pages so much is subtly revealed about Lola. There is a great deal to like about this book.
We meet Lola as a 19 year old Australian Rock journalist who is in England meeting a whole host of famous people. While this would dazzle most people, Lola takes it all in her stride. She arranges interviews, talks to people, submits interviews but through Brett's writing we are invited to meet the real Lola. She is obsessed about her weight, she has a kind of boyfriend, she has real issues with her parents and Lola's meticulous, organised side is revealed.
There is so much missing from Lola's life that you want to know. Like why does she return to Melbourne, why does she decide to get married and a whole host of other things? Mind you none of this detracts from the story at all but you are so swept up in the story, you just want to know.
The relationship with Lola's parents is really the key of the story. While her parents survived Auschwitz the impact on the family unit is immense. Lola is involved in world where peace, love, drugs, alcohol and a life of excess contrasts starkly with the Jewish world Lola was brought up in.
This novel is a real treat as you come to understand the difficulty survivors of the Holocaust and their children had. Yet this is not preached at you but slowly revealed as you come to understand more about Lola and the relationship with her mother Renia. You realise why Lola is like she is, why she comes to suffer later in life and how she begins to understand.
We meet Lola as a 19 year old Australian Rock journalist who is in England meeting a whole host of famous people. While this would dazzle most people, Lola takes it all in her stride. She arranges interviews, talks to people, submits interviews but through Brett's writing we are invited to meet the real Lola. She is obsessed about her weight, she has a kind of boyfriend, she has real issues with her parents and Lola's meticulous, organised side is revealed.
There is so much missing from Lola's life that you want to know. Like why does she return to Melbourne, why does she decide to get married and a whole host of other things? Mind you none of this detracts from the story at all but you are so swept up in the story, you just want to know.
The relationship with Lola's parents is really the key of the story. While her parents survived Auschwitz the impact on the family unit is immense. Lola is involved in world where peace, love, drugs, alcohol and a life of excess contrasts starkly with the Jewish world Lola was brought up in.
This novel is a real treat as you come to understand the difficulty survivors of the Holocaust and their children had. Yet this is not preached at you but slowly revealed as you come to understand more about Lola and the relationship with her mother Renia. You realise why Lola is like she is, why she comes to suffer later in life and how she begins to understand.
maree_k's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of Lily Brett's writing and for me, Lola Bensky didn't disappoint. The novel returns to Brett's familiar themes of dealing with the impact of growing up as a child of Holocaust survivors but, through the eyes of Lola, approaches them in a new way.
At times the writing in Lola Bensky flows along with a light, feel-good touch. Then bam, the impact of her parent's ever-present dead family members intrude. This is where the real power of Brett's writing lies: the juxtaposition of the ordinary, even banal, with the horror of inhumanity. I imagine that this is what it must be like to grow up in the shadow of such overwhelming grief, and it adds a poignancy to Brett's writing that pulls me in time and again.
The novel is interesting in its portrayal of the superstars of the late 1960s music scene as ordinary: Mick Jagger making a cup of tea; Jimmi Hendrix quietly discussing family; Janis Joplin's contrast between the unassuming, somewhat insecure girl and powerhouse on-stage persona. Sometimes novels such as these can come across as name-dropping but the down-to-earth encounters between Lola and the stars meant the writing retained its authenticity. Towards the end of the novel, Lola (now in her 60s) is at a New York fundraiser also attended by Mick Jagger. He doesn't remember her; she doesn't expect him to. It works.
I really enjoyed Lola Bensky. It probably doesn't beat my favourite Brett novel, You Gotta Have Balls, but it's a great read. Highly recommended.
At times the writing in Lola Bensky flows along with a light, feel-good touch. Then bam, the impact of her parent's ever-present dead family members intrude. This is where the real power of Brett's writing lies: the juxtaposition of the ordinary, even banal, with the horror of inhumanity. I imagine that this is what it must be like to grow up in the shadow of such overwhelming grief, and it adds a poignancy to Brett's writing that pulls me in time and again.
The novel is interesting in its portrayal of the superstars of the late 1960s music scene as ordinary: Mick Jagger making a cup of tea; Jimmi Hendrix quietly discussing family; Janis Joplin's contrast between the unassuming, somewhat insecure girl and powerhouse on-stage persona. Sometimes novels such as these can come across as name-dropping but the down-to-earth encounters between Lola and the stars meant the writing retained its authenticity. Towards the end of the novel, Lola (now in her 60s) is at a New York fundraiser also attended by Mick Jagger. He doesn't remember her; she doesn't expect him to. It works.
I really enjoyed Lola Bensky. It probably doesn't beat my favourite Brett novel, You Gotta Have Balls, but it's a great read. Highly recommended.